ited States Environmental Protection Agency Western Ecology Division Update Spring 2008 Office of Research & Development National Health & Environmental Effects Research Laboratory below: 'Northern Pike undergoes biopsy sampling; tissue sample will be tested for methylmercury Corvallis, Oregon EPA/600/N-08/002 FRESHWATER ECOLOGY BRANCH Since the late 1980's, there has been a down- ward trend in mercury emissions from manu- facturing sources in the U.S. But according to WED's Dr. Spencer Peterson, mercury in stream fish tissue still exceeds the USEPA tissue based water quality criterion in several stream reaches across the Western U.S. Mercury consumption via fish remains a concern for both humans and wildlife because of their Methylmercury (MeHg) content. Since 2002, Peterson has carried out a series of studies to assess the regional extent of the problem. MeHg is bioaccumulative; each fish absorbs mercury from the smaller fish or organisms it eats. Thus, older, larger fish have more Hg in them than small fish. MeHcpMethylMercury Large-scale combustion of fos- sil fuels like coal release tons of mercury (Hg) into the atmosphere. When it is depos- ited in waterbodies (lakes, rivers and wetlands), bacteria transforms some of the Hg into methylmercury (MeHg), the most toxic form. 2002: "Level and Extent of Mer- cury Contamination in Oregon, U.S.A. Lotic Fish "—This was the first statistically designed survey of its kind for the state of Oregon; it assessed the proportion of stream length affected by fish tis- sue Hg (mercury) concentrations considered harmful for human and wildlife consumption. 2005: "A Biopsy Procedure for Determining Filet and Predicting Whole Fish Mercury Concentra- tion "—Non-lethal biopsy sampling is a reliable predictor of whole-fish Hg concentration. A tissue sam- pling procedure was used to meas- ure Hg in filet, and then compare it with whole-body Hg concentration of the same fish. Fish were ana- lyzed at 65 sites across 12 Western States, and a tight correlation re- sulted in an equation for predicting whole-body Hg concentration from Hg concentration in filets. Filet samples can be collected us- ing a non-lethal sampling method. 2007: Holding Time Study "Mercury Concentration in Frozen Whole-Fish Homogenates is Insensi- tive to Holding Time "— The most recent research demonstrates that there is no difference in Hg concentra- tion measured in the same frozen fish tissue sample when the analyses were done 4 years apart. This extends the acceptable fish tissue holding time for analysis from the current 28-60 day period to at least 4 years and probably longer, since there was no statistically significant change. Frozen fish tissue can be held for at least 4 years without affecting analytical results. V-: 2007: West Stream Study "Mercury Concentration in Fish from Streams and Rivers Throughout the Western United States "—This was the first application of probability sampling of streams for Hg in fish tissue over a large area (12 Western States). Salmonids (i.e., salmon, cutthroat trout) were assessed for mercury con- centration in 125,000 km of stream- length. In 11% of the assessed stream length salmonids exceeded the wild- life criteria value (0.1 (igHg/g). In 2.3% of stream length salmonids ex- ceeded levels acceptable for human consumption (0.3u.gHg/g). Piscivo- rous fish (those that eat other fish) in 31,400 kilometers of stream were also assessed. In 93% of assessed stream length, individuals exceeded 0.1u.gHg/g. In 57% of assessed stream length, individuals exceeded 0.3ugHg/g. left: map shows scope of 2007 WED study of streams in Western U.S. ------- ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS BRANCH In a Nutshell: PATCH is a spatially explicit, individual-based life history simulator designed to predict how the numbers and distribu- tion of wildlife species will change overtime. The model can predict how wildlife populations will respond to multiple interacting stressors, how population density will increase or decrease, and whether the species is likely to go extinct. It can produce maps of where the species will be found as a landscape changes with time. PATCH ("Program to Assist Tracking Critical Habitat") is a complex, spatially explicit com- puter model developed at WED by Dr. Nathan Schumaker. The model can address diverse ques- tions using multiple data- sets to introduce various factors into each simula- tion. PATCH was designed to predict the potential ef- fects of stressors such as pesticides, pollutants and land-use changes on eco- systems, and the long- term response of various species to such stressors. For example, habitat types, weather conditions, food sources or disease events can be added or removed to determine the effect on a population. Simulations can be used to