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Projects and Publications of Special Interest
Tracking the Invaders--the Work of a Fisheries Biologist
 Next to habitat loss, nonindigenous species are the largest threat to the Nation's native biodiversity. They threaten native communities, alter habitats, and can significantly impact the economy. As transportation has gotten faster and faster, species that are smuggled on board airplanes or sucked into ships' ballast tanks are more easily surviving travel around the world. Previously established invasive species are spreading and new species are being brought in--both unintentionally and intentionally.
Amy Benson is a fisheries biologist with the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species project, and as such, she is part of a worldwide community fighting this growing threat to native biodiversity. Read more.
Gulf of Mexico Deep Reef Cruise and Investigative Reports
 The primary goal of the Coastal Ecology & Conservation Research Group is to qualitatively analyze community structure, biodiversity, habitat affinities, and trophic relationships of estuarine and marine fish communities throughout the Southeastern U.S. Fundamental scientific knowledge can be used to effectively advise resource agencies on how to best manage and conserve estuarine and marine resources. Presently, the program is involved with a diversity of fish studies ranging from habitat characterization and population census of threatened and endangered species to holistic ecosystem studies of saltmarsh and deep-reef fish communities. Learn More
Monitoring Amphibians in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1258
 The biological importance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been recognized by its designation as an International Biosphere Reserve. As such, it is clearly the leading region of significance for amphibian research. Although no other region shares the wealth of amphibians as found in the Great Smokies (31 species of salamanders, and 13 of frogs), the entire southern and mid-section of the Appalachian Mountain chain is characterized by a high diversity of amphibians, and inventories and monitoring protocols developed in the Smokies likely will be applicable to other Appalachian National Park Service properties. Learn More
The USGS launches a new alert system
 The USGS developed the new NAS Alert System to track the spread of invasive species throughout the United States. Users can report nonindigenous aquatic species sightings, automatically receive email alerts, or perform searches on a particular aquatic species -- such as American alligators in Pennsylvania, Asian carp in Colorado, or snakehead fishes in Virginia. The system is flexible, providing two different perspectives -- one to a user interested in an area, the other to users interested in a species. Users can then choose to receive automatic alerts or search the site on their own. Browse Current Entries
Snakeheads A Biological Synopsis and Risk Assessment, U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1251
 Snakeheads (family Channidae) are airbreathing freshwater fishes containing two genera, Channa with 26 species native to Asia, Malaysia, and Indonesia; and Parachanna with 3 species native to tropical Africa. A comprehensive snakehead fish study, including a biological synopsis, risk assessment, and accounts for each species, was conducted between September 2001 and September 2002 by the U.S. Geological Survey, with support provided by the Division of Scientific Authority and Fisheries Management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn More
Lake Wales Ridge Ground-Water Monitoring Study - Partnered research focused on agricultural chemicals in the surficial aquifer underlying citrus groves in central Florida
 The Lake Wales Ridge regional monitoring study focuses on evaluating the spatial and temporal variability of agricultural chemicals in ground water underlying citrus groves in the Ridge citrus region of central Florida. This region is among the most vulnerable in Florida, and perhaps the nation, with respect to transport of chemicals into the ground-water system. The study results also provide important information regarding short-term (quarterly) variability of pesticide and degradate concentrations in ground water on a regional scale across an area of relatively uniform soils and land use under field conditions. Learn More
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