ETAA · Evolution of Tolerance to an Anti-Androgen
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2012-08-01 → 2016-07-31
- EU contribution
- €100,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MC-CIG
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Periodic Report Summary 1 - ETAA (Evolution of Tolerance to an Anti-Androgen.)
The overriding aim of this project was to determine whether sub-lethal exposure to chemicals that mediate their effects via the endocrine system (endocrine active chemicals; EACs) could influence evolution in fish populations. EACs are known to induce reproductive abnormalities in a range of vertebrates and there is evidence that chronic exposure of rivers and lakes can lead to population declines in wild fish populations but the longer-term consequences of such declines are unknown. Through measuring phenotypic variation in the reproductive responses of fish to endocrine active chemicals this project aimed to evaluate the potential for EAC tolerant fish populations to evolve through natural selection. Prior to addressing the main objectives it was necessary to establish a working aquaria along with the necessary licences; to establish a breeding population of wild-sourced fish; and to recruit a PhD student to the project. These initial steps were all successfully completed and the student along with Master students worked on developing the initial protocols and baseline datasets to support the project. During this period the investigator was also successful in obtaining a knowledge-exchange grant that provided the opportunity to develop new collaborations within government involved in development of regulations of EACs. The investigator was also successful in securing a promotion to a new post at a research-intensive University. Unfortunately, however, the PhD student did not wish to transfer Universities and because there would be delays to the project whilst a new aquaria was established the decision was taken to terminate the project. Whilst the research project itself has not progressed to meet all of the original aims, the fellow has been very successfully re-integrated into the European research establishment.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The research outlined in this proposal investigates the potential for exposure to endocrine active chemicals (EACs) to influence evolutionary processes within fish populations. The EACs are globally recognised as a prevalent group of environmental contaminants that are known to induce reproductive abnormalities in a range of vertebrates. Although the impact of exposure to these chemicals is well documented, at the level of the individual, it is not yet clear how, or if, these contaminants have the potential to influence evolutionary processes. Such information is urgently needed to understand the implications of exposure to EACs for wild populations and to better inform risk management strategies. The research proposed here adopts a quantitative genetics approach to determine whether an EAC can generate selection within an exposed population and whether the population can respond to this selection. Specifically experiments will be conducted to (1) estimate additive genetic variation for plasticity in phenotypic responses to flutamide; (2) assess the response to selection over four rounds of truncation selection; (3) determine whether there is evidence for correlated responses to selection in traits that are not under direct selection. The results from these experiments will inform on the potential for EACs to impact the health and viability of fish populations and will further inform risk management strategies for EACs. The results will be published in leading journals in the environmental sciences and presented at international meetings. This will provide an excellent foundation on which to develop collaborative scientific networks and attract future competitive research funding to both identify the genes underlying the tolerant phenotype and to assess the potential costs associated with tolerance.""
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION · PortsmouthCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union