explore the efficacy of anticipated habitat recov- ery efforts. Canadian researchers, led by Dr. Julie Heinrichs, recently sought input from Dr. Schumaker to assist them in predicting the fate of the "at-risk" Ord's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordif). Ord 's Kangaroo Rat was once abundant in Canada's arid sandhill region. Seeing an opportunity to work with a dataset that could test and improve the model for EPA applica- tions, Schumaker helped parameterize PATCH for this use by the Canadian research team. Ord's Kangaroo Rat is a nocturnal desert dweller whose energy require- ment is met by a cheek- pouch load of seeds daily. It builds a complex under- ground burrow, and can survive for long periods without water. This solitary animal re- quires an open, sparsely vegetated, sandy habitat. Kangaroo Rats are impor- tant prey for many raptors, reptiles, and mammals, some of which are considered at risk in Alberta. Under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA), habitat that is critical to listed animals must be identified. Mapping such habitats requires integration of habitat availability and quality, as well as a population analysis that indicates the potential future "success' of the species. The goal of Heinrichs and her colleagues was to iden- tify and assess habitats nec- essary for recovery and long-term persistence of Ord's Kangaroo Rat (K-Rat) using WED's spatially explicit population model. While kangaroo rats in gen- eral are wide-spread in the U.S., Ord's Kangaroo Rat is listed as "at risk" in Can- ada's Alberta and Sas- katchewan provinces due to %iu_-_ xT ? "; loss of its arid sandhill habitat. In the model, a simulated population of K-Rats was distributed throughout the landscape; location and movement of the individu- als, and data on their over- wintering, reproduction, and summer survival, were tracked through the landscape over a 50-year period. Schumaker set the model's parameters to assign habitat quality scores to pixels on a map, and then integrated them into a hexagonal grid. left: clusters of yellow and green hexagons rep- resent high quality indi- vidual territories of Dipodomys ordii on this PATCH simulation map. PATCH may help predict what the future holds for K-Rat, and the results of this study will potentially be used as a benchmark for alternative manage- ment scenarios. The use of WED's PATCH model by Cana- dian scientists demon- strates not only its versa- tility in a variety of appli- cations, but also the value of EPA research to other nations and their agencies. PATCH is currently util- ized by EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs for ongoing research on the effects of pesticides in the environment. ------- PACIFIC COASTAL ECOLOGY BRANCH Western Ecology Division scientist Dr. James Power, working in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW), has been implanting "pinger" devices into juvenile fish and tracking their journeys to the sea in an effort to learn more about fish populations and migration pat- terns. Determining whether or not estua- rine habitats are functioning prop- erly to support salmonid popula- tions is necessary because, under the Clean Water Act, States must designate specific uses for their right: Derek Wilson (ODFW) surgically implants tracking device into smolt. The fish are held for observation for up to a week before release. far right: Dynamac employees Lucas Nipp and Una Monaghan also searched for fish in the Alsea River by kayaking downstream while keeping an acoustic receiver in the water to count fish. How Do You Count Fish in a River? Jim Power and the ODFW implanted tiny transmitters in downstream- moving coho, cutthroat, and steelhead smolts at upriver locations in Oregon's Yaquina and Alsea Rivers. Acoustic receivers, which record the date, time and individual ID of passing fish, were deployed in the water along the migration route. The receivers can detect the signal from the fish at dis- tances of up to 300 meters. waterways, and periodically report on those waterways. In Oregon, "salmon rearing and migration" is an important designated use for many estuaries. The downstream migration of sal- monid smolts is an important phase in the fish's life cycle: the fish is under physiological stress as it tran- sitions to the saltwater environment, and it is also at greater risk of pre- dation. Power's study tracked the movements of migrant salmonid smolts captured in tributaries of the Yaquina and Alsea Rivers, and also hatchery-raised smolts. Salmonids are fish in the salmon and trout family. Many salmonids hatch in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, and then return upriver to spawn in fresh-water streams. A smolt is a juvenile salmonid at the stage where the fish becomes physiologically