United States Environmental
Protection Agency
Office of Research
& Development
National Health &
Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory
'Feature Stories:
page 1: PCEIS Database
page 2: Ongoing 'Research into
Genetically Modified Plants
page 3: Mercury Found in Western
Streams
page 4: Importance of
Intermittent Streams
To receive your
Update by email—In
color!—send a note:
hurley.joan@epa.gov
(if you previously submitted
an email request you will
need to do so again—sorry!)
or call:
(541) 754-4504
V^estern Ecology Division
Research Update
Winter 2006-2007
Corvallis, Oregon
EPA/600/F-07/002
Winter 2006-2007
PCEIS" DATABASE WILL NET BIG RESULTS
Next issue: watch for
The Golden Mouse!
It's pronounced like
"Pisces", but PCEIS
stands for Pacific Coast
Ecosystem Information
System, and it's about
capturing information,
not fish. PCEIS is the
latest tool being devel-
oped at Western Ecol-
ogy Division's marine
research facility in New-
port, Oregon, and it in-
corporates spatially-
explicit information for
the estuaries and coastal
regions of the Northeast
Pacific.
Still under development,
PCEIS combines many
types of data from
Coastal EMAP (EPA's
large scale Environmental
Monitoring & Assess-
ment Program) and
USGS (US Geologic Sur-
vey), and integrates them
into one central database,
taking thousands of facts
about estuarine/marine
species and their habitats,
and organizing them in a
way that can be utilized
by researchers according
to their particular speci-
fications. Geographical
distributions of individ-
ual species can be ex-
ported into Excel, then
input into GIS software
for mapping and spatial
analysis. EMAP has
generated site-specific
data for over 1500 inver-
tebrate and fish species,
collected from more than
200 estuaries in Oregon,
Washington, and Califor-
nia.
Initially, the goal was to
utilize just the EMAP
data more efficiently.
But PCEIS also incor-
porates information
about species distribution
from numerous other
sources, including other
Federal and State data-
bases. EPA and USGS
will generate a future
version to span from
Alaska to northern Mex-
ico, which will also in-
clude wetland species.
One of the primary ob-
jectives is to provide in-
formation about native
and non-native, or inva-
sive, estuarine and
coastal species, including
additional information
such as date of first re-
corded occurence and
potential vectors for
non-native species.
PCEIS is a unique re-
search and risk assessment
tool; it is the only inte-
grated database to include
both native and non-native
species, georeferenced
distributions ranging in
spatial scale from tributar-
ies to the entire Northwest
Pacific, landscape data,
and the ability to easily
export data for spatial or
statistical analysis. The
database will provide
researchers and managers
with a powerful tool for
extracting information to
evaluate the effects of in-
vasive species, nutrient
enrichment, habitat altera-
tions, and other stressors.
An expanded version
should be available to the
public in book form by
2008. PCEIS project
leader Henry Lee II
works at WED's Pacific
Coast Ecology Branch in
Newport, Oregon; Debbie
Reusse is a Research Ge-
ographer with USGS-
Western Fisheries Re-
search Center.
Contact:
lee.henrv@epa.gov
left: Louisiana cray-
fish (Procambams
clarkii), one of many
non-native species
documented by
PCEIS
-------
-WED Research Update-
page 2
"GENE TEAM" STRIKES GOLD
AND MORE
New technology is making it
possible to produce a variety of
crops like soy, corn, and ca-
nola, which are resistant to
pests and disease. Recently
added to the list is bentgrass
(Agrostis Stolonifera L.), a
commercially grown perennial
grass.
Bentgrass is commonly used on golf courses, and Oregon's
grass-seed growers have expressed great interest in the
GM research carried out by WED
Bentgrass has been altered
genetically to be resistant to a
commonly used weed killer.
EPA's Office of Pesticide Pro-
grams regulates such crops to
ensure that the environment is
protected from potential trans-
fer of the new genes to sur-
rounding crops and native
plants.
