Fisheries Research Makes Cover of Environmental Science & Technology

Story by Wendy Mayer

November 12, 2019

Marisol Sepúlveda, Purdue University professor of ecology and natural systems and associate head for research, and Dave Coulter, postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Southern Illinois University, had their work featured on the cover and inside Environmental Science & Technology Magazine’s Oct. 1, 2019 issue.

Sepulveda was co-author of the piece entitled “Lifelong Exposure to Dixin-Like PCBs Alters Paternal Offspring Care Behavior and Reduces Male Fish Reproductive Success,” while Coulter, a former PhD student under Sepúlveda and Tomas Höök, professor of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, at Purdue, was the lead author.

The paper details a laboratory experiment designed to identify the mechanisms by which polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination affects male reproductive contribution from individuals to populations. The experiment saw male fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) dosed with one of two PCB mixtures throughout their lives. Once mature, the minnows were bred with uncontaminated females and evaluated the effects on:

Expression of genes from brain tissue involved in reproductive endocrine pathways
Testicular cellular development
Secondary sexual characteristics
Courtship and reproductive behavior
Offspring survival
Long-term offspring performance

To read the full summary of the experiment view Lifelong Exposure to Dioxin-Like PCBs Alters Paternal Offspring Care Behavior and Reduces Male Fish Reproductive Success.

Featured Stories

Mary Beth Adams stands in front of a sign publicizing her visit to Nanjing Normal University in China.

Distinguished Alumna Adams Travels to China for Scientific Exchange Opportunity

Dr. Mary Beth Adams, a 2016 Purdue Distinguished Agricultural Alumni Award honoree and 2020...

Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Serena Wesley

Serena Wesley is in her third year as a Purdue Animal Sciences student, and she will be...

House has water all around it from flooding.

2024 Top Midwestern weather events

The Midwest experienced record-breaking weather events in 2024, including impacts from...

Purdue Agriculture athletes earn Big Ten recognition

Three Purdue Agriculture student athletes were named Academic All-Big Ten Honorees for the spring...

15 Black Vultures scavenge a calf carcass at Southern Indiana Purdue Agriculture Center while one Turkey Vulture waits vigilantly in the background.

Researchers Study Competitive Behaviors Between Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures

Aristotle Onassis once said I have no friends and no enemies – only competitors. A...

Ankita Raturi, an assistant professor in agricultural and biological engineering who runs the Agricultural Informatics Lab

Ankita Raturi Wins Maxwell/Hanrahan Award in Food

It wasn’t until a minute into the phone call that Ankita Raturi understood she was not...