adapted to saltwa- ter and begins its trek to its salt water environment. left: A rotary screw trap operated by Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Migrating smolts that are moving downstream are captured and held by the trap, al- lowing ODFW to monitor the salmon populations in Oregon's coastal streams. Summary: Smolt Movements in Yaquina & Alsea Rivers/Estuaries: Once entering the main channel of the river, smolts generally move downstream rapidly, and spend more than half their time in the estuary reach nearest the ocean, near seagrass beds and extensive tide flats. Smolts did not necessarily enter the ocean at their first opportunity; rather some approached within a few hundred meters of the open ocean, and then moved back up the estuary. The seagrass beds are thought to be an important habitat for these fish while in the estuary. This research underscores the importance of the estuarine habitat, and will help inform decisions that could help protect this habitat in the future. ------- ECOLOGY BRANCH NOTES Eelgrass is a vital element of estuarine habitats, and their growth depends on receiving sufficient light to carry out photosynthesis. If light is not suffi- cient, plants must utilize stored energy, depletion of which can eventually re- sult in mortality. The minimum hours of pigment-saturating (Hsat) daylight needed by eelgrass has been estimated at 3-5 per day. However, this value has not been measured in the labora- tory. Now, eelgrass harvested from Yaquina Bay, Oregon is being grown by Dr. Bruce Boese in 1,000 gallon indoor mesocosms and exposed to various light treatments. Results of a similar experiment last summer indi- cated that eelgrass was able to survive and grow if Hsat light exceeded 4 hours daily. Data will be used by Drs. Pete Eldridge and Jim Kaldy to aid in the development of a model which will predict seagrass responses to changes in light, nutrients, temperature, salinity and sediment chemistry. Pilot experiment of eelgrass growth in mesocosms Recently Dr. Henry Lee II (PCEB) was interviewed for an article in "Ballast Exchange Newsletter" of the West Coast Ballast Outreach Project, based at the University of California/ Davis. The interview focused on sev- eral of Henry's current projects, in- cluding the PCEIS database (which combines detailed distributional data on native and non-native species), his technical assistance to IMO (International Maritime Organiza- tion), and recently, his evaluation of an Aquatic Invasive Species theory based on biogeography. To read full text of article, click here and scroll to pages 4-5 Ballast water Ballast water is carried in ships to provide stability. At the ships' destination, the water is pumped out, along with any organisms it contains; these "hitchhiker" organisms can be invasive and detrimental to local marine ecosystems. FRESHWATER ECOLOGY BRANCH NOTES Since the mid 1990's, surplus fish carcasses have been placed in Pacific Northwest streams and rivers in an effort to boost nutrient levels needed by wild juvenile salmon. To deter- mine how over-wintering juvenile salmon utilize nutrients, Dr. Robbins Church has developed an approach for analyzing stable isotopes of car- bon and nitrogen in fish mucus, a rap- idly-changing "tissue" not previously analyzed for isotopes. At the Oregon Hatchery Research Center, Church and colleague Dr. Joseph Ebersole are conducting feeding experiments under controlled conditions and measuring the relative rates of isotopic change in mucus vs. muscle tissue. The data in this groundbreaking study will comple- ment data collected from wild fish, and will help evaluate restoration strategies that may benefit wild salmon through- out the region. What is a Stable Isotope? The element carbon, for example, has 6 protons in its nucleus, but the number of neu- trons (6, 7 or 8) determines the atomic mass and the specific isotope. When carbon is passed from one system to another (as from a food source to the tissue of an animal) there is a slight prefer- ence for either the heavier or the lighter isotope, so the ratio changes, producing a distinctive isotopic "fingerprint". In June 2006, the US Supreme Court ruled in two cases concerning juris- diction under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The decisions, which deal with CWA jurisdiction of non- navigable streams and adjacent wet- lands, have increased the need for scientific information to inform fu- ture policies and legislation. In a recent journal article, Drs. Scott Leibowitz and Jim Wigington pro- pose an approach for addressing these science needs. In summary: • Addressing the science needs prompted by the Supreme Court cases requires that the various waters be regarded as components of integrated hydrological and ecological