Brian Bergamaschi
Research Chemist
California Water Science Center
Email: bbergama@usgs.gov
6000 J Street Placer Hall
aquatic ecosystems
estuarine ecosystems
freshwater ecosystems
wetland ecosystems
contamination and pollution
marine water quality
nonpoint-source pollution
toxic trace element contamination
surface water (non-marine)
real-time monitoring and reporting
coastal ecosystems
Dr. Brian Bergamaschi is a research biogeochemist with the USGS California Water Science Center and adjunct Faculty at California State University Sacramento. He received a Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography from the University of Washington, in Seattle, WA, where he specialized in analyzing the sources and fates of natural organic material in the environment. His main interests are in understanding processes of carbon cycling in aquatic environments and related biogeochemical processes. His particular emphasis is on developing methods for quantifying the interactions between physical and biogeochemical processes. His research ranges in scale from light-mediated molecular transformations, to tidally-driven wetland fluxes, to effects of changing continental-scale fluxes on coastal carbon processes. His current projects largely focus on the effects of wetland restoration on aquatic habitat quality and carbon cycling.
Eckard, R. S., Pellerin, B. A., Bergamaschi, B. A., Bachand, P. A. M., Bachand, S. M., Spencer, R. G. M., & Hernes, P. J. (2017). Dissolved Organic Matter Compositional Change and Biolability During Two Storm Runoff Events in a Small Agricultural Watershed. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences, 122(10), 2634-2650. doi:10.1002/2017jg003935
Knox, S. H., Windham-Myers, L., Anderson, F., Sturtevant, C., & Bergamaschi, B. (2018). Direct and Indirect Effects of Tides on Ecosystem-Scale CO2 Exchange in a Brackish Tidal Marsh in Northern California. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 123(3), 787-806. doi:10.1002/2017JG004048
Moskalski, S. M., Torres, R., Bizimis, M., Goni, M., Bergamaschi, B., and Fleck, J., 2013, Low-tide rainfall effects on metal content of suspended sediment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: Continental Shelf Research, v. 56, p. 39-55
Bergamaschi BA, BD Downing, BA Pellerin and J Saraceno. 2010. In Situ Sensors for Dissolved Organic Matter Fluorescence: Bringing the Lab to the Field. USGS Water Resources Discipline Instrument News, 125: 1-2.
Ganju, N. K., D. H. Schoellhamer, and B. A. Bergamaschi. 2005. Suspended sediment fluxes in a tidal wetland: Measurement, controlling factors, and error analysis. Estuaries 28: 812-822.
Bergamaschi, B.A., Fram, M.S., Fujii, Roger, Aiken, G.R., Kendall, Carol, and Silva, S.R. (2000) The carbon isotopic composition of trihalomethanes formed from chemically distinct dissolved organic carbon isolates from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. ACS Symposium series 761: Natural Organic Matter and Disinfection By-products: Characterization and Control in Drinking Water, Barret, Krasner and Amy eds. P 206-222.
Bergamaschi, Brian A., Jeffery Walters, and John I. Hedges, (1999) Distributions of uronic acids and O-methyl sugars in particles from two coastal marine environments. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, V63(N3-4):413-425.
Bergamaschi, Brian A. (1995) The marine geochemistry of carbohydrates: application and development of new techniques. Dissertation. University of Washington.
Bergamaschi, Brian A. and John I. Hedges (1995) A multichambered apparatus for HF solvolysis experiments: reaction of HF solvolysis products with acetic acid and acetic anhydride. Carbohydrate Research 267:115-126.
Hopkinson, C., Cifuentes, L. Burdige, D., Fitzwater, S. Hansell, D., Hendrichs, S. Kahler, P., Koike, I., Walsh, T., and B. Bergamaschi (1993) Measurement of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in natural waters - DON Subgroup Report. Marine Chemistry 41:23-36.
Hedges, J.I., B.A. Bergamaschi and R. Benner (1993) Comparative analysis of DOC and DON in natural waters. Marine Chemistry 41:121-134.
Hedges, John I. and Brian A. Bergamaschi (1992) Seawater carbon measurement. Nature 359:202.
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Assessing the sources and magnitude of diurnal nitrate variability in the San Joaquin River (California) with an in situ optical nitrate sensor and dual nitrate isotopes
1. We investigated diurnal nitrate (NO3−) concentration variability in the San Joaquin River using an in situ optical NO3− sensor and discrete sampling during a 5‐day summer period characterized by high algal productivity. Dual NO3− isotopes (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) and dissolved oxygen isotopes (δ18ODO) were measured over 2 ...