Last year, a team of scientists
from Western Ecology Divi-
sion received EPA's prestig-
ious Gold Medal for Service,
and a Level I Scientific &
Technological Achievement
Award for their research dem-
onstrating that genetically
modified (GM) plants could
spread beyond their original
fields. Now, the same team
has documented, for the first
time in the United States, the
escape of genetically modi-
fied material into wild
plant populations up to sev-
eral miles away. Their re-
search showed that wild
plants with the altered genes
could become established
after only a single growing
season. Ecological conse-
quences of GM gene flow
in wild plants remains a
topic of active research.
The study involved an ex-
perimental field of bent-
grass in Central Oregon
which is located next to ar-
eas of natural vegetation.
Scientists tested 20,000
grass leaf samples outside
the GM crop area using a
unique environmental fo-
rensic method to search for
a specific protein produced
by the modified gene.
The Western Ecology Divi-
sion research will help in-
form decisions about the
potential risks posed by
GM crops growing near
fields of Oregon's economi-
cally important grass seed.
It will help determine
where the GM crop pollen
is most likely to move, and
how to calculate the dis-
tance it can travel and still
remain viable enough for
downwind fertilization to
occur.
EPA's Office of Pesticide
Programs will use this in-
formation to develop testing
and monitoring systems,
and to help inform regula-
tory decisions regarding the
environmental safety of GM
crops.
The Western Ecology Divi-
sion team included Connie
Burdick, Anne Fair-
brother, E. Henry Lee,
Jay Reichman, Lidia
Watrud, and National Re-
search Council fellow
Peter Van de Water.
Contact:
watrud.lidia@epa.gov
Western Ecology Division's Jay Reichman, Connie Burdick,
Eidia Watrud, E. Henry Lee, and Anne Fairbrother enjoy a
celebration after the announcement of their EPA. Gold Medal
for Service Award and Eevell STAA Award,
-------
-WED Research Update-
-page 3
MERCURY FOUND IN ALL FISH FROM WESTERN U.S. STREAMS
Aquatic environments face
increasing threat from mercury
contamination and its potential
harm to humans and wildlife.
Western Ecology Division
scientists Spencer Peterson
and John Van Sickle recently
completed a study of mercury
contamination, based on col-
lection and analysis of 2,707
fish samples from 626 sites in
the western United States.
All fish tested contained mer-
cury above detection limits
(0.002 ppm). From this sam-
pling, the scientists were able
to estimate the length of
streams affected by various
mercury levels across the en-
tire region.
An applied statistical sampling
design was used to assess the
condition of streams relative to
mercury concentrations in fish.
Salmonids like cutthroat and
rainbow trout were the most
common large fish to be
tested in an estimated 125,000
km of the stream length in the
region.
Salmonids exceeded the lev-
els that would potentially af-
fect fish-eating mammals like
otter and mink in 11% of the
assessed streams, and ex-
ceeded the levels that would
potentially affect humans in
2.3% of streams tested.
However, fish accumulate
mercury predominantly
through their food, and preda-
tory fishes accumulate higher
concentrations of mercury than
plant and insect-eating ones. In
addition, mercury concentra-
tion increases as fish age and
grow.
For predatory fish, mercury
levels were almost three
times as high as in herbivo-
rous fish; they exceeded the
levels that would potentially
affect fish-eating mammals
in 93% of the assessed
streams, and exceeded levels
that would potentially affect
humans in 57% of assessed
streams.
So, although these larger
fish-eating fish are less wide-
spread, they present a greater
potential risk to sensitive
consumers. Mammals
(including humans) and birds
that consume them greatly
increase their exposure to
mercury and its potential
neurological effects.
Testing methods were devel-
oped which potentially have
less impact on fish popula-
tions. Scientists had already
done studies showing that
small core samples of muscle
had a direct proportion to the
mercury levels in the whole
fish, so it was possible to
test with a biopsy sampling
method that was generally
not lethal to the fish.
Earlier studies
required the use
of whole-fish
samples, (left) but
new methods use
sa
Study Results:
Where does mercury enter the
aquatic food chain? Peterson
and Van Sickle concluded that
the finding of mercury in nearly
all tested fish suggested atmos-
pheric deposition, rather than
point source contamination. At-
mospheric deposition occurs
when a substance is carried in
the upper atmosphere, and de-
posited far— sometimes thou-
sands of miles— from its origi-
nal source, for example, from
coal-burning factories in China.