systems. • Leibowitz and colleagues define metrics of hydrological permanence and significant nexus. • Applying these metrics could help implement the new legal standards during jurisdictional determinations. Significant Nexus refers to the effects of non- navigable streams and adjacent wetlands on the chemical, physi- cal and biological integrity of navigable waters. ------- L EFFECTS BRANCH NOTES There is a growing appreciation for the importance of soil carbon to ecosystem productivity and as a reser- voir for carbon, yet our understanding of soil carbon stability and distribu- tion is limited. Soil carbon comprises about 75% of all terrestrial carbon, however, current soil carbon maps are inadequate in representing these stocks, which are vulnerable to loss, as part of a dynamic carbon cycle. An improved inventory and monitoring approach is needed to assess not only its distribution, but also its stability in a changing environment. Dr. Mark Johnson, a Soil Scientist at WED, has been invited to serve on the Scientific Steering Group of the National Soil Carbon Network. This network is a collaborative effort to produce high- resolution information on soil carbon stability and distribution of soil carbon. The sequestration of additional carbon in soil may reduce atmospheric carbon loads and help to mediate the effects of climate change. BEYOND WESTERN ECOLOGY DIVISION The report, A Summary ofNHEERL Ecological Research on Global Cli- mate Change, spans 14 years of re- search conducted by EPA/Office of Research and Development at its Na- tional Health and Environmental Ef- fects (NHEERL) research facilities. Edited by Drs. Peter Beedlow and David Tingey, the compendium pre- sents findings on how global climate change may affect terrestrial, fresh- water and marine ecosystems as well as agriculture. This research has provided a better understanding of the potential effects of global warming and rising levels of atmos- pheric CO2 on natural and managed ecosystems. Soil: a key life support system SB* A Summary of NHEERL Ecological Research on Global Climate Change left: At WED's mesocosm facilities, KristyMathes (with clipboard) of Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates (TERA) gives a tour of the Asymmetric Warming experiment. Preliminary results from the DOE/ EPA cooperative agreement study on asymmetric warming conducted by Dr. Jillian Gregg (TERA) show that grassland mesocosms exposed to asymmetrically elevated temperature treatments (+5°C daily minimum / +2°C daily maximum) had substan- tially higher respiratory costs in re- sponse to the warmer night tempera- tures. However, assimilation also increased in response to warmer mornings and milder midday tem- peratures, resulting in no biomass difference when compared to sym- metrically elevated temperature treatments. The question now is whether vege- tation in the asymmetric treatments will grow more in response to longer growing seasons. The ex- periment will also look for changes in species composition and abun- dance, and determine if there are changes in flowering times in re- sponse to the altered temperatures. The study continues through June, 2010. Invasive zebra mussels and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D bugensis ) have been aggressively spreading in many U.S. waterways. Now, a team of researchers, including Western Ecology Division scientist Dr. Paul Ringold, have created an ecoregion "risk" map based on cal- cium concentrations, to determine where the mussels could successfully invade. Primary data were taken from surveys made by the U.S. EPA's Envi- ronmental Monitoring and Assessment Program, and Wadeable Streams As- sessment. The map can help determine where resources should be targeted for management of the invasive s. above: Zebra mussels compete with native species, and can clog pipes and other municipal water infrastructure. ------- BEYOND WESTERN ECOLOGY DIVISION Australia: Dr. Mark Johnson attended the 3rd International Conference on Mechanisms of Organic Matter Stabili- zation and Destabilization in Soils and Sediments to give a presentation and to work with Australian colleagues on soil assessment methods. Johnson also met Brazil: Dr. Phil Kaufmann was invited to the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil to do research and teaching in connection with the Manuelzao Project, which includes de- velopment of biomonitoring of water quality, physical habitat and aquatic bio- diversity of the Velhas River watershed. China: Dr. Walt Nelson attended the 2nd Global Conference on Large Marine Ecosystems (LME's) in Qindao, China in September. On the agenda were monitoring, assessment and manage- ment of marine resources and ecosystem France: Dr. John Stoddard attended the 23rd Task Force Meeting of the International