Pellerin, Brian A.; Downing, Bryan D.; Kendall, Carol; Dahlgren, Randy A.; Kraus, Tamara E.C.; Saraceno, John Franco; Spencer, Robert G. M.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.
Attribution: , California Water Science Center, Water Resources, Environmental Health, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Assessing the sources and magnitude of diurnal nitrate variability in the San Joaquin River (California) with an in situ optical nitrate sensor and dual nitrate isotopes; 2009; Article; Journal; Freshwater Biology; Pellerin, B. A.; Downing, B. D.; Kendall, C.; Dahlgren, R. A.; Kraus, T. E. C.; Saraceno, J.; Spencer, R. G. M.; Bergamaschi, B. A.
High-frequency in situ optical measurements during a storm event: Assessing relationships between dissolved organic matter, sediment concentrations, and hydrologic processes
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) dynamics during storm events has received considerable attention in forested watersheds, but the extent to which storms impart rapid changes in DOM concentration and composition in highly disturbed agricultural watersheds remains poorly understood. In this study, we used identical in situ optical sensors for DOM...
Saraceno, John F.; Pellerin, Brian A.; Downing, Bryan D.; Boss, Emmanuel; Bachand, Philip A. M.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.
Attribution: California Water Science Center, Water Resources, United States of America, Organic Matter Research Laboratory
Quantifying fluxes and characterizing compositional changes of dissolved organic matter in aquatic systems in situ using combined acoustic and optical measurements
Studying the dynamics and geochemical behavior of dissolved and particulate organic material is difficult because concentration and composition may rapidly change in response to aperiodic as well as periodic physical and biological forcing. Here we describe a method useful for quantifying fluxes and analyzing dissolved organic matter (DOM)...
Downing, B.D.; Boss, E.; Bergamaschi, B.A.; Fleck, J.A.; Lionberger, M.A.; Ganju, N.K.; Schoellhamer, D.H.; Fujii, R.
Attribution: California Water Science Center, Water Resources, United States of America, San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary, Organic Matter Research Laboratory
Quantifying fluxes and characterizing compositional changes of dissolved organic matter in aquatic systems in situ using combined acoustic and optical measurements; 2009; Article; Journal; Limnology and Oceanography: Methods; Downing, B. D.; Boss, E.; Bergamaschi, B. A.; Fleck, J. A.; Lionberger, M. A.; Ganju, N. K.; Schoellhamer, D. H.; Fujii, R.
Assessing contribution of DOC from sediments to a drinking-water reservoir using optical profiling
Understanding the sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in drinking-water reservoirs is an important management issue because DOC may form disinfection by-products, interfere with disinfection, or increase treatment costs. DOC may be derived from a host of sources-algal production of DOC in the reservoir, marginal production of DOC from mucks...
Downing, Bryan D.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.; Evans, David G.; Boss, Emmanuel
Assessing contribution of DOC from sediments to a drinking-water reservoir using optical profiling; 2008; Article; Journal; Lake and Reservoir Management; Downing, Bryan D.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.; Evans, David G.; Boss, Emmanuel
Assessing the contribution of wetlands and subsided islands to dissolved organic matter and disinfection byproduct precursors in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: A geochemical approach
This study assesses how rivers, wetlands, island drains and open water habitats within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta affect dissolved organic matter (DOM) content and composition, and disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation. Eleven sites representative of these habitats were sampled on six dates to encompass seasonal variability. Using a...
Kraus, T.E.C.; Bergamaschi, B.A.; Hernes, P.J.; Spencer, R.G.M.; Stepanauskas, R.; Kendall, C.; Losee, R.F.; Fujii, R.
Assessing the contribution of wetlands and subsided islands to dissolved organic matter and disinfection byproduct precursors in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: A geochemical approach; 2008; Article; Journal; Organic Geochemistry; Kraus, T. E. C.; Bergamaschi, B. A.; Hernes, P. J.; Spencer, R. G. M.; Stepanauskas, R.; Kendall, C.; Losee, R. F.; Fujii, R.
Environmental occurrence and shallow ground water detection of the antibiotic monensin from dairy farms
Pharmaceuticals used in animal feeding operations have been detected in various environmental settings. There is a growing concern about the impact on terrestrial and aquatic organisms and the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms. Pharmaceutical use in milking cows is relatively limited compared with other livestock...
Watanabe, N.; Harter, T.H.; Bergamaschi, B.A.
Environmental occurrence and shallow ground water detection of the antibiotic monensin from dairy farms; 2008; Conference Paper; Journal of Environmental Quality; Watanabe, N.; Harter, T. H.; Bergamaschi, B. A.