Contact Spencer Peterson:
peterson.spencer@epa.gov
Read more about this study in Vol
41, No. 1:2007 issue of Journal of
Environmental Science and Tech-
nology.
Wildlife may be at
greater risk than hu-
mans for mercury
poisoning since their
mercury tolerance
levels are lower
-------
-WED Research Update-
page 4
WED RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON
INTERMITTENT STREAMS
"seasonal streams
disproportionately
higher spawning
ind winter rearing
for Coho salmon"
The U.S. Supreme Court
recently heard cases that
affect whether
"intermittent" streams fall
under the jurisdiction of the
Clean Water Act.
Intermittent, or seasonal,
streams, run during only
part of the year. The eco-
logical significance of such
streams is receiving in-
creasing attention, but in-
formation about their influ-
ence on fish populations
has been limited.
A team of scientists at
Western Ecology Division,
led by Jim Wigington and
Joseph Ebersole, has com-
pleted a major new study
which focuses on these sea-
sonal streams, and Su-
preme Court justices had
the opportunity to review
the study's findings as part
of their preparation for the
cases.
Presence of commercially
important species like
Coho salmon would be a
significant consideration,
since Coho spawn in the
seasonal streams of the
Oregon coastal mountains.
The team's research in a
coastal Oregon watershed
showed that seasonal
streams provide dispropor-
tionately higher spawning
and winter rearing for
Coho salmon than the re-
mainder of the stream net-
work.
Residual pools in these
streams also provide a
place for the juvenile
salmon to survive during
dry periods. Loss of sea-
sonal stream habitat would
have a negative effect on
Coho populations in
coastal drainages.
Employing a tagging tech-
nology that utilizes "passive
integrated transpond-
ers" (PIT), the scientists
tracked the survival, move-
ment and growth of thou-
sands of juvenile Coho
salmon throughout the
stream network, and found
that seasonal streams were
an important source of Coho
salmon smolts.
This research demonstrates
the potential of seasonal
streams to provide important
ecological benefits to down-
stream waters, and could
have far-reaching impacts on
the Clean Water Act.
Denis White, M. Robbins
Church, Scott Leibowitz,
Renee Brooks, and Jana
Compton also took part in
the study, whose findings
were published in the De-
cember 2006 issue of
"Frontiers in Ecology & the
Environment". Contact:
wigington.jim@epa.gov
ESTUARINE HABITAT RESEARCH
r-»»"1*" *."- ^^^t^-Wi
fc^'ffilSffiSf Some estuarine habitats play
more crucial roles than oth-
ers by supporting high ani-
mal diversity or providing
important ecosystem ser-
vices, such as food produc-
tion or nursery grounds for
ecologically or economically
important species. WED
scientists Steve Ferraro
and Faith Cole recently
completed a multi-year study
in a Pacific Northwest estu-
ary to determine how popu-
lations and communities of
fish, crabs, shrimp, and other
creatures (animals collec-
tively called "nekton") vary
among intertidal habitats.
Dungeness crab ('Cancer
magisterj is common in
Pacific Northwest estuaries
Three of the 4 habitats in
their study were defined by
the presence of "ecosystem
engineering species": plants
and animals which, by their
physical structure or behav-
ior, create habitat for differ-
ent nekton prey organisms
and provide different types
and degrees of shelter from
predation. The fourth habi-
tat was bare sand.
The study found strong and
temporally robust associa-
tions between the nekton
and the habitats. In general,
the rank order of habitats in
richness, abundance, and
diversity was eelgrass >
mud shrimp > ghost
shrimp > bare sand.
The research results con-
firms the biological rele-
vance of the habitats, and
provides quantitative
tools for identifying criti-
cal habitats, prioritizing
habitats for environmental
protection, and predicting
the consequences of habi-
tat changes on nekton
populations and commu-
nities. Contact:
ferraro.steven@epa.gov
-------
-WED Research Update-
page 5
RECENT RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
Battin, J. and J. J. Lawler. Cross-scale correlations and the design
and analysis of avian habitat selection studies. The Condor. The
Cooper Ornithological Society, Bend, OR, 108:59-70, (2006).
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light, aerial exposure, and season on eelgrass (zostera marina)
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port in the west-central Cascades, Oregon. Ecosystems.
