Effects of non-lethal concentrations of pharmaceuticals on host and parasite fitness

We are all taking medicines on a more or less regular basis, but these compounds are not broken down completely in our bodies. Therefore, residues from our medication end up in surface waters. There, they can affect fungi, plants and animals, either directly or by disrupting their chemical information exchange. Parasites often depend on infochemicals to find their host. Chytrid fungi, for example, are thought to find their phytoplankton host by following a gradient of host photosynthesis byproducts.

The aim of this project is to determine the effects of non-lethal concentrations of pharmaceuticals on host and parasite fitness using phytoplankton host and their chytrid parasite as model system. Phytoplankton form the basis of the aquatic food web and account for up to 50% of the global primary production. Many phytoplankton species are parasitized by chytrid fungi with infection prevalence reaching as high as 90% in some populations. Phytoplankton and their chytrid parasites are good model systems for laboratory studies on the effect of environmental conditions on fitness traits as they are easy to culture and have short generation times.

We have opportunities for university / MSc students to perform a range of experimental eco-toxicological studies assessing the main and / or combined effects of pharmaceuticals and environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, nutrients and light) on phytoplankton host – chytrid parasite model-systems. These experiments involve typically culturing work, microscopy and chemical analyses for the data collection phase, statistical evaluation and presentation of the data to the working group. Please contact Alena Gsell for current openings. The duration is 6+ months.