Course Description
Toxicological effects of aquatic pollution focusing on fate and transport; accumulation and toxicity in aquatic organisms; and the analysis of risks to aquatic ecosystems and human populations. The course will be primarily delivered through lecture and discussion, though some lab activities may be planned during the semester.
Athena Title
Aquatic Toxicology
Prerequisite
FISH(EHSC) 4600/6600 or FISH(EHSC)(ECOL)(ENTO)(VPHY)(PHRM) 8350
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1) To review the basic toxicological principles of uptake, elimination, and accumulation, emphasizing processes/circumstances unique to aquatic organisms. 2) To learn the relationships between abiotic and biotic processes of aquatic environments and their effects on contaminant distribution and subsequent exposure, accumulation, and toxicity of xenobiotics in aquatic environments. 3) To explore current methods of assessing and modeling toxic responses of individuals, communities, and ecosystems in the aquatic environment. 4) To understand the governing legislation around pesticides, water pollution, and the need for aquatic toxicology and risk assessment for managing environmental health.
Topical Outline
1. Syllabus; course expectations 2. Physiochemical properties of chemicals; Chemical fate and transport in the aquatic environment 3. Review of dose/response; uptake processes in aquatic organisms 4. Biotransformation, elimination processes, bioaccumulation 5. Bioavailability (inorganics and organics) 6. Discuss research proposal ideas 7. Legislation relevant to aquatic toxicology 8. Aquatic toxicity standard tests, single species testing (acute; chronic), the role of tests in ecological risk assessment 9. Sediment toxicity tests; specialized tests (e.g., Microtox; FETAX) 10. In-situ testing; multiple species testing (microcosms; mesocosms); community indices (IBI; EPT, etc.) 11. Whole organism, physiological and biochemical responses 12. Taxon-specific tests 13. Biomarkers 14. Adverse outcome pathways – from omics to ecosystems