Springer, New York, NY, 8(5):583-601, (2005).
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biofilm, and benthic insects to salmon carcass addition. Cana-
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Clark, J., L.S. Ortego, and A. Fairbrother. Sources of variability in
plant toxicity testing. Chemosphere. Elsevier Science Ltd, New
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Compton, J.E., C.P. Andersen, J. Brooks, M. Church, W.E. Hogsett,
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McComb, C. Shaff, and S. Klein. Ecological and water quality
consequences of nutrient addition for salmon restoration in the
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the Environment. Ecological Society of America, Ithaca, NY, 4
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stable-isotope constraint system for estuarine food-web mod-
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Fairbrother, A. and B.Hope. Terrestrial Ecotoxicology. 2nd Chap-
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Fairbrother, A. and J.G. Turnley. Predicting risks of uncharacteris-
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Ferraro, S.P. Red letter days. Quarterly Review of Biology. Uni-
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Lach, D.H., S.L. Duncan, and R.T. Lackey. Can we get there from
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(continued on page 6)
-------
-WED Research Update-
page 6
RECENT RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS, CONTINUED
Lackey, R.T., D.H. Lach, and S.L. Duncan. The Challenges of Re-
storing Wild Salmon.
Chapter 1, Robert T. Lackey, Denise H. Lach, Sally L. Duncan
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Skjelkvale, B., J.L. Stoddard, K. Torseth, T. Hogasen, K. Bow-
man-James, J. Mannio, D. Monteith, R. Mosello, V. Pallanza,
D. Rzychon, J. Vesely, J. Wieting, A. Wilander, and A.
Worsztynowicz. Regional scale evidence for improvements in
surface water chemistry 1990 to 2001. Environmental Pollu-
tion. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 137:165-176,
(2005).
Stoddard, J.L. Mid-Atlantic integrated assessment (MAIA) state
of the flowing waters report. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/620/R-06/001, 2006.
(continued on page 8)
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-WED Research Update-
page 7
WESTERN ECOLOGY DIVISION SCIENCE REACHES AROUND THE WORLD
Peter Beedlow continues to assist
EPA Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho,
Oregon & Washington) and the state
of Alaska in identifying potential
effects of climate change in Alaska.
Beedlow previously had conducted
research on the effects of rising at-
mospheric CO2 on Pacific Northwest
forests. The effects of climate
change could have a major impact
on the environment and economy of
Alaska. The EPA Administrator's
Office assigned Region 10 the
study, and they requested the assis-
tance of Dr. Beedlow. Contact:
beedlow.peter@epa.gov
Robert Lackey presented a lecture
at the annual meeting of British Co-
lumbia's Ministry of the Environ-
ment in Victoria in October. Dr.
Lackey summarized the results of
the Salmon 2100 Project. Protecting
remaining salmon populations in
British Columbia and elsewhere in
the Pacific Northwest continues to
be a dominant environmental sci-
ence and policy issue. Contact:
lackey.robert@epa.gov
Thomas Pfleeger and David
Olszyk were invited to the Society
of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry/ Europe to present a pa-
per on Pesticide Risk Assessment in
May 2006. The paper, 'Using field
grown potatoes to test for non-target
plant effects from pesticides', out-
lined the authors' work with pesti-
cide "drift", or the ability of pesti-
cides to have an impact on plants
outside their intended target area.
Olszyk and Pfleeger also took part
in discussions with European and
Canadian scientists. Contact:
pfleeger. thomas@epa.gov
Henry Lee II provided scientific
support to EPA's Office of Water
during International Ballast Water
Treaty discussions at the United
Nations' International Maritime
Organization. Lee's assistance was
requested in addressing treaty lan-
guage dealing with risk assessment
for ships traveling between desig-
nated ports. A single liter of bal-
last water can contain dozens of
different species and thousands of
organisms; ballast water dis-
charge is subject to biologically-
based standards, including guide-
lines for restricting introduction of
invasive species when ballast wa-
ter is discharged in U.S. ports.
