Integration of Ecological Stressors

Projects conducted under this program component examine contaminants among other interacting stressors or conduct research on the interacting effects of multiple contaminants. Projects can focus on factors that affect individual species, or on complex issues affecting communities and ecosystems in large geographic areas. Projects on endangered species, amphibian and reptile declines may focus at regional and national scales and integrate the ecological or life history effects or other habitat factors. At the ecosystem or landscape level, research may elucidate effects caused by interactions between contaminants and other habitat altering factors as climate variability, atmospheric redistribution and deposition, land use change, alterations to hydrologic processes, water quality, and competition with non-native species. Investigations conducted at the ecosystem or landscape level may require analytical tools and approaches that are different than those used in local studies, and may integrate and synthesize information from local investigations, laboratory studies, or monitoring, (e.g. analysis based on GIS-based data, ecosystem-level energy nutrient or contaminant fluxes and national databases).

• Monitoring
  
  
• Assessment
  
  
• Models
  
  
• Multistressor Research

Monitoring

• Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP) (ASC)

• Avian Pesticide Incident Network (PWRC)
  
  
• Contaminant Trends in Fisheries of the Nation's Major Lakes and Streams: National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (NCBP) (CERC)
  
  
• Long-term Monitoring of DDE and Other Organochlorine Contaminants in Spring Migrant Peregrine Falcons at Padre Island, Texas, 1978-2004 (FRESC)
  
  
• Seabird Tissue Archival and Monitoring Project (STAMP) (ASC)

back to top

Assessment

• Applying a Bioassessment and Monitoring Framework for Public Lands and Trust Resources in Coastal and Estuarine Habitats of the United States (PWRC)

• Assessing Amphibian Exposure to Brominated Contaminants (CERC)

• Contaminant Hazard Reviews On-line (PWRC)

• Development of Microscale Toxicity Tests and Risk Assessment Strategies for Resource Contaminant Problems (CERC)

• Ecological Risk Assessment of Toxic Substances in the South Florida Ecosystem: Wildlife Effects and Exposure Assessment (SOFIA/FIS)

• Potential for Chromium to Adversely Affect Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawystcha) Under Exposure Conditions Simulating the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River, Washington, USA (CERC)

back to top

Models (Pesticides)

• Risk Quotient Field Validation Pilot Project for Selected Pesticides (PWRC)

• Reducing Pesticide Pollution of Aquatic Ecosystems (WFRC)

Multistressor Research

• Biological and Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Terrestrial Vertebrates Residing in Estuaries (PWRC)

• Contaminant Exposure and Effects Terrestrial Vertebrates Database - searchable database containing over 17,000 geo-referenced data records describing contaminant exposure and effects in free-ranging terrestrial vertebrates in coastal and estuarine habitat in the United States (PWRC)

• Contaminant Interactions (PWRC)

• Ecotoxicological Investigations of Effects of Contaminants on Native Wildlife Species (CERC)

• Effects of Contaminants and Nonindigenous Invasive Species on Sea and Bay Ducks in the San Francisco Bay Estuary (WERC)

• Immunochemical Methods for the Determination of Environmental Contaminants and Their Biochemical Responses in Fish (CERC)

• Species Decline: Contaminants and Other Contributing Factors (PWRC)

• Xenobiotic Impact on Arctic Char: Nutritional Modulation and Physiological Consequences (WFRC)

back to top

	About 1 billion pounds of conventional pesticides are used each year in the United States to control weeds, insects, and other pests (in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) . The use of pesticides has resulted in a range of benefits, including increased food production and reduction of insect-borne disease, but also raises questions about possible harm to the environment, including potential effects on drinking-water sources and aquatic life. (For more information on pesticides visit USGS NAWQA Pesticide National Synthesis Project Web pages)