Amanda Gerke

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I am developing methods to investigate the sublethal effects of chemically dispersed oil on the antipredator response in Chinook salmon (Onchorhyncus tshawytscha) smolts. Why is this important? As our dependence upon fossil fuels increases, the coastlines are at continually increasing risk of oil spills and contamination. Such spills can have massive environmental consequences both through direct contact of organisms with the contaminant, and through the methods used to clean them up. Such methods include absorption, mechanical cleaning and chemical dispersion. Although chemical dispersants do solublize and make the spill appear to "go away", they can also cause acute effects in fish such as changes in heart and respiratory rates, gill damage, immunosuppression and decreased reproduction rates. Less studied are the sub-lethal behavioral and chemosensory effects which affect the organism's ability to survive, find food and avoid predation. In this study salmon smolts will be placed in aquaria, exposed to varying levels of dispersents and their feeding behavior and chemosensory fright response observed. The data will inform industry, policy makers and will help to develop more effective dispersants and preserve future salmon populations.