Mercury metal pollution in Amazonian amphibians: unravelling the genomic, physiological and toxicological effect
Supervisors:
Dr Karen Sui Ting, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
Dr Michelle Bellingham, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow
Prof. Lisa Connolly, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
Summary:
Mercury contamination is a product of artisanal gold mining and is widespread in the Amazon rainforest. Mercury, when converted to methylmercury, becomes highly toxic and accumulates in organisms, posing significant risks to wildlife. Amphibians are highly sensitive to environmental changes due to their permeable skin and complex life cycles, making them excellent indicators of environmental health but also vulnerable to pollutants. Recent studies have started to assess the impact of mercury pollution in amphibian health, but still very little is known about the metabolic responses in amphibians in the presence of this pollutant in the wild.
Project Goals:
1. Assess Mercury Levels: Analyse mercury levels in amphibian tissue samples (eg. Liver and muscle) from various habitats.
2. Health Effects: Conduct ecotoxicology tests to understand how mercury affects amphibian health, focusing on their reproductive potential (eg. gonadal histology).
3. Genetic and Metabolic Markers: Use gene expression to assess metabolic responses to methylmercury exposure in amphibians.
Training and Opportunities: The student will gain experience in molecular, bioinformatic, and mass spectrometry techniques, as well as field monitoring and specialized lab techniques. The project includes opportunities to present findings at conferences and engage in professional development.
Why It Matters: The findings from this research will be helpful for developing conservation strategies to understand and mitigate mercury’s adverse effects on wildlife and biodiversity. It will also help to inform future conservation policies