Cooperative Programme (ICP) on Assessment and Monitoring of Acidification of Rivers and Lakes in Nancy, France. Eighteen European countries, the US and Canada supply with the Australian scientist who shares one of his own research inter- ests: the effects of manufactured nanomaterials on the environment. One of the expected results of the Conference is information sharing and possible collaborations. The Brazilian monitoring community has been interested in the integrated approaches of Environmental Moni- toring and Assessment Program (EMAP), which they learned of on EPA's web site. Dr. Kaufmann's visit will provide the foundation for national biomonitoring in Brazil. health, impacts of climate change on LMEs, socioeconomics and valua- tions of LMEs, assessment of the impacts of climate and anthropo- genic factors, and cooperative global programs for action. data on acidification to a central data- base; analysis of the data provides an understanding of long-range trans- boundary air pollutants, heavy metals and organic pollutants. The project demonstrates the benefit of interna- tional agreements to reduce emissions of pollutants. ' above: Freshwater Ecology Branch Chief Dr. Tony Olsen (left) and Dr. Kuegel at WED Dr. Benno Kuegel, a biologist with the Bavarian Ministry of Environment's Agency of Water Management in Germany, spent two months at WED in Corvallis during 2007 working with West- ern Ecology Division scientists and learning about WED's fresh- water assessment methods. Dr. Kuegel also shared information about sustainable water manage- ment practices in Bavaria. above: Qindao, China—a junk (traditional Chinese sailing vessel) in Qindao. Photo courtesy of Walt Nelson India: Dr. Kristina McNyset attended the Joint Workshop on Ecological Forecasting in Pune, India in August. The workshop addressed the rapidly evolving discipline of ecological fore- casting. The meeting exposed Indian United Kingdom: Dr. Chris Andersen attended the September SETAC Con- ference on Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials in London. While production of nanoma- terials is expanding rapidly, their ef- fects on the environment remain in scientists to U.S. advancements in ecological forecasting; brainstorming common areas of interest led to col- laborative work programs and a framework for an Indo-U.S. Virtual Centre for Ecological Forecasting. question. Meeting highlights in- cluded: properties of nanoparticles in the environment; detection and bioas- says for nanosubstances; and envi- ronmental and industrial applications of nanotechnologies. Also discussed were regulation, and policy issues. above: Pune, India—local women created sand mandala on floor of hotel lobby to celebrate a festival. Photo courtesy of Kristina McNyset ------- 'NANO" MAKES BIG NEWS Engineered nanoparticles have the potential to be used in every sector of the economy, including consumer products, health care, energy, and agriculture, and to improve how we monitor, manage, and minimize con- taminants. By 2014, 15% of all goods manufactured globally could involve nanotechnology; there are already nearly 600 such products in the marketplace including clothing, cosmetics, and medicines. Although the EPA is interested in the possible benefits of nanotechnol- ogy, it also has the mandate to pro- tect human health and the environ- ment, and to date, there is almost no information on the effects of engi- neered nanomaterials once they reach the environment. To address this information gap, WED has initiated a new project, being led by Drs. Chris Andersen, Mark Johnson and Paul Ry- giewicz, to examine the potential effects of engineered nanoparticles on terrestrial ecosystems. They re- cently developed a three-phase re- search approach. In Phase I, tradi- tional OPPTS testing protocols will be examined to determine their ade- quacy in assessing the toxicity of nanoparticles. In Phase II, mechanisms of toxicity will be explored and novel approaches based on proteomics and genomics for rapidly assessing toxicity will be evaluated. Finally, Phase III will focus on the degree to which nanoparticles released into reconstructed ecosystems repre- sent a risk to ecosystem structure and function. The unique aspect of Phase III is shifting the endpoints of interest from individuals to groups of individu- als, and to their interactions and sys- tem level responses. This research will assist EPA OPPTS' development of regulatory require- ments, including pre- and post- registration product assessments and monitoring. In addition, the results will allow other Agency offices to identify potential environmental con- cerns resulting from nanoparticle ex- posure. Finally, the results will enable the Agency to evaluate its current risk assessment framework, and may lead to the