Church Point (NS), December 10, 2024 – Professor Jordan Park has been awarded a 5-year Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant to study the impact of climate change and environmental pollutants on aquatic organisms. This fundamental research project will provide a basis for better understanding the effects of evolving environmental conditions on marine life, including commercially important species like the American lobster.
Working in the Lobster Quality Laboratory, located at Université Sainte-Anne’s main campus in Church Point, Professor Park will seek to identify toxicity mechanisms of marine pollutants, such as microplastics, nanoplastics and tire wear particles, on aquatic invertebrates when co-exposed to climate changes.
Aquatic invertebrates such as rotifers, copepods, and artemia could widely be used as non-model organisms to study marine ecotoxicology, according to Professor Park, since they are omnipresent in marine ecology, are easy to handle, and their genome is well documented. He and his team will study the impacts of environmental stressors using these aquatic invertebrates that form a large part of the saltwater and freshwater zooplankton. Zooplanktons are also important means by which aquatic pollutants are transported across the food chains. Given their natural availability, they serve as a valuable dietary source in aquaculture. Consequences to these microorganisms brought about by variations in environmental conditions are apt to lead to transformations in larger marine ecosystems. This is because their considerable importance as a food source, however these ubiquitous plankton also share their genes with many higher-order species, so the genetic responses of the aquatic invertebrates may be similar to those of more complex species.
"Marine environments are constantly evolving. The climates are changing, and we are seeing the introduction of more pollutants to those already accumulated. This research program will deepen our knowledge about the ways that these environmental stressors affect marine life over multiple generations. Moreover, it will lay a foundation for future research on which industry, policy makers and other stakeholders could rely to better understand the impact of the same changing environmental conditions on commercially important species."
– Professor Jordan Park, Ph.D.
More precisely, the researcher will seek to elucidate a causal pathway between the introduction of pollutants, the changes in the genetics, microbiome or physiology of the tiny organisms, and finally the repercussions across the food chain reaching larger invertebrates. Professor Park will first expose the lower trophic planktons to a variety of environmental conditions and analyze their response. The variations of water quality are related to climate changes, such as temperature, salinity, pH and oxygen levels. He will then alter these predetermined exposure conditions to different levels of pollutants present in the marine environment. To the different samples, he will introduce species higher in the food chain to mimic real environmental scenarios.
The response of the zooplanktons to the range of environmental conditions will be analyzed at the genetic level over single and multiple generations. By understanding the genetics effects, Professor Park will hope to understand how these explain any observed physiological changes to the aquatic invertebrates and the species that rely on these as a food source. This research may also provide insights into methods of promoting better responses by invertebrates to environment stressors.
About the program
The NSERC Discovery Grants program is aimed at promoting and maintaining a diversified base of high-quality research capability in Canadian universities, fostering research excellence, and providing a stimulating environment for research training.
About Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne, the only French language post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, offers university and college-level courses as well as a French immersion program and customized training in French as a second language. Recognized for its excellent programs as well as its unique and exceptional living environment, Sainte-Anne offers experiential learning opportunities that promote student engagement and success, and an atmosphere which encourages a culture of excellence in research and development. Solidly established in its community, Université Sainte-Anne is a partner of choice for all those who wish to strengthen the vitality of the regions surrounding its 5 campuses as well as all of Acadie throughout Nova Scotia.
For more information
Gilles Saulnier, Research and Communications Officer
Université Sainte-Anne
Tel. : 902-260-5141
Email: