Site menu:

Sean Brillant


M.Sc.: 1994 - 1999

Co-supervisor: Dr. Martin Thomas, Unitersity of New Brunswick, Saint John, Canada

Present occupation: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Sydney, Australia

Thesis: The marine food web in relation to the movement and accumulation of toxins in Saint John Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada

Sean Brillant's photo Sean Brillant working at a study site, in the Saint John Harbour Area, NB, Canada (photo: ACAP Saint John).

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish baseline measurements of tissue contaminant levels and biometric measurements of the indigenous biota of the Saint John Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada. Five intertidal organisms (Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, Littorina littorea/L. saxatilis, Gammarus oceanicus and Mytilus edulis) were studied at six locations in the Harbour between August, 1994 and September, 1995.

In general, the results demonstrated relatively low tissue contaminant levels and no strong correlations between tissue contaminant levels and the biology of the organisms. Copper, lead and zinc contamination reflected the pattern of municipal sewage outfalls and copper was especially high in samples from some areas. Significantly higher cadmium levels were detected in the biota from the sites in the western part of the Harbour. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were higher in the central Harbour sites and may be causing adverse biological effects. No organochlorinated pesticides were detected in the biomonitors and polychlorinated biphenyls were detected only in the samples of Mytilus edulis and Gammarus oceanicus. Unique flushing conditions in the Saint John Harbour have probably prevented extensive local contamination. The detectable patterns of tissue contaminant levels among the sample locations and seasons demonstrate that the biota of this ecosystem are accumulating contaminants as a result of anthropogenic development.