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Contact Information:
University of North Texas
Dept. of Biological Sciences
1155 Union Circle #310559
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Office: 940-369-8392
Fax: 940-565-4297

Edward.Mager@unt.edu

Click here for my CV.



Research Interests

My research interests lie in the areas of aquatic toxicology, ecophysiology of aquatic organisms and aquaculture. Specifically, our lab studies the impacts of stressors from both anthropogenic (i.e., pollutants, such as crude oil and metals) and natural (e.g., salinity, ammonia and temperature) sources, as well as their interactions, on aquatic organisms. We use an integrative approach to understand the mechanisms of toxicity and other stress responses, studying effects from the molecular to the organismal level. We also study the swimming and respiratory physiology of fishes and how the stressors mentioned above may impair these important physiological functions.

Recent Research

Current research in our lab includes: (1) optimizing aquaculture of the prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, using spent brine from the desalination of brackish groundwater, and developing a sensitive real-time ecotoxicology system (RTES) powered by artificial intelligence that relies on metabolic rate and behavioral analysis to detect acute changes in water quality; (2) determining the swimming performance of imperiled fishes of TX to aid in construction of culverts such that resulting stream flows do not exceed their swimming capacity; (3) investigating the combined effects of hypoxia and the metal, lead (Pb), on aquatic organisms. More details on recent specific projects can be found below:

Read more here about recent research by PhD students, Fabio Dos Santos Neto and Cameron Emadi, studying sustainable food production methods using the prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

Read more here about recent research by PhD student, Cameron Emadi, in collaboration with TPWD investigating the swimming performance of four TX fish species of greatest conservation need.

Read more here about recent research by former PhD student, Fabrizio Bonatesta, investigating the effects of crude oil exposure on early life stage kidney development and function in fishes.