Maria Donkin

Teaching interests

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Plant Biotechnology, Human Biochemistry, Science Communication

 

Research interests

Plant and Algal Ecotoxicology : The Effects of VOCs on higher plants, The effects of UVB on higher plants and marine algae; The effects of antifouling compounds and heavy metals on marine algae and seagrasses; The interactions between pollutant effects on algae in the marine environment and interactions with other stresses such as UVB.

 

UoP Research group membership

Centre for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability (CARS) 
Ecotoxicology Research & Innovation Centre (ERIC) 
Institute for Science Education 
Outdoor and Experiential Learning 
Terrestrial Ecology Research Group 

Other research

Educational reseach on the effects of entry qualifications on final degree results - a study in Biological Sciences

 

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

6 completed PhDs and currently 2 registered MPhil/PhD students

 

Grants & contracts
AstraZeneca supported contract work and part-funded PhD studentship / research assistantship on ' The development of a laboratory based chamber system to measure the effects of VOCs on plants' 2002 on-going

Recently ( August 2007) sucessful as part of a 12 million Big Lottery Fund bid for the OPAL Project. The University of Plymouth with community partner Moor Trees will represent the South West region in a national project involving communities in assessing the health of their environment. This prestigious project is co-ordinated from Imperial College and involves 9 regional universities, the Natural History Museum, Open University, The Met Office, National Biodiversity Network and the Environment Agency.



 

Publications
Devilla, RA; Brown, MT; Donkin, M; Tarran, GA; Aiken, J and Readman JW (2005) Impact of antifouling booster biocides on single microalgal spaecies and on a natural marine phytoplankton community. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 286; 1-12.

Devilla, RA; Brown, MT; Donkin, M; Readman, JW (2005) The effects of a PSII inhibitor on phytoplankton community structure as assessed by HPLC pigment analyses, microscopy and flow cytometry. Aquatic Toxicology, 71, 25-38.

Cape, JN; Leith, J; Content, J; Donkin, M; Skewes,M; Price DN; Brown, AR and Sharpe, AD (2003) Effects of VOCs on herbaceous plants in an open-top chamber experiment. Environmental Pollution 124, 341-353.

Chesworth, JC; Donkin, M and Brown MT (2004) The interactive effects of the antifouling herbicides Irgarol 1051 and Diuron on the seagrass Zostera marina (L). Aquatic Toxicology 66, 293-305.

Cordi, B; Donkin, ME; Peloquin, J; Price, DN; Depledge, MH (2001) The influence of UV-B radiation on the reproductive cells of the intertidal macroalga, Enteromorpha intestinalis. Aquatic Toxicology 56, 1-11.

Lewis,S , Donkin ME and Depledge MH. Hsp 70 expression in Enteromorpha intestinalis (Chlorophyta) exposed to environmental stressors.(2001) Aquatic Toxicology 51, 277-291.

Cape,J.N., Leith,I.D., Binnie, J., Donkin, M., Price, D.N. and Brown, R. (2002) Techniques for measuring the response of plants to VOC exposure. Invited presentation at the World SETAC Conference in Salt Lake City USA, Oct 2002.

Wooster, D H, Donkin, M E, and Brown, A R (2003) Development and testing of a long-term, low-dose VOC dosing system. Invited presentation at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sept. 2003.

Cape, J N, Leith, I D, Donkin, M E , Price, D N, Brown A R, and Schroeder, P. Effects of airborne VOCs on plants. Invited presentation at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sept. 2003.

 

Reports & invited lectures

Several invited public lectures on  GM Crops and their safety.