Land management impacts on dairy-derived dissolved organic carbon in ground water
Dairy operations have the potential to elevate dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels in ground water, where it may interact with organic and inorganic contaminants, fuel denitrification, and may present problems for drinking water treatment. Total and percent bioavailable DOC and total and carbon-specific trihalomethane (THM) formation potential (...
Chomycia, J.C.; Hernes, P.J.; Harter, T.; Bergamaschi, B.A.
Land management impacts on dairy-derived dissolved organic carbon in ground water; 2008; Article; Journal; Journal of Environmental Quality; Chomycia, J. C.; Hernes, P. J.; Harter, T.; Bergamaschi, B. A.
The role of hydrologic regimes on dissolved organic carbon composition in an agricultural watershed
Willow Slough, a seasonally irrigated agricultural watershed in the Sacramento River valley, California, was sampled weekly in 2006 in order to investigate seasonal concentrations and compositions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Average DOC concentrations nearly doubled from winter baseflow (2.75 mg L-1) to summer irrigation (5.14 mg L-1),...
Hernes, P.J.; Spencer, R.G.M.; Dyda, R.Y.; Pellerin, B.A.; Bachand, P.A.M.; Bergamaschi, B.A.
The role of hydrologic regimes on dissolved organic carbon composition in an agricultural watershed; 2008; Article; Journal; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; Hernes, P. J.; Spencer, R. G. M.; Dyda, R. Y.; Pellerin, B. A.; Bachand, P. A. M.; Bergamaschi, B. A.
Landscape scale controls on the vascular plant component of dissolved organic carbon across a freshwater delta
Lignin phenol concentrations and compositions were determined on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) extracts (XAD resins) within the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (the Delta), the tidal freshwater portion of the San Francisco Bay Estuary, located in central California, USA. Fourteen stations were sampled, including the following habitats and land...
Eckard, Robert S.; Hernes, Peter J.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.; Stepanauskas, Ramunas; Kendall, Carol
Attribution: , California Water Science Center, Water Resources, San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary
Landscape scale controls on the vascular plant component of dissolved organic carbon across a freshwater delta; 2007; Article; Journal; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; Eckard, Robert S.; Hernes, Peter J.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.; Stepanauskas, Ramunas ; Kendall, Carol
Diurnal variability in riverine dissolved organic matter composition determined by in situ optical measurement in the San Joaquin River (California, USA)
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration and composition in riverine and stream systems are known to vary with hydrological and productivity cycles over the annual and interannual time scales. Rivers are commonly perceived as homogeneous with respect to DOM concentration and composition, particularly under steady flow conditions over short...
Spencer, R.G.M.; Pellerin, B.A.; Bergamaschi, B.A.; Downing, B.D.; Kraus, T.E.C.; Smart, D.R.; Dahlgren, R.A.; Hernes, P.J.
Diurnal variability in riverine dissolved organic matter composition determined by in situ optical measurement in the San Joaquin River (California, USA); 2007; Article; Journal; Hydrological Processes; Spencer, R. G. M.; Pellerin, B. A.; Bergamaschi, B. A.; Downing, B. D.; Kraus, T. E. C.; Smart, D. R.; Dahlgren, R. A.; Hernes, P. J.
An assessment of optical properties of dissolved organic material as quantitative source indicators in the Santa Ana River basin, Southern California
The ability to rapidly, reliably, and inexpensively characterize sources of dissolved organic material (DOM) in watersheds would allow water management agencies to more quickly identify problems in water sources, and to more efficiently allocate water resources by, for example, permitting real-time identification of high-quality water suitable for...
Bergamaschi, Brian A.; Kalve, Erica; Guenther, Larry; Mendez, Gregory O.; Belitz, Kenneth
Attribution: United States of America, Organic Matter Research Laboratory
An assessment of optical properties of dissolved organic material as quantitative source indicators in the Santa Ana River basin, Southern California; 2005; SIR; 2005-5152; Bergamaschi, Brian A.; Kalve, Erica; Guenther, Larry; Mendez, Gregory O.; Belitz, Kenneth
Method of analysis at the U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science Center, Sacramento Laboratory - determination of haloacetic acid formation potential, method validation, and quality-control practices
An analytical method for the determination of haloacetic acid formation potential of water samples has been developed by the U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science Center Sacramento Laboratory. The haloacetic acid formation potential is measured by dosing water samples with chlorine under specified conditions of pH, temperature,...
Zazzi, Barbara C.; Crepeau, Kathryn L.; Fram, Miranda S.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.
Method of analysis at the U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science Center, Sacramento Laboratory - determination of haloacetic acid formation potential, method validation, and quality-control practices; 2005; SIR; 2005-5115; Zazzi, Barbara C.; Crepeau, Kathryn L.; Fram, Miranda S.; Bergamaschi, Brian A.