development of a new assess- ment framework should the current approaches be inadequate for nano- particles. Nanotechnology... ...or molecular "manufacturing", allows researchers to alter material properties to create new materials and products. The "novel" properties of nanoparticles are different from the properties of the bulk mate- rial. For example, your new bedroom slippers could have a silver lin- ing—literally—of material con- taining silver nano-particles, which have antibacterial and antifungal properties. One nanometer =1 billionth of a meter RECENT PUBLICATIONS Ackerman, Luke K., Adam R. Schwindt, Staci L. Massey Simonich, Dan C. Koch, Tamara F. Blett, Carl B. Schreck, Michael L. Kent and Dixon H. Landers. Atmospherically deposited PBDEs, pesticides, PCBs, and PAHs in Western U.S. National Park Fish: Con- centrations and Consumption Guidelines. Environ. Sci. Technol. 10.1021/es702348j (2008). Almasi, Kama N., and Peter M. Eldridge. A Dynamic Model of an Estuarine Invasion by a Non-Native Sea- grass. Estuaries and Coasts: JCERF 31:163-17'6, doi: 10.1007/sl2237-007-9024-5 (2008). Beedlow, Peter A., David T. Tingey, E. Henry Lee, Don- ald L. Phillips, Christian P. Andersen, Ronald S. Waschmann, and Mark G. Johnson. Sapwood mois- ture in Douglas-fir boles and seasonal changes in soil water. Can. J. For. Res. 37: 1263-1271 (2007). Boese, Bruce L., Patrick J. Clinton, Danielee Dennis, Robert C. Golden, and Bryan Kim. Digital image analysis of Zostera Marina leaf injury. Aquatic Bot- any 88:87-90 (2008). Clark, Mark E., Brent J. Danielson, Mary V. Santelmann, Joan Iverson Nassauer, Denis White, and Kathryn Freemark Lindsay. "Impacts on Mammal Communi- ties: A Spatially Explicit Model". In From the corn belt to the gulf: societal and environmental implica- tions of alternative agricultural futures, edited by Joan Iverson Nassauer, Mary V. Santelmann, and Donald Scavia. Resources for the Future Press, Washington, D.C.,2007, Chapter 11,pp 115-138. Compton, J.E., T.D. Hooker and S.S. Perakis. Nitrogen distribution and d!5N in a 115-year white pine chronosequence. Ecosystems 10: 1197-1208(2007). ------- RECENT PUBLICATIONS Daly, Christopher, Jonathan W. Smith, Joseph L. Smith, and Robert B. McKane. High-Resolution Spatial Modeling of Daily Weather Elements for a Catchment in the Oregon Cascade Mountains, United States. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Clima- tology, doi: 10.1175/JAM2548.1 (2007). Debinski, Diane M., Mary V. Santelmann, Denis White, Kathryn Freemark Lindsay, and Jean C. Sif- neos. "Butterfly Responses." In From the corn belt to the gulf: societal and environmental implications of alternative agricultural futures, edited by Joan Iverson Nassauer, Mary V. Santelmann, and Donald Scavia. Resources for the Future Press, Washington, D.C., 2007, Chapter 9, pp 102-107. Eldridge, Peter M., and John W. Morse. Origins and temporal scales of hypoxia on the Louisiana shelf: Importance of benthic and sub-pycnocline water metabolism. Marine Chemistry 108:159-171 (2008). Faustini, John M. and Philip R. Kaufman. Adequacy of visually classified particle count statistics from re- gional stream habitat surveys. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 43(5): 1293-1315(2007). Fennessy, M. Siobhan, Amy D. Jacobs, and Mary E. Kentula. An Evaluation of Rapid Methods for As- sessing the Ecological Condition of Wetlands. Wetlands 27(3): 543-560 (2007). Frick, Walter E., Tarang Khangaonkar, Anne C. Sigleo, and Zhaoqing Yang. Estuarine-ocean exchange in a North pacific estuary: Comparison of steady state and dynamic models. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 74: 1-11 (2007). Harmon, M.E., Phillips, Donald L., Battles, J.J., Rassweiler, A., Hal, R.O., Lauenroth, W.K. "Quantifying uncertainty in net primary production measurements." Chapter 12 in Principles and Stan- dards for Measuring Primary Production, edited Fahey T.J. & Knapp, A.K Oxford University Press, New York, 2007, 238-260. Hobbie, E. A., Rygiewicz, Paul. T., Johnson, Mark. G., and Moldenke, A. R. 13C and 15N in microarthro- pods reveal little response of Douglas-fir ecosys- tems to climate change. Global Change Biology. Vol. 13: 1386-1397 (2007). Hogsett, William E., David T. Tingey, E. Henry Lee, Peter A. Beedlow, Christian P. Andersen. An Ap- proach for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Various Ozone Air quality Standards for Protecting Trees. Environmental Management, doi: 10.1007/s00267- 007-9057-3 (2008). Kaufmann, Phillip R., Faustini, John M., Larsen, D. Phillip., Shirazi, Mostafa. A Roughness-Corrected Index of Relative Bed Stability for Regional Stream Surveys. Geomorphology, doi: 10.10167 j.geomorph.2007.10.007 (2008). Kentula, Mary E. 2007. Foreword: Monitoring Wet- lands at the Watershed Scale. Wetlands 