The experimentation performed on cod were focused on biomarkers of different level of biological organization (gene expression to performance traits). It provides data on potential synergistic short and medium-term effects of oil and dispersant application in the marine Arctic, both with a high response sensitivity and an ecological relevance. The use of hypoxia tolerance as biomarkers of fish functional integrity an Arctic species demonstrated a plasticity in adaptive capacities of juvenile cods. This kind of integrative biomarkers, closely related to the global environmental history of the assessed organism, provide relevant information about the resilience and vulnerability of fish after a stress period.
To obtain ecotoxicological trials in the deep-sea environment, we used two approaches, one with a large range bathymetric species and one by developing under pressure. For the first time, assessment of the different complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of Lophelia pertusa were evaluated and used it to observe a potential alteration by dispersant of the internal membrane of mitochondria. This methodology can be applied to several experimental studies in impact assessment using Lophelia pertusa as a model species. In this context of environmental monitoring in deep-sea ecosystem, no standardized bioassay was considering hydrostatic pressure, despite its crucial role on life. The development of mini hyperbaric chambers during BIOPADE project allowed to adapt two classical bioassays to assess the biodegradability and the toxicity of chemicals under high hydrostatic pressure.
By the coordinator supervision, the applicant improved his knowledge in communication skills and ecotoxicological in Arctic and deep-sea ecosystems. This lead, in addition to his research on the BIOPADE project, to the writing of two scientific papers focused on the oil context in Arctic and deep-sea ecosystems. Using this experience in ecophysiology, the applicant provides to the host organization new methodologies in biological impact assessment, coupling high response sensitivity on mitochondria and ecological relevance using performance traits on fish. Furthermore, bioassay developments under pressure will provide the possibility to market this research to private or public organizations. Finally, via the ERASMUS program, a master student course focused on physiology and ecotoxicology has been developed jointly by Brest and Tromsø University.
