Rachel Wilson (Younge)

Graduate Student

Chemical Oceanography
Major Professors: Dr. Doug Nowacek and Dr. Jeff Chanton

Department of Oceanography
Rm 331, OSB
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4320

Research

The field of environmental contaminant research is ever expanding as existing compounds are discovered to have adverse biological effects and novel compounds are introduced to take their place. Anthropogenic compounds are carried via runoff and groundwater discharge into the marine environment, affecting our coastal species in ways we have only just begun to explore. Most of these compounds are bioaccumulating, thus their most toxic effects are seen in those species occupying the topmost tier of the marine food web. One of these top predators in the coastal Gulf region is the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) whose proximity to anthropogenic sources and lipid-rich blubber layer make this species ideal for harboring the often lipophilic compounds that contaminate its environment. The toxic effects of some compounds such as DDT and PCB congeners have been extensively studied, however there are many contaminants of emerging concern, such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and Perflourinated compounds (such as PFOA and PFOS), the effects of which are less well characterized. It is the goal of this project to asses levels of such contaminants in bottlenose dolphins occupying nearby St Joseph Bay, FL and to describe a mechanism by which 1) the BFR group known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exert potential toxic effects and 2) a mechanism by which combinations of environmental contaminants may act in concert to exert their toxic effects within the body.