Invasive Species
Developing Methods and Techniques to Control the Spread of Invasive Species
Developing Methods and Techniques to Control the Spread of Invasive Species
Columbia Environmental Research Center
Welcome to the Columbia Environmental Research Center. Our research focuses on environmental contaminants and the effects of habitat alterations on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
CERC's 60th Anniversary, September 25-26, 2026
CERC's 60th Anniversary, September 25-26, 2026
The staff at CERC cordially invite you to celebrate 60 years of science.
Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP) Blog
Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP) Blog
Learn how CERC research is contributing to the recovery of the endangered pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS - Resources and Tools
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS - Resources and Tools
CERC scientists are pioneers in the development of passive sampling techniques.
News
A Tale of Two Islands and the Future of an Ocean Sentinel Seabird
A Tale of Two Islands and the Future of an Ocean Sentinel Seabird
EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 2
EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 2
Tree rings provide an important multi-century context for the current wildfire crisis
Tree rings provide an important multi-century context for the current wildfire crisis
Publications
A review of extraction techniques for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in graminaceous plants A review of extraction techniques for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in graminaceous plants
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide-ranging class of manufactured chemicals that are environmentally persistent. Due to their ubiquity and resistance to degradation, PFAS readily bioaccumulate in a variety of environmental matrices and elicit a range of toxicological impacts. Despite an increase in research into these compounds, there is a clear gap in consensus on...
Culturing emerging, imperiled, and poorly understood fishes Culturing emerging, imperiled, and poorly understood fishes
Most fish hatcheries and farms raise fish for food, to supply the bait and ornamental fish trades, or to create or enhance recreational and commercial fishing opportunities. Culture methods for these species are well established and are described in various chapters of this book. However, a growing number of facilities are responsible for cultivation of emerging, imperiled, or lesser...
On the importance of ichthyoplankton monitoring for invasive grass carp control in the Laurentian Great Lakes On the importance of ichthyoplankton monitoring for invasive grass carp control in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is an invasive herbivore observed in small numbers in the Laurentian Great Lakes since the 1980 s with records from all lakes except Lake Superior. Identification of diploid, age-1 + grass carp from the Sandusky River, a Lake Erie tributary, in 2012, prompted targeted efforts to evaluate the status of grass carp reproduction in the Lake Erie Basin. In...
Science
From Stream to Spider: How PFAS Move Through Aquatic and Terrestrial Food Webs
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent synthetic chemicals that accumulate in the environment and living organisms. A USGS study examined how different PFAS compounds move through a stream ecosystem and are transferred from aquatic to terrestrial food webs. The findings documented that not all PFAS behave the same once they enter the environment, leading to differences in...
eDNA and the Efficacy of Management Actions
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a powerful feedback tool, giving managers fast, clear, and cost-effective evidence to guide decisions and improve conservation outcomes.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Environmental Health Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Fisheries Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
eDNA for Water-Quality Monitoring and Public Health Protection
By analyzing genetic traces left behind in water, eDNA provides early warning signs of problems—helping managers respond faster, protect public health, and keep freshwater ecosystems resilient.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Environmental Health Program, Alaska Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Fisheries Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory