Ecotoxicology

Ecotoxicology concerns the study of the effects of pollutants on living species and on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. This course unit aims to provide a better understanding of:

- the main types of organic and mineral pollutants (historical or emerging), as well as their sources and the factors influencing their fate in the natural environment and in organisms,

- the effects of pollutants on micro- and macro-organisms at different levels of biological integration (molecule, individual, communities),

- methods for assessing biological effects, environmental quality, and ecotoxicological risk within the current European regulatory framework,

- bioremediation processes through several case studies.

- fundamentals in biology, ecology, biochemistry, and microbiology

This introductory course can potentially lead to several specialized master's degree programs in ecotoxicology (research or professional):

- Master's degree in Biology and Ecology, EPET program: Ecophysiology and Ecotoxicology, Sorbonne Paris

- Master's degree in Environmental Management, ETOX program: Ecotoxicology, Metz

- Master's degree in Toxicology and Ecotoxicology, EXCE program: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Chemistry, Bordeaux

- Master's Degree in Environmental and Human Toxicology, Angers

- Master's Degree in Environmental Management, RE track: Risks & Environment, Le Havre

- Master's degree in Risk and Environment, specialization: Biodiversity, Health, and Environment, Reims

- Disciplinary skills:

A-6 Understand the applications of organismal biology, evolutionary biology, and ecology (health, agronomy, conservation, restoration)

C-7 Understand the impact of stress and natural and anthropogenic disturbances on biodiversity (from the organism to the biosphere)

D-2 Knowledge of major physiological functions and their diversity, in interaction with the biotic or abiotic environment

- Cross-functional skills:

H-4 Know the health and safety rules in the lab and in the field

I-2 Be able to draw on knowledge from different biological disciplines to analyze a document, an observation, or the results of an experiment.

I-4 Know how to make connections between knowledge of organism biology, evolutionary biology, and ecology, and economic and social issues