U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2006-3056

March 2006

Integrated Science

Providing a More Complete Understanding of Complex Problems

Printed on recycled paper

Integration among sciences is critical in order to 

address some of our most pressing problems. Because 

of the inherent complexity of natural systems, and the 

increasing complexity of human demands on them, narrowly-focused approaches are no longer sufficient.

USGS Workshop on Enhancing Integrated Science, 

November 1998.

The Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center is 

actively participating in several integrated science studies 

that include research partners from the other disciplines 

of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), other Federal and 

State agencies, universities, and private non-government 

organizations. The following three examples illustrate the 

diversity of these studies. 

Science to support Adaptive Ecosystem 

Management in Rehabilitation Projects, Lower 

Missouri River

The construction of levees, bank revetments, and 

wing dikes along the lower Missouri River has resulted in 

a reduction in the quantity (spatial and temporal extent) 

and quality (species diversity) of its terrestrial and aquatic 

habitats. Recent efforts to return the river corridor to a 

more natural condition have included modifications of 

existing channel control structures, rehabilitation of floodplain wetlands, and construction of side-channel chutes. 

The success of these and other rehabilitation efforts along 

the lower Missouri River are dependent on an understanding of the inherent complexity of riverine ecosystems. 

Questions regarding the interdependence of floodplain 

hydrology, geology, and ecosystem structure and function 

are at the cutting edge of ecological research interests, and 

critically important to refuge managers practicing adaptive 

management at several sites along the river.

The objective of this project is to evaluate the 

response of floodplain vegetation to the construction of a 

side-channel chute by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

at Overton Bottoms, a unit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. 

Five interrelated tasks were defined, which included 

mapping floodplain land cover, evaluating the effects of 

the chute on ground-water flow patterns, quantifying the 

response of vegetation to ground-water gradients, and 

synthesizing the science into adaptive ecosystem management. Scientists at the Mid-Continent Geographic 

Science Center mapped and analyzed multi-year trends 

in land cover to determine how vegetation communities 

have been affected by hydrologic alteration of the Missouri River floodplain at Overton Bottoms. Their results 

suggested a strong relation between surficial floodplain 

stratigraphy and the distribution of specific types of 

floodplain land cover. They also demonstrated that land 

cover change can be used to monitor land use management strategies and practices, or combined with geologic 

and hydrologic data to identify sites that are suitable for 

habitat restoration or rehabilitation. 

Lower Missouri River at Overton Bottoms.

USGS scientist collecting data aboard the USGS R/V Slim Funk.
Geohydrological and Biological Investigations 

Associated with Lead-Zinc Exploration and Mining 

in Southeastern Missouri

Lead-zinc mining in the Viburnum Trend began in the 

mid-1960’s around Viburnum, Missouri. During the next 

two decades, 10 mines were opened along the south-trending ore deposit. In response to declining economical ore 

reserves in the trend, mining companies began to explore 

for new ore bodies in an area south of Winona, Missouri, 

and north of the Eleven Point River. This area is in a 

region highly valued for its scenic beauty and recreational 

opportunities. It includes two federally designated scenic 

rivers, the Ozark Scenic Riverways administered by the 

National Park Service, and the Eleven Point National Scenic River administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

Because of the many environmental concerns associated with lead-zinc mining, the USGS initiated a 5-year 

integrated study of the possible effects of mining in the 

area south of Winona and the Viburnum Trend. The 

Viburnum Trend offers an ideal laboratory for assessing potential environmental effects of mining in the new 

exploration area because geologic conditions and mining 

practices in the Viburnum Trend are similar to the conditions and practices in the new area being explored. The 

investigation includes onsite studies of stream, spring, and 

aquifer hydrology, field geologic mapping, geochemical 

research on trace element mobility from mined ore bodies, 

surveys of stream biological quality and lead accumulation by aquatic biota, and research on the toxicity of lead 

and other heavy metals to aquatic biota. Scientists at the 

Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center have conducted a study of the spatial and temporal distribution 

of trace elements in the sediments of Clearwater Lake. 

Temporal trends in lead concentrations show relatively 

little change where no mining has taken place and increasing concentrations where active mining occurs. Analysis 

of pre- and post-mining concentrations in deep lacustrine 

sediments shows a doubling of lead concentrations and 

a nearly 50 percent increase in zinc concentration values 

from anthropogenic sources. Lead isotopic ratios suggest 

mixing between lead from surface sedimentary rocks and 

lead from the mined ore with an increase in the ore lead 

component over time.

Platte River Priority Ecosystem Study, Nebraska

The central Platte River Valley in Nebraska is an 

internationally significant staging area for the migratory 

water birds of the Central Flyway, and is best known for 

the one-half million Sandhill Cranes and several million 

other water fowl that migrate annually through the valley. Nine endangered species use the central Platte River 

Valley, including the Whooping Crane, Piping Plover, 

and Least Tern. Changes in water and land use have 

transformed the river channel and altered adjacent wet 

meadows. With changes in the hydrology of the river 

and the structure of riparian habitats, the sustainability 

of migratory and resident birds and other biota have 

been brought into question. Of central concern is how 

the ecosystem has adjusted to changes in streamflow. 

Developing successful strategies to sustain or rehabilitate 

the riparian ecosystem of the central Platte River requires 

an understanding of the linkages between hydrology, river 

morphology, biological communities, and ecosystem processes.

In 1995, a memorandum of agreement was signed 

by the Secretary of the Interior and the governors of 

Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska to begin developing a basin-wide habitat recovery program for the Platte 

River. This agreement was implemented by the Platte 

River Endangered Species Partnership begining in 1997. 

Major aspects of the program call for the acquisition and 

restoration of habitat areas, design and implementation 

of water augmentation and conservation measures, and 

development of an overall monitoring and research plan 

to determine the effectiveness of an adaptive management plan. The USGS Platte River Priority Ecosystem 

Study supports the recovery program by building an Buick Lead Mine, Viburnum Trend, Missouri

USGS scientists collecting fish using backpack electrofishing gear.
interdisciplinary team to address the overall objectives 

of 1) providing a better understanding of the migratory 

and resident birds and other biota and the ecology of 

their habitats, 2) providing a better understanding of the 

physical processes that affect the habitats, and 3) using 

this knowledge to evaluate the effects of different management strategies on individual species and their habitats. Scientists at the Mid-Continent Geographic Science 

Center have assisted other discipline scientists with the 

collection and analysis of geographic data and are investigating the geographic linkage of migratory bird energy 

requirements in the Platte River region. This information 

will facilitate development of better models that predict 

the ability of migratory birds to build the energy reserves 

they require to have a successful breeding season.

Information

For information on other USGS products and services, call 1-888-ASK-USGS, or visit the USGS Geography 

Products Web site at erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/pubslists/.

For additional information, visit the ask.usgs.gov 

Web site or the USGS home page at www.usgs.gov.

Sandhill Cranes in a cornfield, central Platte River Valley, Nebraska.

Additional Information

For more information about these and other 

integrated science studies at the Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center please write or call:

Emitt Witt, Director

USGS Mid-Continent Science Center

1400 Independence Road

Rolla, Missouri 65401 

Phone: (573) 308-3679

Fax: (573) 308-3794

Email: ecwitt@usgs.gov

Aerial view of a portion of the Platte River, Nebraska.