Dr. Paul L. Klerks

My main research interest involves the long-term effects of environmental contaminants on natural aquatic ecosystems. I am specifically interested in the development of resistance to contaminants. It has been well established in the field of pest control that natural populations often evolve a resistance to pesticides. However, it is not clear if the same will happen in natural populations of aquatic organisms exposed to elevated levels of contaminants.

We have recently expanded this research to include tolerance to elevated temperatures, in order to determine if populations can adapt genetically to elevated water temperatures resulting from global warming.

I am also interested in the effects of benthic organisms on the dynamics of metals. My earlier research investigated this for the exotic zebra mussel, while current research addresses this for ghost shrimp in Tampa Bay.

Other ongoing research in my laboratory is investigating bioluminescence in the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula, and the use of this bioluminescence as a bioassay. The research is especially aimed at determining the regulation of bioluminescence and the mechanism(s) by which environmental contaminants affect bioluminescence in this species.