Adam Morris

Education

Ph.D. University of Guelph - 2007-Current
Co-advised by Dr. Keith Solomon and Dr. Derek Muir
BSc. (Hon) University of Guelph - 2004

Research

Bioaccumulation of current and new use organohalogen contaminants in Arctic marine and terrestrial food webs

My thesis work allows me to travel throughout the Canadian Arctic to sample food webs that are ecologically and toxicologically important to Inuit in the North; specifically those involving ringed seal, cetaceans, polar bears and caribou. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of organohalogens such pesticides and flame retardants can cause high concentrations in top predators. Many marine mammals, birds and fish are then consumed as important food sources in Arctic communities, exposing humans to potentially high concentrations as well. My thesis investigates bioaccumulation and trophic magnification of a range of organohalogens that are currently of increasing concern and the data should allow us to calibrate current food web bioaccumulation models based on legacy contaminants to new classes of organohalogens.