RESEARCH PROJECTS

My research focuses on the levels and effects of environmental contaminants in a variety of organisms.    The Mobile/Baldwin County area is ripe with potential because it has both rich natural habitat and highly impacted areas (at least 3 Superfund sites!).   My usual study organisms are aquatic animals and I prefer the challenge of species that are not commonly studied, such as amphibians, reptiles, and dragonfly larvae.  Field projects consist of biomonitoring of environmental contaminants in water, sediments and biota in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta and its tributaries, as well as the Grand Bay National Estuary Research Reserve, Mississippi.  Lab projects include the effects of metals on aquatic organisms. 

My ongoing research includes:

1. Dragonfly larvae as potential toxicity test organisms. There is only sparse data on the effects of toxicants to dragonflies, so we are developing methods of maintaining these organisms in the lab so that we can conduct toxicity tests.  Our studies indicate that these organisms can tolerate high levels of lead and cadmium but are sensitive to equivalent levels of copper.  We want to continue with other chemicals and with sublethal endpoints such as feeding behaviors.
2. Documentation of levels of contaminants in tadpoles and ribbon snakes (Thamnophis sauritus) in areas of the Mobile Delta.  This research was a funded project from the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and from University funds.  Data indicates that these organisms have measurable but low levels of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Hg).  We want to continue sampling from more impacted areas, particularly along the Mobile River.
3. Biomonitoring of heavy metals, particularly lead, in the Grand Bay National Estuary Research Reserve, MS.  This newly dedicated reserve has an abandoned and an active shooting range.  Because shooting ranges at other areas have been documented as point sources of lead into local watersheds, we have measured metals in water, sediment, plants, aquatic fauna, and small mammals at the reserve. Results indicate very high levels of lead in sediments, water, and aquatic animals and plants. We have focused particularly on lead levels in rodents and tadpoles.
4. Multi-tiered examination of stream integrity in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. Together with Dr. McCreadie, and collaborators at Clemson and University of Georgia, we are comparing stream physico-chemical properties and biodiversity with laboratory toxicity and genetic tests. Our lab indicates low levels of metals in the sediments, but water levels in some cases approach EPA recommendations.
5. Multi-tiered approach to metal contamination in Hall’s Mill Creek, Dog River watershed. USA faculty are particularly interested in this watershed, and a website exists to describe the area and provide examples of research. The benthic diversity is known to be extremely poor. We are studying this watershed with field and lab work, approaching the issues with analytical chemistry, animal bioaccumulation, and lab toxicity tests. Animal bioaccumulation is being determined with the dragonfly larvae Progomphus. Lab sediment toxicity tests use Hyallela azteca.
6. Metal contamination in the Chickasaw Creek/Mobile River watershed, the site of a large industrial presence consisting of marine terminals, ship yards, oil refineries, and paper mills. Some sites approach sediment toxicity guidelines for metals such as Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cr, indicating potential impacts on biota. Macroinvertebrate samples indicate abundant oligochaetes typically associated with impacted sediments and little diversity otherwise. Currently we plan to determine metal levels in oligochaetes, and to conduct lab sediment toxicity tests with standard oligochaete species.
   

MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS

University of South Alabama students are underlined

V. Tollett, E. Benvenutti, L.A. Deer, and T.M. Rice. Differential Toxicity to Cd, Pb, and Cu in Dragonfly Larvae (Insecta:Odonata) Archives of Environmental Contamination ACCEPTED DECEMBER 2007,, PENDING REVISION

T. M. Rice. 2008. A review of methods for maintaining odonate larvae in the laboratory, with a description of a new technique. Odonatologica. 37: 41-54.

J. Albrecht, M. Abalos, and T. M. Rice. 2007. Metal Levels (Pb, Cu, Cd, Hg) in ribbon snakes (Thamnophis sauritus) and anuran larvae from the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, USA. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 53:647-654. 

D. M. Ploetz, B. E. Fitts, T. M. Rice. 2007. Differential accumulation of heavy metals in muscle and liver in a marine fish, (king mackerel, Scomberomorus cavalla Cuvier) from the northern Gulf of Mexico, USA. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 78:134-137. 

T. M. Rice. 2005. Section 8930-Amphibians. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 21 st ed., American Waterworks Association.   Section 8:161-169 ***Currently working on revisions for 22nd ed.

R. Hauser, T. M. Rice , G. G. Krishna Murthy, M. P. Wand, D. Lewis, T. Bledsoe, and J. D. Paulauskis.  2003. The upper airway response to pollen is enhanced by exposure to combustion particulates: a pilot human experimental challenge study.   Environmental Health Perspectives. 111:472-477.

T. M. Rice , J. T. Oris, and D. H. Taylor.   2002.   Effects on growth and changes in organ distribution of bullfrog larvae exposed to lead throughout metamorphosis.   Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.   68:8-17.

T. M. Rice , J. T. Oris, and D. H. Taylor. 2001.   Toxicokinetics, available source, and route of entry of lead in fed and food-deprived bullfrog larvae (Rana catesbeiana). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.   41:450-457.

T. M. Rice , R. W. Clarke, E. Al-Mutairi, N-F. Jiang, R. Hauser, J. J. Godleski, and J. D. Paulauskis.   2001. Differential ability of transition metals to induce pulmonary inflammation. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.   177:46-53.

T. M. Rice, B. J. Blackstone, W. L. Nixdorf and D. H. Taylor. 1999. Exposure to lead induces hypoxia-like behavior in bullfrog larvae (Rana catesbeiana). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 18:2283-2288.

RECENT FUNDING

2007 (PI). University of South Alabama Council for Undergraduate Research (UCUR), “Benthic Macroinvertebrate Diversity in the Dog River Watershed: Associations with Heavy Metal Levels and Land Use Patterns”. $2000.

2005-2008. (McCreadie head PI).  Alabama Center for Estuarine Studies (ACES/EPA).  “A Multifacted Approach for Detecting Human-Induced Insults in the Waters of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and Mobile Bay”.  $163,600.  

2005     (PI).  University of South Alabama Council for Undergraduate Research (UCUR), “Heavy Metal Levels in Ribbon Snakes and Bronze Frog Tadpoles from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta”.  $2000.

   
2005.     University of South Alabama College of Arts and Sciences Summer Research Award.  “An Assessment of Total Mercury Levels in Representative Amphibian and Reptile Tissues From the Mobile/Tensaw Delta.”  $5,500.  

2004-2005. (Co-PI with 2 others).  Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP). “Effects of Forest Management Edges on Amphibian/Reptile Assemblages and Toxicant Loading in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta (Baldwin Co., Alabama)”.  $5,000.  

2003-2006. (PI). Alabama Center for Estuarine Studies (ACES/EPA). “An Assessment of Environmental Contaminant Levels in Water and Dragonfly Larvae Tissues from the Mobile/Tensaw Delta”. EPA # R-83065101-1-03.  $35,850