College Honors Program

Organismal Effects of Tire Dust Exposure on Nematostella vectensis

Date of Creation

5-17-2024

Document Type

Campus Access Only

First Advisor

Justin McAlister

Abstract

Tire dust is a ubiquitous terrestrial pollutant that can permeate into coastal waters. It primarily forms from tread wear on vehicle tires and follows road run-off into adjacent waters. Chemical leachates from these particles are pollutants known to have deleterious effects on organismal function, which can subsequently impact the functioning of ecosystems, particularly those near urban environments. Building upon past toxin-exposure studies, which have revealed that tire dust can impede the processes of some species, I researched whether Nematostella vectensis, an urban, resilient, model organism, was similarly impacted. N. vectensis, the Starlet Sea anemone, is native to brackish marine environments along the eastern coast of North America, where individuals may be exposed to terrestrial pollutants. I examined the effects of exposure to varied concentrations of tire chemical leachates and tire particles in order to determine how this species responds. I assessed metabolic capacity by measuring the oxygen consumption rate of individual anemones. I also collected mass, volume, behavioral, and regeneration data over the course of the experiment to assess morphological, behavior, and regenerative effects. The results revealed that N. vectensis is negatively impacted by tire dust leachate and particles, ultimately pointing towards the severity of tire dust as a pollutant.

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