Project description:We evaluated the possible mechanisms by which exposure to a sequentially treated pulp and paper mill effluent affects gene expression in the liver of male and female fathead minnows. Sexually mature fathead minnows were exposed to either river water, which served as our control (C), 10% untreated kraft effluent (UTK), 25% treated kraft effluent (TK) or 100% final effluent (CMO) from a multiprocess pulp and paper mill for 6 days. A total of 4 treatments. Each exposure aquarium consisted of a 42.1 L column that contained individual 5.3 L chambers. Each chamber contained a FHM breeding pair. A total of 3 biological replicates for male and female FHM per treatment were sent for microarray analysis resulting in a total of 24 arrays run as a reference design with a pooled sample of the 6 river water exposed fish serving as the reference sample..
Project description:We investigated the impacts of wastewater effluent exposure on gene expression in adult fathead minnows, a freshwater fish commonly used as an ecotoxicological model.
Project description:We evaluated the possible mechanisms by which exposure to a sequentially treated pulp and paper mill effluent affects gene expression in the liver of male and female fathead minnows.
Project description:The federally endangered Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) is found almost exclusively on the Eglin Air Force Base in the Choctawhatchee Bay watershed of Florida. Portions of this limited habitat are threatened with erosion of soils, altered hydrology, and impaired water quality. One stream reach in particular, East Turkey Creek, has demonstrated potential water quality problems including poor invertebrate bioassessment scores (IBI), uncharacteristically high conductivity values, and low numbers of Okaloosa darters. General water quality (dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, temperature, and relative turbidity and primary productivity) was characterized in both the potentially impacted East Turkey Creek and a reference stream (Long Creek). Water quality was assessed during a 30 day exposure using passive samplers for both non-polar and polar effluent parameters. Metal loading in the system was assessed via fish tissue burdens in resident Pteronotropis hypseleotris. Additionally, microarray analysis was performed on gonad and liver tissue from fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, after 48-h exposures to water collected from the two creeks and brought into the laboratory. Gene expression changes were evident at the site below the influence of a wastewater spray field sited along East Turkey Creek, suggesting that anthropogenic compounds in the effluent waters may have affected both liver and testis function and could be related to account the general decrease in populations of the Okaloosa darter. Array hybridizations were performed using a single color design. Four biological replicates consisting of four different individuals were analyzed for each of the treatments (University of Florida control, and each of five sites). Site C was left out of subsequent analysis for publication, due to poor characterization of the site. Two Samples were left out of the normalization/analysis due to QC failure. Therefore, there are only 3 replicates of the "testis, site A water, exposed 48 h." and "liver, site E water, exposed 48 h." groups.
