BIOL 537 2012-13
Dr. P. Hodson

Tel:  (613) 533-6129
E-mail:  peter.hodson@queensu.ca
Faculty Web Site:  http://www.queensu.ca/biology/people/faculty/hodson.html

RESEARCH AREA/POTENTIAL PROJECTS

My research concerns fish toxicology, specifically the relationship between metabolism of chemicals and their toxicity to embryonic, larval, and sexually-maturing fish.  I also apply my work to practical issues such as assessing the impacts on fish of complex mixtures such as crude oil, and assessing the accumulation of chemicals by fish in contaminated environments. 

The following is a selection of current projects; lab space is limited, and new research ideas may arise before next September.   Nevertheless, students should anticipate working in these general areas.

-          structure activity relationships – the effect of the chemical structure of alkyl polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH; constituents of oil, tar, pitch) on their toxicity to fish embryos

-          effects-driven chemical fractionation – using bioassays and chemical separation techniques to identify the constituents of heavy fuel oil that are toxic to fish

-          methods for assessing the metabolic responses of fish to PAH, specifically the induction of cytochrome P450-enzymes

-          the contamination of gravel spawning shoals of salmonids by oil spills in rivers (what is ‘hyporheic flow’? Think pipelines; Think Northern Gateway)

-          the effect of chemical dispersion of crude oil on the toxicity to fish of PAH released from oil.

-          Sediment cores as indicators of the history of pesticide contamination of the St. Lawrence River