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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. 

News

Friday's Findings - January 26, 2024

Friday's Findings - January 26, 2024

Invasive black carp established in parts of the Mississippi River basin

Invasive black carp established in parts of the Mississippi River basin

Friday's Findings - May 20, 2022

Friday's Findings - May 20, 2022

Publications

Using structured decision making to assess management alternatives to inform the 2024 update of the Minnesota Invasive Carp Action Plan

This report summarizes the results of a structured decision making process started by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to develop and evaluate various invasive carp management strategies to inform a 2024 update of the Minnesota Invasive Carp Action Plan. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invited State, Federal, Tribal, and nongovernmental organization partners to participa
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, Michael E. Colvin

The roles of diet and habitat use in pesticide bioaccumulation by juvenile Chinook Salmon: Insights from stable isotopes and fatty acid biomarkers

Stable isotopes (SI) and fatty acid (FA) biomarkers can provide insights regarding trophic pathways and habitats associated with contaminant bioaccumulation. We assessed relationships between SI and FA biomarkers and published data on concentrations of two pesticides [dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and degradation products (DDX) and bifenthrin] in juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Authors
Sara E. Anzalone, Neil W. Fuller, Kara E. Huff Hartz, Gregory W. Whitledge, Jason Tyler Magnuson, Daniel Schlenk, Shawn Acuña, Matt R. Whiles, Michael J. Lydy

Writing SMART objectives for natural resource and environmental management

In natural resource and environmental management, well-written objectives are critical for effective decision-making and the achievement of desired outcomes. This article aims to improve practitioners' ability to identify and write SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives for natural resource and environmental management.We differentiate between research and manage
Authors
Caleb A. Aldridge, Michael E. Colvin

Science

Bringing Back Mussels: CERC's Restoration Efforts in the Clinton Watershed

CERC scientists plan to reintroduce mussels in an area where species have diminished.
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Bringing Back Mussels: CERC's Restoration Efforts in the Clinton Watershed

CERC scientists plan to reintroduce mussels in an area where species have diminished.
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6PPD-Quinone

6PPD-Q is a compound used to make tires more durable and is also linked to toxicity for Coho Salmon and other aquatic species.
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6PPD Exposure and Effects Research at Columbia Environmental Research Center

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N' -phenyl-p-phenylenediamine or 6PPD is a chemical additive that protects tires from damage due to certain reactive oxygen species. 6PPD, when in contact with ozone, reacts to form the derivative 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q). As tires wear with time, this derivative is dispensed into the environment, travels through drainage systems when it rains and, eventually, finds its way into...
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6PPD Exposure and Effects Research at Columbia Environmental Research Center

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N' -phenyl-p-phenylenediamine or 6PPD is a chemical additive that protects tires from damage due to certain reactive oxygen species. 6PPD, when in contact with ozone, reacts to form the derivative 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q). As tires wear with time, this derivative is dispensed into the environment, travels through drainage systems when it rains and, eventually, finds its way into...
Learn More