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| The Impacts of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Model Aquatic Animals | ||||||||||||
The Environment Agency has acknowledged that the influx of pharmaceutical compounds into the aquatic environment has become cause for significant concern. Of the compounds identified as priorities, three were Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID). NSAIDs operate by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins. These are important in the early development of many organisms and inhibition causes developmental arrest and a variety of teratogenic effects. NSAID entry into the aquatic environment is mainly through sewage discharges, with current treatment methods failing to remove these persistent chemicals. Chronic exposure to NSAIDs is, therefore, likely to occur in freshwater and estuarine habitats. Juvenile and early larval stages are often the most susceptible to environmental stressors. This study will use brown trout (Salmo trutta) and the harbour ragworm (Nereis diversicolor) as representative freshwater and estuarine species, respectively. Both species are ecologically and economically important and are well studied ecotoxicological models. A variety of methods will be used to investigate the effects of NSAIDs on gametes, embryos and larvae of these species and the impacts on metabolic profiles will also be investigated using the School’s 600 MHz NMR. Candidates must have at least a 2.1 honours degree in aquatic biology or a related subject. The project will be based at the Institute of Marine Sciences and supervised by Drs C. Waring and G. Watson. Potential applicants should send a CV, covering letter and postgraduate application form (download from: http://www.port.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/howtoapply/) to Dr Gordon Watson (gordon.watson@port.ac.uk), Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, PO4 9LY, 023 92845798. . Funding Notes Fully funded 3 year studentship available from October 2010, and includes an annual tax-free stipend for students, which is currently £13,290. This position is open to any nationality with appropriate qualifications. |
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