Contact: lee.henry@epa.gov
Leaders of ONAMI—Oregon
Nanoscience and Microtechnolo-
gies Institute—met with Western
Ecology Division Director Tho-
mas Fontaine to talk about col-
laborative research on the effects
of manufactured nanomaterials in
natural systems. (Materials re-
duced to the nanoscale may sud-
denly have very different proper-
ties.) Of special interest is the po-
tential use of WED's micro- and
meso-cosms (sealed enclosures
containing natural system compo-
nents) for assessing ecological ef-
fects of nanomaterials, including
how their physical and chemical
properties can be related to their
effects.
other crops, as well as in homes and gardens
Jay Reichman traveled to Rus-
sia as part of an EPA team in a
joint project with the US Depart-
ment of State and the Ministry of
Health of the Russian Federa-
tion. Goal: help Russian scien-
tists adapt a former biological
weapons plant for use as a risk
assessment research facility,
learning from research experi-
ences at Western Ecology Divi-
sion. Russian officials con-
tacted EPA several years ago
with a proposal to set up the
cooperative program. Their sci-
entists were recently able to pro-
cure genetic material to use in
their research, which will help
inform regulation of the fledg-
ling agricultural bio-technology
industry in that country.
Contact: reichman.jay@epa.gov
Local high school students will
benefit from the world-class sci-
entific expertise resident at the
Western Ecology Division in
Corvallis, Oregon. Ron Wasch-
mann has signed on to give
technical and scientific assis-
tance to Corvallis High School's
biodiesel project. Biodiesel is a
domestic, renewable fuel derived
from natural plant sources. Us-
ing a research grant from Hew-
lett Packard, the students will
investigate and compare the ef-
fects of biodiesel and gasoline
fuel emissions on plant life. Stu-
dents from biology, chemistry,
horticulture and automotive
classes will design, build, and
operate open-top chambers to
conduct their experiments.
Contact:
waschmann.ron@epa.gov
(continued on page 9)
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-WED Research Update-
page 8
CLIMATE CONDITIONS SIMULATED IN TERRACOSMS
The "grassland ecosys-
tems" in Jillian Gregg's
planter boxes don't look
particularly unusual. But
as the plants from Ore-
gon's upland prairie eco-
system go through their
growing cycle, they are
being closely monitored
for their reaction to arti-
ficially elevated tempera-
tures that simulate cli-
mate change. The US
Department of Energy's
Climate Change Re-
search Division has
leased the unique tera-
cosm research facility at
Western Ecology Divi-
sion, one of the few fa-
cilities of its kind in the
Jillian Gregg checks on plants
growing in one of the mesomsms
nation. Principal investiga-
tor Jillian Gregg explains
that the project's goal is to
determine the effects of
symmetric versus asymmet-
rically higher temperatures
on the plants. Symmetric
warming means that tem-
peratures are elevated by
the same amount over a
24-hour period. Asymmet-
ric warming—which sci-
entists have now docu-
mented—means that mini-
mum dawn temperatures
are more affected by cli-
mate change than mid-day
maximum temperatures.
Asymmetric warming
could have a negative ef-
fect on plants, due to in-
creased respiration and
reduced growth overall.
Or, conversely, the longer
growing season with
warmer minimum temper-
atures could increase plant
growth. Gregg's three-
year experiment should
provide definitive answers.
The outdoor sunlit plant
growth chambers, or tera-
cosms, house the plants,
giving year-round control
of temperature, humidity,
C02, soil moisture, and
fertility under natural
sunlight. Plants are grown
in soils reconstructed to be
as similar as possible to
natural soils.
Gregg is a researcher
OO
working for Terrestrial
Ecosystems Research
Associates.
Contact:
gregg.jillian@epa.gov
RECENT RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS, CONTINUED
Stoddard, J.L. Use of ecological regions in aquatic assessments of
ecological condition. Environmental Management. Springer-
Verlag, New York, NY, 34(Suppl. 1):S61-S70, (2005).
Stoms, D.M., F.W. Davis, S.J. Andelman, M.H. Carr, S.D. Gaines,
B.S. Halpern, R. Hoenicke, S.G. Leibowitz, A. Leydecker, E.P.
Madin, H. Tallis, and R.R. Warner. Integrated coastal reserve plan-
ning: making the land-sea connection. Frontiers in Ecology and the
Environment. . Ecological Society of America, Ithaca, NY,
3(8):429-436, (2005).