27(3): 412- 415 (2007). Koch, N., Andersen, Christian P., Raidl, S., Agerer, R., Matyssek, R., and Grams, T. E. Temperature- respiration relationships differ in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal root systems of Picea abies (L.) Karst. Plant Biology. Vol. 9:545-549 (2007). Lackey, Robert T. Scientists and Democracy [Review of: The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics. Roger A. Pielke, Jr., Cam- bridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2007.] BioScience 58(4):359-360, (2008). Leibowitz, Scott.G., P.James Wigington, Jr., M.C. Rains, and D.M. Downing. Non-navigable streams and adjacent wetlands: addressing science needs following the Supreme Court's Rapanos decision. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 6, doi: 10.1890/070068(2008). Lindsay, Kathryn Freemark, Mary V. Santelmann, Jean C. Sifneos, Denis White, and David A. Kirk . "Wildlife Habitat". In From the Com Belt to the Gulf; Societal and Environmental Implications of Alternative Agricultural Futures. Editors Joan Everson Nassauer, Mary V. Santelmann, and Don- ald Scavia. Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C., 2007, 147-163. Lomnicky, Gregg A., Thomas R. Whittier, Robert M. Hughes, and David V. Peck. Distribution of nonna- tive aquatic vertebrates in western U.S. streams and rivers. North American Journal of Fisheries Man- agement 27:1082-1093 (2007). Magee, T.K., Paul L. Ringold, and Michael A. Boll- man. Alien species importance in native vegetation along wadeable streams, John Day River basin, Oregon, USA. Plant Ecology, Jo/:10.1007/sll258- 007-9330-9 (2007). Meador, Michael R., Thomas R. Whittier, Robert M. Goldstein, Robert M. Hughes, and David V. Peck. Evaluation of an Index of Biotic Integrity Approach Used to Assess Biological Condition in Western U.S. Streams and Rivers at Varying Spatial Scales. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137:13-22 (2008). ------- RECENT PUBLICATIONS Morse, John W., and Peter M. Eldridge. A non-steady state diagenetic model for changes in sediment bio- geochemistry in response to seasonally hypoxic/ anoxic conditions in the "dead zone" of the Louisi- ana shelf. Marine Chemistry 106:239-255 (2007). Morzillo, A.T., J. W. Hollister, M.E. Rocca, and M.E. Baker, et al. A Young Scientist's Guide To Gainful Employment: Recent Graduates' Experiences and Successful Strategies. Bulletin of the Ecological Society ofAmerica,89(2):l93-203 (2008). Nagy, Laura, Anne Fairbrother, Matthew Etterson, and Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta. The Intersection of Inde- pendent Lies: Increasing Realism in Ecological Risk Assessment. Human and Ecological Risk As- sessment 13: 355-369 (2007). Newsome SD, Etnier MA, Gifford-Gonzalez D, Phillips DL, van Tuinen M, Hadly EA, Costa DP, Kennett DJ, Guilderson TP, Koch PL. The shifting baseline of northern fur seal ecology in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 (23): 9709-9714 (2007). Newsome, Seth D., Carlos Martinez del Rio, Stuart Bearhop, and Donald L. Phillips. A niche for iso- topic ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and the Envi- ronment 5: 429-436 (2007). Olszyk, David, Thomas Pfleeger, E. Henry Lee, Connie Burdick, George King, Milton Plocher and Jeffrey Kern. Selecting and Evaluating Native Plants for Region-Specific Phytotoxicity Testing. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 4(1): 105-117(2008). Paul, John F., Susan M. Cormier, Walter J. Berry, Philip R. Kaufmann, Robert L. Spehar, Douglas J. Norton, Robert E. Cantilli, Richard Stevens, Wil- liam F. Swietlik, and Benjamin K. Jessup. Develop- ing Water Quality Criteria for Suspended and Bed- ded Sediments. Water Practice 2(1). Water Envi- ronment Federation; doi: 10.2175/19331 7708X281433 (2008). Peterson, Spencer A., David V. Peck, John Van Sickle, and Robert M. Hughes. Mercury Concentration in Frozen Whole-Fish Homogenates is Insensitive to Holding Time. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 53: 411-417(2007). Roelke, Daniel L., and Peter M. Eldridge. Mixing of Supersaturated Assemblages and the Precipitous Loss of Species. The American Naturalist 171 (2): 162-175 (2008). Rosfjord, Catherine H., Katherine E. Webster, Jeffrey S. Kahl, Stephen A. Norton, Ivan J. Fernandez, and Alan T. Herlihy. Anthropogenically driven changes in chloride complicate interpretation of base cation trends in lakes recovering from acidic deposition. