Marie-Noële Croteau

Research biologist

B.Sc. University of Québec in Rimouski, Biology
M.Sc. INRS-Eau (University of Québec), Water Sciences and Environment
Ph.D. INRS-Eau (University of Québec), Water Sciences and Environment

mcroteau@usgs.gov

Research Interests
My research aims at linking contaminant bioavailability to toxicity, especially for aquatic organisms exposed to metals and metallo-nanomaterials through solution and diet. I am especially interested in improving our understanding of the physiological and geochemical processes that influence metal bioaccumulation. Biodynamic modelling and enriched stable isotope tracers are the centerpiece of my work. For instance, I develop and refine biogeochemical methodologies to quantify responses of organisms to metal-stresses. Specifically, I conduct experiments where I employ biodynamic principles and isotope tracers to investigate the relationships between contaminant exposure and bioaccumulation, as well as between contaminant fluxes and toxicity. The parameterization of species-specific and metal-specific processes (e.g., feeding rates, assimilation efficiencies, loss and detoxification rates) allows predicting the risks and effects of metals and metallo-nanomaterials exposure.

Recent publications
Janssen, E. M. L., Croteau, M.-N., Luoma, S. N., Luthy, R. G. 2009. Measurement and modeling of polychlorinated biphenyl bioaccumulation from sediment for the marine polychaete Neanthes arenaceodentata and response to sorbent amendment. Environ. Sci. Technol. In press

Croteau, M.-N. and S.N. Luoma. 2009. Predicting dietborne metal toxicity from metal influxes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 43: 4915-4921

Hare, L.; Tessier, A.; Croteau, M.-N. 2008. A biomonitor for tracking changes in the availability of lakewater cadmium over space and time. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess. 14: 229-242.

Croteau, M.-N., and S.N. Luoma. 2008. A biodynamic understanding of dietborne metal uptake by a freshwater invertebrate. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42: 1801-1806

Croteau, M.-N., S.N. Luoma, and B. Pellet. 2007. Determining metal assimilation efficiency in aquatic invertebrates using enriched stable metal isotope tracers. Aquat. Toxicol. 83: 116-125.

Croteau, M.-N., and S.N. Luoma. 2007. Characterizing dissolved Cu and Cd uptake in terms of the biotic ligand and biodynamics using enriched stable isotopes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 41: 3140-3145.

Croteau, M.-N., S.N. Luoma & A. R. Stewart. 2005. Trophic transfer of metals along freshwater food webs: Evidence of Cd biomagnification in nature. Limnol. Oceanogr. 50: 1511-1519.

Croteau, M.-N., & S.N. Luoma. 2005. Delineating copper accumulation pathways for the freshwater bivalve Corbicula using stable copper isotopes. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 24: 2871-2878.

Croteau, M.-N., S.N. Luoma, C. B. Lopez & B.R. Topping. 2004. Stable metal isotopes reveal copper accumulation and loss dynamics in the freshwater bivalve Corbicula. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38: 5002-5009.

Publications related to graduate studies

Croteau, M.-N., L. Hare & P. Marcoux. 2003. Feeding patterns of migratory and non-migratory fourth instar larvae of two coexisting Chaoborus species in an acidic and metal contaminated lake: Importance of prey ingestion rate in predicting metal bioaccumulation. Arch. Hydrobiol. 158: 57-74.

Croteau, M.-N., L. Hare & A. Tessier. 2002. Difficulties in relating Cd concentrations in the predatory insect Chaoborus to those of its prey in nature. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. Vol 60 (7) 800-808.

Croteau, M.-N., L. Hare & A. Tessier. 2002. Increase in food web cadmium following reductions in atmospheric inputs to some lakes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 36(14): 3079-3082.

Croteau, M.-N., L. Hare, P.G.C Campbell & Y. Couillard. 2002. Metallothionein-like metal-binding protein in the biomonitor Chaoborus: Occurrence and relationship to ambient metal concentrations in lakes. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 21(4): 737-741.

Croteau, M.-N., L. Hare & A. Tessier. 2002. Influence of temperature on Cd accumulation by species of the biomonitor Chaoborus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 47(2): 505-514.

Croteau, M.-N., L. Hare & A. Tessier. 2001. Differences in Cd accumulation among species of the lake-dwelling biomonitor Chaoborus. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58: 1737-1746.

Croteau, M.-N., L. Hare & A. Tessier. 1998. Refining and testing a trace metal biomonitor (Chaoborus) in highly acidic lakes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 32(9): 1348-1353.