Suter, G.W., S.B. Norton, and A. Fairbrother. Individuals versus or-
ganisms versus populations in the definition of ecological assess-
ment endpoints. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Man-
agement. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, 1(4):397-400, (2005).
Tingey, D.T., E. Lee, R.S. Waschmann, M.G. Johnson, and P.T. Ry-
giewicz. Effects of elevated temperature and CO2 on soil CO2
efflux: evidence for acclimatization during the third and fourth
year of treatment. New Phytologist. Blackwell Publishing, Maiden,
MA, 170:107-118, (2006).
Tingey, D.T., M.G. Johnson, E. Lee, C.M. Wise, R.S. Waschmann,
D.M. Olszyk, L.S. Watrud, andK.K. Donegan. Effects of elevated
CO2 and O3 on soil CO2 efflux in ponderosa pine microcosms.
Soil Biology and Biochemistry. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York,
NY, 38:1764-1778, (2006).
Trudell, S.A., P. T. Rygiewicz, andR.L. Edmonds. Patterns of nitro-
gen and carbon stable isotope ratios in macrofungi, plants and
soils in two old-growth conifer forests. New Phytologist. Black-
well Publishing, Maiden, MA, 164(2):317-335, (2004).
Van Sickle, I, C.P. Hawkins, D.P. Larsen, and A.T. Herlihy. A null
model for the expected macroinvertebrate assemblage in streams.
Journal of the North American Benthological Society. Allen
Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, 24(1): 178-191, (2005).
Van Sickle, J., D.D. Huff, and C.P. Hawlins. Selecting discrimi-
nant function models for predicting the expected richness of
aquatic macroinvertebrates. Freshwater Biology. Blackwell
Publishing, Maiden, MA, 51:359-372, (2006).
Warren, J.M., F.C. Meinzer, J. Brooks, and J.C. Domec. Verti-
cal stratification of soil water storage and release dynamics
in Pacific Northwest coniferous forests. Agricultural and
Forest Meteorology. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY,
130(l-2):39-58, (2005).
Watrud, L.S. Long distance pollen-mediated gene flow from
creeping bentgrass. ISB News Report. January: 1-3, (2005).
Watrud, L.S., S. Misra, L. Gedamu, T. Shiroyama, S. Maggard,
and G.D. Di Giovanni. Ecological risk assessment of alfalfa
(medicago varia 1.) genetically engineered to express a hu-
man metallothionein (HMT) gene. Water, Air, and Soil Pol-
lution. Springer, New York, NY, 176:329-349, (2006).
White, D. Patterns of endemism of the eastern North American
cave fauna. Journal of Biogeography 32(8): 1441-1452,
(2005).
White, R.D. Display of pixel loss and replication in reprojecting
raster data from the sinusoidal projection. Geocarto Interna-
tional. Geocarto International Centre, Hong Kong, China,
21(2): 19-22, (2006).
Wigington Jr., P.J., T. Moser, and D.R. Lindeman. Stream
network expansion: a riparian water quality factor. Hydro-
logical Processes. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Indianapolis,
IN, 19(8): 1715-1721, (2005).
Woods, A., J.M. Omernik, C.L. Pederson, and B. Moran. Level
III and IV ecoregions of Illinois. U.S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-06/104, 2006.
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-WED Research Update-
page 9
SCIENTISTS ASSESS FISH, STREAMS
New model could improve
salmon management:
Computer simulation models
are a valuable tool for ad-
dressing a wide range of
management options. Scott
Leibowitz has created a spa-
tially-explicit simulation
model for coho salmon.
