Fisheries Research Makes Cover of Environmental Science & Technology

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

A man with glasses looks through a microscope in a laboratory, illuminated by contrasting blue and red lighting.
Fly’s eye opens window into important biological processes

The eyes are the window to the soul, according to an old saying. But Purdue University’s...

Read More
A young Geriann Albers holds a coyote pup; Albers holds a red-winged blackbird; Albers holds her Chase S. Osborn plaque.
Meet Geriann Albers: 2025 Chase S. Osborn Early Career Award Recipient

For her contributions to and impact on wildlife management in the state of Indiana, Geriann...

Read More
From left, lab members Jieun Woo, Dekun Cheng and professor Weicang Wang look under the sterile hood of their lab at a petri dish.
How do PFAS affect gut health?

PFAS have been shown to increase risks to immunity, reproductive health, developmental delays,...

Read More
Senior Isaac Johnson sprays invasive species, conducts midstory control and stands next to a tree he felled during his summer as a Forestry and Natural Resources intern.
FNR Field Report: Isaac Johnson

Senior Isaac Johnson, a forestry major with a concentration in forest management, worked as an...

Read More
Alisa Tilson in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago
Making the world a better, and more walkable, place

Alisa Tilson (BS '96, Natural Resources and Environmental Science) works for CDOT’s...

Read More
honeycomb with honey
From Hive to Honey

Behind every jar of honey is a fascinating story of pollination, research, and hands-on learning....

Read More