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Publications

These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.

Filter Total Items: 16784

Effects of urban land-use on largescale stonerollers in the Mobile River Basin, Birmingham, AL

During the spring and fall of 2001 and the spring of 2002 a study was conducted to evaluate the health of the largescale stoneroller (Campostoma oligolepis) populations in streams along an urban land-use gradient. Sites were selected from a pool of naturally similar sub-basins (eco-region, basin size, and geology) of the Mobile River basin (MRB), using an index of urban intensity derived from infr
Authors
Deborah D. Iwanowicz, M.C. Black, Vicki S. Blazer, H. Zappia, Wade L. Bryant

Young of the year bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) as a bioindicator of estuarine health: Establishing a new baseline for persistent organic pollutants after Hurricane Sandy for selected estuaries in New Jersey and New York

Atlantic coastal bays of the US are essential habitat for young of year bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Their residence in these estuaries during critical life stages, high lipid content, and piscivory make bluefish an ideal bioindicator species for evaluating estuarine health. Individual whole fish from four estuaries impacted by Hurricane Sandy were collected in August 2013, analyzed for a suite
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Ashok D. Deshpande, Vicki S. Blazer, Bruce W Dockum, DeMond Timmons, Beth L. Sharack, Ronald J. Baker, Jennifer Samson, Timothy J. Reilly

Towards establishing compact imaging spectrometer standards

Remote sensing science is currently undergoing a tremendous expansion in the area of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology. Spurred largely by the explosive growth of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), sometimes called Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, HSI capabilities that once required access to one of only a handful of very specialized and expensive sensor systems are now miniaturized a
Authors
E. Terrence Slonecker, David W. Allen, Ronald G. Resmini

Nitrogen loads from selected rivers in the Long Island Sound Basin, 2005–13, Connecticut and Massachusetts

Total nitrogen loads at 14 water-quality monitoring stations were calculated by using discrete measurements of total nitrogen and continuous streamflow data for the period 2005–13 (water years 2006–13). Total nitrogen loads were calculated by using the LOADEST computer program.Overall, for water years 2006–13, streamflow in Connecticut was generally above normal. Total nitrogen yields ranged from
Authors
John R. Mullaney

Passage of downstream migrant American eels through an airlift-assisted deep bypass

Traditional downstream guidance and bypass facilities for anadromous fishes (i.e., surface bypasses, surface guidance structures, and behavioral barriers) have frequently been ineffective for anguillid eels. Because eels typically spend the majority of their time near the bottom in the vicinity of intake structures, deep bypass structures with entrances near the bottom hold promise for increased e
Authors
Alexander J. Haro, Barnaby J. Watten, John Noreika

Temporal bird community dynamics are strongly affected by landscape fragmentation in a Central American tropical forest region

Habitat loss and fragmentation are considered the main causes of species extinctions, particularly in tropical ecosystems. The objective of this work was to evaluate the temporal dynamics of tropical bird communities in landscapes with different levels of fragmentation in eastern Guatemala. We evaluated five bird community dynamic parameters for forest specialists and generalists: (1) species exti
Authors
A.C. Blandón, S.B. Perelman, M. Ramírez, A. López, O. Javier, Chandler S. Robbins

Flood- and drought-related natural hazards activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has many ongoing and recent water-related natural hazard activities in New England that can be used to help mitigate the effects of natural hazards in cooperation with other agencies. The themes related to potential hazards and the tools and science to better understand and address them include the following: Erosion and landslides • Fluvial erosion (sediment tran
Authors
Pamela J. Lombard

Surface water-quality activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collaborates with a variety of Federal, State, local, and tribal partners on scientific projects to provide reliable and impartial water-quality data and interpretation to resource managers, planners, stakeholders, and the general public. The themes related to surface water quality include the following: • Water quality monitoring networks • Effects of best manage
Authors
Thomas G. Huntington

Transportation and Hydrology Studies of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a long history of working with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and State transportation agencies to provide data and information to address various issues related to water resources and the Nation’s transportation infrastructure. These issues include the following: • Streamgaging data networks • Flow frequencies and flow statistics • Water-quality i
Authors
Pamela J. Lombard

Climate Change Science Activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has actively pursued research in the effects of climate change on the hydrology of New England. Ongoing focus areas of climate change science activities of the USGS in New England include the following: • Hydrologic climate-response data (initiating or expanding long-term hydrologic climate-response data collection networks to detect and monitor climate-related ch
Authors
Robert M. Lent

Groundwater contaminant science activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in New England

Aquifers in New England provide water for human needs and natural ecosystems. In some areas, however, aquifers have been degraded by contaminants from geologic and human sources. In recent decades, the U.S. Geological Survey has been a leader in describing contaminant occurrence in the bedrock and surficial aquifers of New England. In cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies, the U.S. G
Authors
Peter K. Weiskel

Ecological resistance in urban streams: the role of natural and legacy attributes

Urbanization substantially changes the physicochemical and biological characteristics of streams. The trajectory of negative effect is broadly similar around the world, but the nature and magnitude of ecological responses to urban growth differ among locations. Some heterogeneity in response arises from differences in the level of urban development and attributes of urban water management. However
Authors
Ryan M. Utz, Kristina G. Hopkins, Leah Beesley, Derek B. Booth, Robert J. Hawley, Matthew E. Baker, Mary Freeman, Krista L. Jones