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Eastern Ecological Science Center

At the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC), our vision is to be recognized as a world leader in fish, wildlife and associated ecosystem science through scientific excellence and responsiveness to society’s needs.

News

A new strategy to help unleash USGS eDNA capabilities

A new strategy to help unleash USGS eDNA capabilities

Notes from the Field: American Woodcock Migration

Notes from the Field: American Woodcock Migration

Surviving Migration Through an Urban Landscape! One Songbird’s Journey

Surviving Migration Through an Urban Landscape! One Songbird’s Journey

Publications

Microtopographic variation as a potential early indicator of ecosystem state change and vulnerability in salt marshes

As global climate change alters the magnitude and rates of environmental stressors, predicting the extent of ecosystem degradation driven by these rapidly changing conditions becomes increasingly urgent. At the landscape scale, disturbances and stressors can increase spatial variability and heterogeneity — indicators that can serve as potential early warnings of declining ecosystem resilience. Inc
Authors
Alexander J. Smith, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Joel A. Carr, David C Walters, Matthew Kirwan

Identifying the forage base and critical forage taxa for Chesapeake waterbirds

To effectively maximize the conservation value of management plans intended to capture ecosystem-wide health, it is essential to obtain an understanding of emergent patterns in dietary dynamics spanning many species. Chesapeake Bay, USA, is a critical ecosystem used annually by a diverse assortment of waterbird species, including several of conservation concern. However, the ecosystem is threatene
Authors
Matthew Hack, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Cody M. Kent, Diann Prosser

Realizing the potential of eDNA biodiversity monitoring tools in the marine environment with application to offshore renewable energy

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researches the biological diversity and distribution of species to support management, conservation, and resource use decisions. USGS scientists advance detection and monitoring technologies to assess changes in fish and wildlife populations, biodiversity, and the health of ecosystems. The United States is planning to install 30 gigawatts of offshore marine and wi
Authors
Adam Sepulveda, Cheryl Morrison, Maggie Hunter, Mona Khalil

Science

Agricultural and Urban Management Practices have Hidden Costs and Benefits to Stream Health

The findings of the study highlight that management practices can have both hidden costs and benefits to fish and macroinvertebrates depending on regional and local factors like how many and what type of management practices are implemented.
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Agricultural and Urban Management Practices have Hidden Costs and Benefits to Stream Health

The findings of the study highlight that management practices can have both hidden costs and benefits to fish and macroinvertebrates depending on regional and local factors like how many and what type of management practices are implemented.
Learn More

Understanding wild waterfowl use of retention ponds at commercial poultry farms – a potential route for avian influenza virus transmission

Retention ponds on commercial poultry farms are used by wild waterfowl, representing a potential pathway for the transmission of avian influenza viruses between waterfowl and farmed poultry. Managing vegetation conditions surrounding ponds may be one way to reduce their use by waterfowl.
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Understanding wild waterfowl use of retention ponds at commercial poultry farms – a potential route for avian influenza virus transmission

Retention ponds on commercial poultry farms are used by wild waterfowl, representing a potential pathway for the transmission of avian influenza viruses between waterfowl and farmed poultry. Managing vegetation conditions surrounding ponds may be one way to reduce their use by waterfowl.
Learn More

Terrestrial Ecotoxicology and Disease Research Facility Core Technology Team

About the Research The Terrestrial Ecotoxicology and Disease Research Facility Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program provides an integrated mechanism for conducting controlled exposure studies on wildlife at varied spatiotemporal scales.
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Terrestrial Ecotoxicology and Disease Research Facility Core Technology Team

About the Research The Terrestrial Ecotoxicology and Disease Research Facility Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program provides an integrated mechanism for conducting controlled exposure studies on wildlife at varied spatiotemporal scales.
Learn More