Gabriel Gellert
I have long been fascinated with marine biota, especially cetaceans. I am drawn to their unique adaptations, complex lifestyles, and advanced social networks that enable them to rule the oceans as apex predators. Cetaceans are truly a marvel of evolution.
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I completed my BSc at the University of Toronto, where my interest in marine research and conservation grew. During my undergrad, I learned of the field of ecotoxicology, which made a lot of sense to me in relation to marine mammals. Marine mammals act as sentinels of their environments, and researching them enables us to draw conclusions about their health and broader marine ecosystems. I saw marine mammal ecotoxicology as an avenue to study organisms that highly interest me, while informing and supporting their protection and conservation, which I find to be a quite admirable (and fun) vocation.
​​​In the Brown Lab, I am investigating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in beluga whales, focusing on two distinct populations: the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Beaufort Sea. These populations are geographically isolated, occupying vastly different environments that vary in their exposure to chemical contamination and proximity to anthropogenic stressors. Through the analysis of over 70 PAH analytes in beluga tissues and key prey species, I seek to characterize and compare PAH concentrations, trends and sources within these populations. Currently, little is known about the concentrations and physiological impacts of PAHs in cetaceans. My objective is to shed light on this topic, with findings that will help us to better understand the behaviour of PAHs in cetaceans, while supporting conservation strategies for endangered populations such as the St. Lawrence Estuary belugas.