Professional summary

Dr Alex Robinson is an invertebrate biologist, focusing on ecotoxicology in the lab and the field. He is particularly interested in investigating the reasons for the differential sensitivity to toxicants seen across species. Such differences have a key role in dictating why certain species are more vulnerable to pollution than others.

This can be explored in a number of ways. It is important to understand the links between genetics and biochemical processes and sensitivity. As it is impossible to test all compounds in all species, improving our understanding of the mechanistic basis for toxicity will assist in predicting the most vulnerable species in the environment.

Organisms do not exist in isolation and so it is important to link traits in xenometabolic capacity and sensitivity to ecological or physiological functions. By understanding these trends, it is possible to link effects seen in laboratory conditions with effects seen in field settings, such as within agriculture.

Alex specialises in experimental design and problem solving, such as designing protocols to work with new species, or novel pieces of equipment.

Selected publications

Badder Claire et al. , (2023), A novel Lepidoptera bioassay analysed using a reduced GUTS model. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 251, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114504

Robinson Alex et al. , (2021), Chemicals with increasingly complex modes of action result in greater variation in sensitivity between earthworm species. Environmental Pollution, 272, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115914

Robinson Alex et al. , (2017), Comparing bee species responses to chemical mixtures: common response patterns?. PLoS ONE, 12, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176289

Short Stephen et al. , (2021), Off-target stoichiometric binding identified from toxicogenomics explains why some species are more sensitive than others to a widely used neonicotinoid. Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 3059-3069, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c05125

Newbold Lindsay K. et al. , (2019), Genetic, epigenetic and microbiome characterisation of an earthworm species (Octolasion lacteum) along a radiation exposure gradient at Chernobyl. Environmental Pollution, 255, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113238

Bart Sylvain et al. , (2023), Modelling the effects of the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin on the life cycle of the soil dwelling annelid Enchytraeus crypticus, an original experimental design to calibrate a DEB-TKTD model. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 250, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114499

Bart Sylvain et al. , (2022), How to analyse and account for interactions in mixture toxicity with toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic models. Science of the Total Environment, 843, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157048

Lahive E. et al. , (2021), A kinetic approach for assessing the uptake of Ag from pristine and sulfidised Ag nanomaterials to plants. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.5031

Bart Sylvain et al. , (2021), Predicting mixture effects over time with toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic models (GUTS): assumptions, experimental testing, and predictive power. Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 2430-2439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c05282

Spurgeon David et al. , (2020), Species sensitivity to toxic substances: evolution, ecology and applications. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2020.588380