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ECOTOXICOLOGY LAB

 

Ecotoxicology is by definition a multidisciplinary field, which integrates ecology and toxicology.  My lab focuses on integrating many important aspects of organism and community ecology, to better interpret exposure and understand effects of various environmental pollutants such as pesticides, PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs and Hg.  Birds are visible, well studied and often highly sensitive to environmental change and are therefore regarded as excellent indicator species. As such, our work tackles applied questions about how birds respond- physiologically and behaviourally - to pollutant exposure during key stages in the annual life cycle such as reproduction and migration. Since environmental pollution can also lead to changes in food availability, we also study the indirect effects of pollutants on invertebrate communities.  A holistic understanding of chemical threats remains an essential conservation need to preserve biodiversity.

Ecotoxicologists today... are at the forefront of informing a public that has become complacent about the dangers of chemicals.

Morrissey in Environmental Health News

 

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2014/aug/a-new-generation-of-scientists

 

Browse some of the work we are doing...
Studying pesticide fate in wetlands

Studying pesticide fate in wetlands

Tree swallow nestbox check

Tree swallow nestbox check

Telemetry tracking at Chaplin Lake

Telemetry tracking at Chaplin Lake

Aquatic inverts of Prairie wetlands

Aquatic inverts of Prairie wetlands

Banded and nanotagged sanderling

Banded and nanotagged sanderling

Wetland plant and sediment collecion

Wetland plant and sediment collecion

RFID reader on nestbox

RFID reader on nestbox

Sanderling in mistnet at dawn

Sanderling in mistnet at dawn

Texas Sanderling: Flag and nanotag

Texas Sanderling: Flag and nanotag

MOTUS tower on grain elevator

MOTUS tower on grain elevator

Chironomid lab toxicity study

Chironomid lab toxicity study

Measuring tree swallow

Measuring tree swallow

Limnocorrals to study neonics

Limnocorrals to study neonics

Neurobehavioural effects of PCBs

Neurobehavioural effects of PCBs

Starling in an Emlen funnel

Banded Sanderling sighted in winter

Banded Sanderling sighted in winter

Hydropower and American dippers

Hydropower and American dippers

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