oEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Health & Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory
200 SW 35th St, Corvallis OR 97333
Hatfield Marine Science Ctr, Newport OR 97365
www.epa.gov/wed
WESTERN ECOLOGY DIVISION
EPA/600/F-05/009
Meeting Information Needs for EPA and the Nation
The Western Ecology Division
(WED) is part of the National
Health and Environmental Effects
Research Laboratory (NHEERL),
with research facilities in Corvallis
and Newport, OR. WED scientists
provide information to EPA offices
and regions nationwide to improve
our understanding of how human
activities affect estuarine, freshwa-
ter, and terrestrial ecosystems.
Field data and stress-response
modeling improve estuarine -water
quality criteria.
The Division addresses a broad range
of ecological issues. Our scientists
collaborate with other EPA research
labs, as well as with scientists in other
programs located in Corvallis and
Newport, such as Oregon State Uni-
versity, USDA Forest Service, USGS
Biological Resources Division, and
NOAA Fisheries. These collaborations
have greatly enhanced our collective
capabilities.
above: Novel sampling designs and biological indica-
tors ensure accurate assessment of aquatic condition
Contributing to Environmental Improvements
Past research programs at WED have in-
formed environmental policy in the United
States and elsewhere. Early work on con-
taminated waters led the Office of Water to
develop water quality criteria. WED scien-
tists led efforts in acid rain research that
influenced U.S. .policies restricting air pol-
lutants. Studying the effects of ozone on
terrestrial ecosystems led the Office of Air
to undertake changes in regulations. WED sci-
entists have developed techniques for assess-
ing the condition of aquatic ecosystems that
are used nationally. Wetland assessments have
helped define new federal policies. Research
at WED has contributed to better tools for
pesticide risk assessments for protection of
wildlife and their habitats.
Continuing Leadership in Environmental Research
Research at WED continues a long tradition of developing information to meet Agency
and national needs. Current work focuses on providing data for the Offices of Water and
Pesticides, as well as information requested by Regional EPA Offices, benefiting citizens
across the United States :
Landscape
and popula-
tion model-
ing identify
important
stresses on
wildlife
^•Monitoring the Nation's Waters: Scientists at
WED's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
(EMAP) have developed innovative approaches to monitoring
coastal and freshwater environments. Federal and State
Agencies which implement the Clean Water Act rely heavily on
information generated by EMAP to evaluate the condition of
U.S. waters.
^•Salmon Habitat: WED is working to identify stream and
landscape characteristics that are important spawning and
rearing habitats for at-risk populations of coho salmon and other
native fish.
^•Freshwater/Estuarine Ecosystems: Nutrients coming
into streams, rivers and estuaries can have both positive and
negative effects on aquatic life, and can impact the use of those
waters by humans. WED scientists are providing information
that will help establish nutrient criteria and guide management
of excess nutrients coming into our nation's estuaries.
^•Pesticides: Crops, native plants, and wildlife face
individual and cumulative risks due to pesticide use. The
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs assesses the environ-
mental risks posed by pesticides to a variety of plant and
animal species, utilizing many innovative techniques
developed in WED laboratories. Research may also pre-
dict other stressors on key wildlife species and ecosystem
processes.
^•Genetically modified crops: Recent concern over
use of genetically modified
crops has prompted WED
research into the potential
ecological risks caused by
movement of genetically al-
tered material into native
plant communities.
above: WED researcher conducts an analysis under black light
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WED'S CAPABILITIES
The long-term success of WED is due to its dedicated and highly capable workforce that
consists of over 70 federal employees. In addition, WED works with contract employees,
research collaborators, student interns and post-doctoral researchers to address priority
research needs of the agency.
above: The future of-wild salmon in the
Pacific Northwest remains the subject of
ongoing research at WED.
Our scientific expertise is distributed among three research Branches:
> Freshwater Ecology Branch
i
• Developing new indicators and approaches to assess biological condition of freshwater resources
• Developing new statistical survey designs to assess status and trends in biological condition of
aquatic resources
• Developing understanding of headwater streams and isolated wetlands and how they contribute
to the biological condition of other aquatic resources
• Characterizing and assessing ecoregions across the United States
> Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch (Newport)
• Developing models of the effects of stressors such nutrients, sediments, toxics, and non-native
species on estuarine species, habitats and ecosystem processes
• Developing new indicators of ecological condition of estuarine and near-coastal environments
• Developing approaches for evaluating the impacts of habitat alteration within estuarine systems
>• Ecological Effects Branch
• Developing tools to understand and predict effects of stressors on terrestrial ecosystem functions
• Characterizing relationships between terrestrial ecological processes and aquatic ecosystem
conditions
• Analyzing the effect of landscape patterns and pesticide applications on habitat quality for wildlife
• Understanding risks to native plants associated with genetically engineered crops
WED—Addressing New and Emerging Information Needs
Our disciplinary expertise allows us to be prepared to respond to new and emerging Agency needs effectively and
efficiently. Among the many issues that can be addressed by our scientists, staff, and unique experimental facilities
are the following:
air pollution
acid rain
aquatic ecology
climate change
ecosystem modeling
environmental monitoring
environmental statistics
estuarine ecology
A
fisheries biology
forest ecology
lake ecology
landscape ecology
marine benthic ecology
molecular ecology
nanotechnology
plant-soil studies
plant toxicology
seagrass biology
stable isotope applications
stream ecology
V water quality
wetland eco ogy
Contact Us:
Western Ecology Division
200 SW 35th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
Phone: (541) 754-4600
—WED—
providing sound science for
environmental decision-making
Visit our Website
for more information:
http://www.epa.gov/wed/
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