Multi-stressor impacts on coastal Antarctic and temperate sea urchins
Coastal seas of the world are experiencing an unprecedented period of rapid change that is driven largely by human-induced alterations in climate and release of chemical contaminants into the environment. However, life in general is very adaptable, with heritability and epigenetics as enduring mechanisms that shield future generations from effects of parental exposure to environmental stressors. To better understand adaptation and resilience in coastal keystone species, we propose to compare Antarctic and temperate sea urchins as models of molecular, genetic, epigenetic, and transgenerational effects. Understanding impacts from multiple stressors is critical to fully understand the environment which organisms are living in, and the impacts of changing those conditions.
The PhD aim is to understand the impact of preconditioning adult sea urchins to end-century elevated water temperatures on their spawning success. After exposure to multiples stress factors, the impact will be studied on the development and survival of gametes, embryos and larvae and on DNA damaging and repairing system in sea urchins populations from latitudinal extremes.
Supervisors
Dr. Ted Henry, Heriot Watt University
Pr. Melody Clark, British Antarctic Survey
Funder
NERC – SUPER DTP
Start Date
02/10/2023
Career
February 2019 – March 2019 - Intern - Bio-Littoral Laboratory at Nantes, France
February 2021 – June 2021 - Intern - IHPE (Interactions – Hosts – Pathogens – Environment) Laboratory at Perpignan, France
Education
2019 - Bachelor of Science, Earth and Life Sciences – Biology and Ecology Pathway - University of Nantes
2021 - Master of Science, Earth and Planetary Science, Environment – Ecosystems and Marine Bioproduction Pathway - University of Nantes