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47:7688-7693 (2007). Rustigian, Heather L., Mary V. Santelmann, and Nathan H. Schumaker. "Amphibian Population Dynamics." In From the Corn Belt to the Gulf; Societal and Environ- mental Implications of Alternative Agricultural Futures edited by Joan Everson Nassauer, Mary V. Santelmann, and Donald Scavia. Resources for the Future, Washing- ton, D.C., 2007, 108-114. Santelmann, Mary V., Jean C. Sifneos, Denis White, and Kathryn Freemark Lindsay. "Plant Diversity." In From the Corn Belt to the Gulf; Societal and Environmental Implications of Alternative Agricultural Futures edited by Joan Everson Nassauer, Mary V. Santelmann, and Donald Scavia. Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C., 2007, 91-101. Schwindt, Adam R., John W. Fournie, Dixon H. Landers, Carl B. Schreck and Michael L. Kent. Mercury Concen- trations in Salmonids from Western U.S. National Parks and Relationships with Age and Macrophage Aggre- gates. Environ Sci. Technol. 42:1365-1370. doi: 10.1021/es702337m(2008). Shirazi, Mostafa A. and Minocher Reporter. A Diurnal Re- flectance Model Using Grass: Surface-Substrate Interac- tion and Inverse Solution. Agron. J. 99:1278-1287 (2007). Tingey, David T., E. Henry Lee, James D. Lewis, Mark G. Johnson, and Paul T. Rygiewicz. Do mesocosms influ- ence photosynthesis and soil respiration? Environmental and Experimental Botany 62: 36-44 (2008). Tingey, David T., E. Henry Lee, Donald L. Phillips, Paul T. Rygiewicz, Ronald S. Waschmann, Mark G. Johnson, and David M. Olszyk. Elevated CO2 and temperature alter net ecosystem C exchange in a young Douglas fir mesocosm experiment. Plant, Cell and Environment 30: 1400-1410 (2007). Usenko, Sascha, Dixon H. Landers, Peter G. Appleby, and Staci L. Simonich. Current and Historical Deposition of PBDEs, Pesticides, PCBs, and PAHs to Rocky Mountain National Park. Environ. Sci. Technol. 41:7235-7241 (2007). Van Sickle, J., David D. Huff, and C.P. Hawkins. Selecting discriminant function models for predicting the expected richness of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Freshwater Biol- ogy 51,359-372(2006). Van Sickle, John, and Colleen Burch Johnson. Parametric distance weighting of landscape influence on streams. Landscape Ecology doi: 10.1007/sl0980-008-9200-4 (2008). ------- RECENT PUBLICATIONS 10 Van Sickle, John. An index of compositional dissimilar- ity between observed and expected assemblages. Journal of North American Benthological Society 27(2):227-235. doi: 10.1899/07-111-1 (2008). Wardrop, Denice H., Mary E. Kentula, Susan F. Jensen, Donald L. Stevens, Jr., Kristin C. Hychka, and Robert P. Brooks. Assessment of Wetlands in the Upper Juniata Watershed in Pennsylvania, USA Using the Hydrogeomorphic Approach. Wetlands 27(3): 432-445 (2007). Wardrop, Denice H., Mary E. Kentula, Donald L. Ste- vens, Jr., Susan F. Jensen, and Robert P. Brooks. Assessment of Wetland Condition: An Example from the Upper Juniata. Wetlands 27(3) 416-431 (2007). Whigham, Dennis F., Amy Deller Jacobs, Donald E. Weller, Thomas E. Jordan, Mary E. Kentula, Susan F. Jensen, and Donald L. Stevens, Jr. Combining HGM and EMAP procedures to assess wetlands at the watershed scale ~ status of flats and non-tidal riverine wetlands in the Nanticoke River watershed, Delaware and Maryland (USA). Wetlands 27(3): 462-478 (2007). White, Denis, and A. Ross Kiester. Topology matters: Network topology affects outcomes from commu- nity ecology neutral models. Computers, Environ- ment and Urban Systems 32: 165-171. doi: 10. 1016/ j .compenverbsys.2007.11.002 (2008). Whittier, Thomas R., Paul L. Ringold, Alan T. Herlihy, and Suzanne M. Pierson. A Calcium-based invasion risk assessment for zebra and Quagga mussels (Dreissena spp). Front Ecol Environ; 6, doi: 10.1890/070073 (2008). The Last Word: Seeking Public Opinion on Rodenticides Recently 9,000 questionnaires were sent to households and businesses in California as part of Dr. Anita Morzillo's "Rodenticide Use" sur- vey. Morzillo is a cross-NHEERL post doctoral researcher working on sustainability issues at the Western Ecology Division; she has been work- ing on the project since November 2005. The survey was done in collaboration with the National Park Service and California State University/Stanislaus, and will help assess public awareness of the potential effects of rodenticide use on wildlife. The information will benefit land managers by giving insight into environmental decision-making by individuals. below: Dr. Morzillo loads some of the surveys that were mailed to households and businesses in a target area of California. Scientists featured in this Research Update work at EPA's Western Ecology Division (National Health & Environmental Effects Laboratory) unless otherwise noted. For more information please contact editor Joan Hurley: hurley.ioan@epa.gov The information in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has been subjected to review by the Na- tional Health and Environmental Effects Research 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 commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. ------- |