Effect of temperature on metal toxicity to zebrafish: frome gene to organismal responses

During recent years ecotoxicology has been an emerging field and its experimental focus has been expanded from using mainly chemical stressors (e.g. cadmium) to assessing the effects of natural or non-chemical stressors (e.g. temperature) as well. Both kinds of stressors are known to influence the condition of entire populations, but are expected to have different mechanisms of action. This study investigates effects of both cadmium and temperature in zebrafish (Danio rerio) separately as well as the effects of the combination of these two stressors. Laboratory experiments are conducted in which adult zebrafish are exposed to either cadmium, a rise or drop in temperature or both at the same time. Responses are investigated at several time points and on various levels of biological organisation. Parameters indicative of physiological condition (swimming performance, condition factor and energy stores) are assessed and are linked to data at lower levels of biological organisation (transcriptomics and proteomics). This project aims at elucidating the mechanisms of these two stressors separately as well as their combined effects.