Fengjia Liu


        Picture of Fengjia Liu

PhD student

My research investigates the possible long term impacts of chemical contaminants on marine invertebrates. I have worked as a research assistant for the past four years in ecotoxicology, using gene expression profiling, histology and behavioural studies on model organisms to determine the ecotoxicological effects of various contaminants.

Contact details:
  • Fengjia.Liu@sams.ac.uk
  • +44 (0)1631 559000


Ecotoxicological implications of environmental chemical discharge on marine invertebrate organisms

Organisms in the coastal marine environment are exposed to a wide range of pollutants and contaminants, and understanding mechanisms of toxicological effects of exposure is essential for assessing potential long-term impacts on populations and ecosystems. My project focuses on key contaminants of current relevance in Scottish coastal environment, such as those entering the marine environment from waste water treatments or industrial activities like coastal aquaculture. One of the contaminants of interest is hydrogen peroxide, due to its use as a biofouling treatment on submarine structures and as a chemical treatment of sea lice in marine salmon farming facilities. With hydrogen peroxide as the main target contaminant of the investigation, and its effects tested on sea urchins and mussels due to their ecological roles as benthic detritivores and filter feeders as well as their economic value as potential target fisheries, I hope to understand more of the impact of these contaminants on our environment.

The key aims are:

1) Use of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms to test the hypothesis that transgenerational effects may lead to long term chronic effects that may impact population-level stability.

2) Effects compared by spawning exposed adults during gametogenesis as well as transgenerational effects from spawning after a complete cycle of gametogenesis.

3) Analysis of reproductive success, growth, behaviour, and development to test the hypothesis that genetic and/or epigenetic effects have impacts on higher levels of biological organisation.


Supervisors

Dr Helena Reinardy, SAMS

Dr Kim Last, SAMS

Prof Theodore Henry, Heriot-Watt University

 

Funder

NERC (MASTS SUPER DTP)


University

University of the Highlands and Islands

Employment

2015-2019 - Research Assistant, Heriot-Watt University

Higher Education

2015 - MSc Biotechnology , Heriot-Watt University

2015- BSc Biological Sciences, Heriot-Watt University

 

Peer-reviewed publications

Liu F, Last KS, Henry TB, Reinardy HC (2022) Interspecific differences in oxidative DNA damage after hydrogen perioxide exposure of sea urchin coelomocytes. Mutagenesishttps://doi.org/10.1093/mutage/geac018

Vad J, Dunnett F, Liu F, Montagner CC, Roberts JM, Henry TB. Soaking up the oil: Biological impacts of dispersants and crude oil on the sponge Halichondria panicea. Chemosphere. 2020 Oct;257:127109. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127109. Epub 2020 May 18. PMID: 32497834

 

Conference talks

Patsiou D., Liu F., McCoustra M. R. S., Fernandes T. F., Henry T. B. PAHs Sorption to NPs in the Aqueous Phase Assessed by Evaluation of Bioavailability in Larval Zebrafish. SETAC Europe Nantes 2016, Platform presentation

 

Poster presentations

Patsiou D., Liu F., McCoustra M. R. S., Fernandes T. F., Henry T. B. Benzo-a-pyrene Sorption to NPs in the Aqueous Phase in Larval Zebrafish Under UVA Irradiation. SETAC World meeting Orlando 2016, Poster

Patsiou D., Del Rio-Cubilledo C., Liu F., Fernandes T. F., Henry T. B. Investigation of Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Perovskite Nanomaterials in Zebrafish. SETAC World meeting Orlando 2016, Poster

Patsiou D., Liu F., Fernandes T. F., Henry T. B. Investigation of Acute Toxicity of Perovskite Nanomaterials (a New Solar Cell Nanomaterial) in Zebrafish. Nanotox Congress Boston 2016, Poster

Liu F., Last, K., Henry T. B., Reinardy, H. Detection of DNA damage in sea urchin coelomocytes with fast micromethod. EMGS 2020, poster

Liu F., Last, K., Henry T. B., Reinardy, H. Detection of DNA damage in sea urchin coelomocytes with fast micromethod. MASTS ASM 2020, poster