Aquatic Ecology Branch USGS/Leetown Science Center Aquatic Ecology Branch 11649 Leetown Road Kearneysville, WV 25430 PHONE: (304) 724-4460 FAX: (304) 724-4465 Branch Chief: Edward Pendleton Staff • Research Studies • Directions

SCIENTIFIC FOCUS

INTRODUCTION The Aquatic Ecology Branch investigates the scientific basis and means to conserve, preserve, and recover the Nation's natural resources. Research addresses ecological questions throughout the Eastern United States, with particular emphasis on the mid-Atlantic and New England. Our strategy has been to address issues of aquatic species, population, and habitat management that are urgent, long term, and scientifically groundbreaking. Our research capabilities provide a variety of approaches toward establishing status and trends, and understanding underlying causes of trends of declining and threatened species and their habitats.

RESEARCH

CORE RESEARCH CAPABILITIES AND EXPERTISE • Molecular genetics Develop primers, genetic markers, and other means of assessing population structure and taxonomy of a wide variety of aquatic and aquatically associated species, and investigate novel uses of genetics to identify and recover species at risk.  Current emphases include anadromous fish, freshwater fish, freshwater and marine invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, and mammals. • Stream ecology Perform field and laboratory research to provide information on the structure, functioning and health of aquatic systems at stream reach to watershed scales.  The laboratory particularly emphasizes the biology, ecology, and restoration of freshwater mussels, stream fish and insects, amphibians and anadromous fish and selected marine invertebrates. • Landscape ecology and GIS Conduct research on streams, rivers, wetlands, riparian corridors, and associated uplands to determine spatial patterns, underlying determinants of distribution and abundance, impacts of fragmentation, and relations of pattern to metapopulation structure. • Sources, fates, and effects of environmental contaminants Identify and evaluate contaminant threats to aquatic organisms in rivers and streams. • Sample design Determine effective and efficient means to sample highly dispersed and disjunct populations of aquatic and aquatically-dependent organisms.

CURRENT RESEARCH • Ecology and biology of declining freshwater mussels • Freshwater mussel surveys on the free-flowing Allegheny River • Relocation studies of native freshwater mussels • Endocrine disruption in Atlantic salmon exposed to pesticides • The role of acidity from acid rain on Atlantic salmon parr and smolt survival in Maine Rivers • Determination of Atlantic salmon population structure through microsatellite DNA analysis • Conservation genetics of at-risk species and species of concern • Use of molecular systematics and population genetics to determine the taxonomic positioning of blue pike • Determination of sex of Atlantic sturgeon by molecular genetics • Identification and management of genetic diversity among brook trout populations • Population genetic structure of the diamondback terrapin in Chesapeake Bay • Molecular systematics for identification of cypripedioid orchids in international trade • Assessment of ambystomid salamander populations and their breeding habitats in the Delaware Water Gap • Linkages of water quality, land use, and environmental factors to fish health in Chesapeake Bay • Application of underwater acoustics to determine effects of beach restoration on spawning horseshoe crabs • Assessment of vegetation communities in relation to ecological gradients within Shenandoah National Park • Habitat modeling for protection of high-risk plant species in eastern National Parks