Our profile
In Ecotoxicology and Stress Ecology Research Group (ESERG)
we concentrate on effects of natural and anthropogenic chemicals on
organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems. We study also effects of
interactions among toxicants and other environmental stressing factors, such
as extreme and suboptimal temperatures, unfavourable moisture and humidity,
as well as pathogens. Toxicokinetic studies have also been always in the
centre of our interest. Combining all these factors and their effects on
organisms and their assemblages builds a highly complicated yet fascinating
picture describing functioning of organisms in a complex environment.
|
Our laboratories
In the Laboratory of
Ecochemistry, environmental and biological samples are analysed for a range
of contaminants, such as metals (atomic absorption spectrometry) and
organic chemicals (gas chromatography mass spectrometry). In the Laboratory
of Ecotoxicology, effects of chemicals on enzyme activity and metabolic
performance of organisms are measured. Our high-precision MicroOxymax
respirometer let us measure respiration rates even in the smallest
animals. Measuring respiration rate of soil microorganisms allows to
assess effects of pollution on the functioning of this crucial part of any
ecosystem. In cooperation with Laboratory of Molecular Ecology, pollution
effects on genetic pools of populations inhabiting contaminated environments
are also assessed. Evolutionary processes and population dynamics in
environmentally stressful conditions are studied with mathematical
modelling, allowing to test a range of different scenarios. Altogether, we
are the team with probably most diverse methodology at the Institute, which
guarantees that everybody can find something interesting to study here, and
at the same time will have an opportunity to familiarize with a broad range
of scientific problems and methods to approach them. |
