Eco-evolutionary responses to ionizing radiation in Chornobyl tree frogs

Eco-evolutionary responses to ionizing radiation in Chornobyl tree frogs

Ionizing radiation is as a rare but potentially devastating threat to living organisms. The accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Ukraine) in 1986 resulted in the largest release of radioactive material into the environment in human history. The acute exposure to extremely high radiation levels immediately after the accident caused rapid and severe environmental damage. Since then, radiation levels have decreased by several orders of magnitude, and some of the more damaging isotopes have disappeared. The current challenge is to properly assess the impact of chronic exposure to low radiation levels across the affected area. In this talk, I will present the work we have carried out over the past ten years examining the morphological, physiological and genomic changes in frogs exposed to chronic levels of ionizing radiation in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (Ukraine). These studies have allowed us to identify potential rapid adaptive responses in this system and, more broadly, to deepen our understanding of the eco-evolutionary effects of long-term exposure to ionizing radiation on wildlife. 

This seminar will also be streamed. For more information and access to the seminar link, please contact egi.seminars@biology.ox.ac.uk