Evolutionary perspectives in the trace metal physiology of aquatic insects

Metals contaminate freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Insects typically dominate the invertebrate species pool in most freshwater ecosystems, and are focused upon

schedule Date & time
15 May 2015 12:30pm - 15 May 2015 1:30pm
person Speaker
David Buchwalter, North Carolina State University

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Description

Metals contaminate freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Insects typically dominate the invertebrate species pool in most freshwater ecosystems, and are focused upon by ecological monitoring programs. Yet the physiology of these important organisms remains poorly studied.

One often overlooked aspect of aquatic insect biology is the fact that insects are secondarily aquatic, with numerous invasions of aquatic habitats by several groups over evolutionary history. The transition from terrestrial life to aquatic life required solving physiological problems associated with respiration and osmoregulation. Different lineages exhibit different solutions to these problems, resulting in species groups with different physiologies that directly affect trace metal bioaccumulation.

In this seminar, I will present an overview of how our research group uses isotopic tracers to explore trace metal bioaccumulation and trophic transfer, the development of life cycle tests in a lab-reared mayfly, and our use of comparative/phylogenetic methods to explore patterns of metal bioaccumulation.

Dr. Buchwalter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University, USA and is visiting the region as a Fulbright Scholar. He received his PhD in Environmental Toxicology at Oregon State University in 2002 worked as a National Research Council post-doctoral fellow with Dr. Samuel Luoma (US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA) on trace metal bioaccumulation in aquatic insects.
 
In 2005, he began his career at North Carolina State University, continuing work on trace metal bioaccumulation and incorporating evolutionary and comparative perspectives in his research.  His research interests have branched out to include studies of freshwater salinization and thermal stress. His work spans different levels of biological organization but is primarily motivated by the desire to understand the mechanistic underpinnings of species responses to environmental stressors in nature. Dr. Buchwalter is an associate editor at Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology.

Location

Building 12, Level B, Room 2. University of Canberra