Dr Anna Iglikowska from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Gdańsk won the Miniatura 5 National Science Center competition. The researcher will implement the project “Testing of bioaccumulation of heavy metals in aquatic shellfish from the Ostracoda group”.

Molluscs are small-sized crustaceans that play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. They are eaten by other aquatic invertebrates, birds and fish. Some species of Ostracoda are very tolerant of the environment and can live in heavily polluted reservoirs with e.g. heavy metals.

Dr Iglikowska wants to assess the accumulation of two heavy metals, i.e. zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), by female couples in laboratory conditions. Both Zn and Cu are essential elements for living organisms, but in higher concentrations they can be toxic, inhibiting the production of proteins, blocking the work of enzymes and causing physiological disorders.

More: https://ug.edu.pl/news/pl/1763/metale-ciezkie-w-organizmach-wodnych-skorupiakow