Katherine COSTIL

Ecological and Ecotoxicological Studies in aquatic ecosystems:

• Spatio-temporal monitoring of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and, marine (Mytilus edulis) and brackish/freshwater (Mytilopsis leucophaeta, invasive species) mussels by considering: hydrological parameters (in collaboration with LERN, IFREMER, Port-en-Bessin), environmental pollution (in collaboration with LABEO, Caen) and biological performances (survival, bivalves’growth and quality, reproduction and stress level) (in situ studies);
• Assessments of the effects of various contaminants (pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, PCBs) on:
  • embryo-larval stages and metamorphosis in marine bivalves (embryotoxicity);
  • juvenile and adult bivalves by using a battery of biomarkers at different levels of organization: 1) molecular (mRNA quantification); 2) biochemical (activity of enzymes involved in detoxification and oxidant stress regulation, lipidic peroxidation, energy reserves); 3) cellular (immunotoxicity, dynamics of the lysosomal system …); individual (reprotoxicity, histopathology …) (in situ, in vivo and in vitro approaches).

These researches are conducted in the frame of programs such as: 1) European Interreg IVA project CHRONEXPO (Studies on the effects of CHROnic EXPOsure on marine organisms to contaminants from industry in the English channel) coordinated by B. Fievet (IRSN Cherbourg); 2) ANR « Pharm@ecotox » (Pharmaceutical residues and ecotoxicology in seawater) coordinated by M.P. Halm (CERMN), 3) ANR « IPOC » (Interaction between POllution and Climate changes: development of monitoring strategy) coordinated by M. Auffret (LEMAR) et M. Fournier (INRS-IAF) and 4) The project "Contaminants émergents et conchyliculture" (DARM regional funding)