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

Students walking and bicycling under the Purdue University arch this summer.

College of Agriculture introduces 14 new faculty members

College of Agriculture welcomes 14 new faculty members, kicking off the start of the 2025 fall...

Jackson Schwartz with extension specialist Jarred Brooke and another student at a prescribed burn.

FNR Field Report: Jackson Schwartz

Jackson Schwartz, who completed his bachelor’s degree in wildlife in May, spent the summer...

Agrifood Economy Index rebounds but remains below baseline

The June Agrifood Economy Index (AEI) reflects a strong rebound from March’s lows in...

andrea vacca stands in Maha facility in front of construction vehicles

Purdue professor Andrea Vacca inducted into Fluid Power Hall of Fame

Andrea Vacca, the Maha Fluid Power Faculty Chair and professor of agriculture and biological...

Purdue Agriculture athletes honored by Big Ten

Four Purdue Agriculture student athletes were recognized as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for...

ABE faculty member wins prestigious NSF CAREER award

Safe tap water, while ordinary in developed countries, is truly miraculous, the product of...