Research

Didymosphenia Geminata in Pennsylvania: an Investigation of Current and Historic Distribution, Habitat Suitability, and Nutritional Content

Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) M.Schmidt (herein referred to as didymo) is a benthic freshwater diatom capable of producing nuisance blooms that impact the recreational, ecological, and aesthetic value of freshwater ecosystems. Recently, didymo has expanded its range and ecological tolerances leading to massive blooms in areas where it was previously undocumented or had existed in low […]

Monitoring a Freshwater Tidal Wetland in the Delaware Estuary: Flooding Influence on Accretion and a Potential for Priority Planning Under Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise

Tidal freshwater wetlands provide numerous important ecological services including carbon and nutrient sequestration, sediment trapping, and natural flood control. Urban and agricultural development, nutrient loading, and sea level rise continue to threaten these ecologically and economically valuable ecosystems. Rates of sea level rise are accelerating with global climate change, which has implications for wetland loss. […]

Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Brownfield Sites in Chester, PA at Risk of Flooding and Release of Pollutants to the Delaware River

The city of Chester is located within two watersheds, Chester Creek and Ridley Creek. Both of these watersheds discharge surface water to the Delaware River within the city municipal boundary. The close proximity of the city to the Delaware River coupled with its land surface elevation and the two watershed discharges make the city susceptible […]

Assessing the Economic Impact and Significance of Recreational Angling on Lake Erie Waters: Final Report

The overarching goal of the study was to assess the economic impact and significance of the recreational angling industry within the Pennsylvania section of Lake Erie. For a guiding framework, this study utilized an exploratory mixed methodology with three connected phases which resulted in 1,189 completed online and mail-back questionnaires (Phase I), 516 completed on-site […]

Assessing Background Rates of Intersex, Expression of Vitellogenin, Teste Transcriptome, and Population Genetics of Micropterus Dolomieu

Intersex, particularly testicular oocytes, and vitellogenin (Vtg) expression in male fish are being used more frequently as an indication of exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), including organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and surfactants. However, the use of intersex and Vtg expression as indicators of endocrine disruption have recently come under review, and the […]

Living Shorelines Assessment for Community Resiliency in Coastal Pennsylvania

As sea levels rise, the people along Pennsylvania’s eastern coastlines face many challenges, including the loss of tidal wetlands and the associated increase in coastal flooding (Nicholls 2004). Tidal wetlands remain a valuable buffer for rising seas levels and vital habitat for fish and wildlife (Beck et al. 2001; Knight 1997). Unfortunately, the Delaware Estuary […]

Diel Signals in Stream Discharge – Insights Into Watershed Behavior and Potential Impacts of Climate Change

This study examined the characteristics of daily water level fluctuations produced by evapotranspiration measured in riparian areas and within a stream (Buck Hill Creek). The goal was to understand how diel signal characteristics Buck Hill Creek relate to watershed characteristics and predict how the diel signal characteristics might be affected by changing climate. Water levels […]

Preliminary Determination of Density and Distribution of Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis Olivaris) in the Susquehanna River and Select Tributaries

Flathead Catfish records in the Atlantic Slope drainage of Pennsylvania date back to the early 1990s; however, large-scale range expansion and population increases were not realized until the late 1990s in the Delaware River drainage and the early 2000s in the Susquehanna River drainage. The impacts of introduced Flathead Catfish on migratory and resident fishes […]

Investigation of Chemical Signals for Improving Trapping Efficiency and Preventing Further Expansion of Invasive Crayfish Species

Invasive crustacean species disturb existing food webs, macrophyte, benthic invertebrate and fish populations, and negatively affect overall ecosystem function (Hill and Lodge, 1999; Khulman and Hazelton, 2007). In Central Pennyslvania, the invasive Orconectes rusticus and Orconectes obscurus have invaded aquatic habitats, dominating the Susquehanna River and many of its tributaries while displacing native species (Lieb […]

Determination of Invasive Round Goby Populations Within the Main Stem of French Creek and Their Potential Impact on Benthic Fishes

The introduction of Round Gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in the French Creek Watershed (Lake LeBoeuf) was probably via bait bucket and were first discovered in 2014. This was the first documented invasion outside of the Lake Erie Basin in Pennsylvania. This was alarming in large part because the Round Goby has become the most abundant benthic […]

Research

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