This model uses either actual
stream networks to study
specific management options
or randomly generated
stream networks to realisti-
cally represent a broad range
of stream network condi-
tions. This modeling tool
provides EPA decision-
makers with better informa-
tion to meet the require-
ments of the Endangered
Species Act and the Clean
Water Act. Contact:
leibowitz.scott@epa.gov
Many factors affect young
salmon & steelhead:
Warm summer temperatures
in streams of the Pacific
Northwest can create stressful
conditions for fish requiring
cold water, like salmon and
trout. Colder water from
springs can enter streams, and
create small pockets of refuge
for fish, but Joe Ebersole has
found that fish also respond
to refuge depth, dissolved
oxygen levels, and other fac-
tors, suggesting that cold wa-
ter alone may not be suffi-
cient to create a useful refuge
in warm weather. The infor-
mation will be useful in ef-
forts to protect and restore
stream habitats for salmon
and trout. Contact:
ebersole.joseph@epa.gov
Book is long-awaited
outcome of "Salmon 2100"
The goal of the Salmon 2100
Project, organized by EPA fisher-
ies biologist
Robert Lackey,
was to identify
options that
would have a
high probability
of success in
restoring signifi-
cant, sustainable
runs of wild
salmon in the
Pacific North-
west. The re-
sulting book provides a summary
of practical policy prescriptions,
says Lackey. Former EPA head
William Ruckelshaus was keynote
speaker at the project's January
2006 conference in Portland, Ore-
gon, and each of the project's
participating salmon experts and
policy analysts contributed a
chapter to the book, now avail-
able through American Fisheries
Society (www.afsbooks.org).
Contact: lackey.robert@epa.gov
Stressors on
salmon include
fishing, dams,
disease, losing,
and habitat
degradation
SCIENCE.. .REACHING AROUND THE WORLD
Don Phillips traveled to uni-
versities in Brazil and Uru-
guay to consult with scien-
tists on stable isotope analy-
sis and modeling for an inter-
national study on estuarine
food webs. Coastal lagoons
in the two countries are im-
portant as feeding, reproduc-
tion, and nursery areas for a
number of marine and terres-
trial plants and animals, but
are vulnerable to a variety of
human-caused stressors.
Phillips was invited to par-
ticipate because of his role in
developing modeling tech-
niques using stable isotopes
as environmental tracers. This
project will foster collaboration
and good-will in the international
environmental research arena.
Contact: phillips.donald@epa.gov
Tom Pfleeger traveled to Majuro
in the Marshall Islands for a
three-month appointment as an
Embassy Science Fellow. Pflee-
ger's assignment: evaluate critical
environmental problems, and
recommend solutions. Top pri-
orities included creating a sustain-
able solid waste disposal and re-
cycling program, and explor-
ing sources of renewable energy.
The island nation's fragile
coral reef ecosystem consti-
tutes its major potential for
economic development through
ecotourism, fishing and aqua-
culture. Contact:
pfleeger.thomas@epa.gov
bodies el from
coconuts is one
of the options
that could help
cut down on
imported oil in
the Marshall
Islands
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-WED Research Update-
-page 10
LAST WORD: BLUEBIRDS OF THE WILLAMETTE
Nathan Schumaker and
former EPA post-doc re-
searcher Laura Nagy
weren't your typical bird-
watchers... .they were
evaluating the western
bluebird as part of a 2-year
study that is helping re-
veal how birds in the wild
respond to stressors in their
environment.
Schumaker and Nagy stud-
ied birds in the Wil-
lamette Valley, Oregon,
measuring reproduction
and survival to evaluate
how birds cope with pesti-
cides, habitat change, and
other environmental
stresses.
Their study demonstrates
the value of PATCH
(Program to Assist in
Tracking Critical Habitat),
a spatially explicit "life
history" model developed
by Schumaker.
PATCH is easily adaptable
to the needs of researchers;
with the input of data like
habitat maps and reproduc-
tion rates, it can project
where species will be found
as the landscape changes
over time, and predict in-
creases or decreases in
population density.
Schumaker and Nagy's
database includes all in-
formation required to run a
population model, includ-
Western
is
examined and
released
ing data on survival and
reproduction rates. This
database will consolidate
all the required data in a
summarized form.
Ecological risk assessors
throughout EPA will
benefit from the im-
proved model.
Contact:
schumaker. nathan
@epa.gov
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research & Development
National Health & Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Western Ecology Division
200 SW 35th Street
Corvallis
Oregon 97333-4996
The information in this document
has been funded wholly or in part
by the U. S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency. It has been subjected
to review by the National Health
and Environmental Effects Re-
search Laboratory and approved
for publication. Approval does not
signify that the contents reflect the
views of the Agency, nor does
mention of trade names or com-
mercial products constitute en-
dorsement or recommendation for
use.
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