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Paul M. Dummer

Position title: Wildlife Biologist

Email: pdummer@usgs.gov
Phone: 608.781.6241
Fax: 608.783.6066

Education:
1998 BS University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin (Biology)

Primary Responsibilities/Activities:
Conduct field research across the United States on effects of contaminants on wildlife, focusing primarily on birds.  Assist with contaminants studies involving organochlorine pesticides (e.g. DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, avicides, Perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

Research Interests:

• Wildlife Toxicology
• Wildlife Ecology
• Zoology

Active Projects:

• Mercury  and other element exposure to tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting on Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota (Wildlife Toxicology Team)
• Exposure and effects of PCB contamination on spotted sandpipers, belted kingfishers,
  and tree swallows on the Hudson River (Wildlife Toxicology Team)
• Mercury contamination in tree swallows nesting in northern Wisconsin lakes that differ in methyl mercury concentration (Wildlife Toxicology Team)
• Effects of dredge island creation in Pool 8, Upper Mississippi River, on contaminant accumulation in tree swallows (Wildlife Toxicology Team)
• Reanalysis of Great Blue Heron eggs collected at Indiana Dunes in 1993 (Wildlife Toxicology Team)
• Effect of egg-laying order on contaminant concentrations (Wildlife Toxocology Team)
• Bioavailability of trace metals from abandoned mine tailings in Colorado (Wildlife Toxocology Team)

Select Publications:
Custer, C.M., T. W. Custer, J. E. Hines, J. D. Nichols, and P. M. Dummer.  2007.  Adult tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) survival on the polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated Housatonic River, Massachusetts, USA.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 26:1056-1065.

Custer, T.W., P. M. Dummer, C. M. Custer, A. U. Li, D. Warburton, M. J. Melancon, D. J. Hoffman, C. W. Matson, and J. W. Bickham. Water level management and contaminant exposure to tree swallows nesting on the Upper Mississippi River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2007). doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9588-8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9588-8

Custer, C. M., T. W. Custer, C. J. Rosiu, P. M. Dummer, M. J. Melancon,
and J. W. Bickham.  2005.  Exposure and effects of dioxins, furans, and other organochlorine chemicals on tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting along the Woonasquatucket River, Rhode Island. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24:93-109.

Custer, T.W., C. M. Custer, P. M. Dummer, G. M. Linz, L. Sileo, R. S. Stahl, and J. J. Johnston.  2003.  Nontarget bird exposure to DRC-1339 during Fall in North Dakota and Spring in South Dakota.   In G. M. Linz, editor.  Management of North American blackbirds.  National Wildlife Reseach Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.  Pages 64-70.

Custer, C.M., T. W. Custer, P. M. Dummer, and K. L. Munney.  2003.  Exposure and effects of chemical contaminants on tree swallows nesting along the Housatonic River, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA 1998-2000.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22:1605-1621.

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