Dr Trystan Sanders (He/Him)

A comparative, cellular, and functional physiologist – I experimentally study fundamental physiological mechanisms across a range of marine invertebrates, mostly in relation to changes in seawater carbonate chemistry, salinity and temperature. My research interests centre around three key themes:

Biogenic Calcification

‘CaCO₃ mineralisation exists in 60 % of marine invertebrate taxa, but we know little about the physiological mechanisms behind this process.’  

My PhD thesis focussed on quantifying the energetic costs of bivalve calcification in different environments. Combining seawater chemistry manipulations with energetic models, we estimated calcification to cost about 15x less energy than protein growth. My current work investigates how salinity and carbonate chemistry in recirculating aquaculture systems impacts post-moult acid-base regulation and calcium transport in white leg shrimp. Findings suggest this species of prawn to have the highest calcium uptake rate of any known animal, and a remarkable ability to obtain calcium from water even at calcium concentrations 30 x lower than seawater.

Intracellular Physiology

‘Fundamental cellular functioning is key to setting the evolution and limits to life, but our understanding is based on only a handful of model species’.

I am interested in how changes in cellular physiology can facilitate adaptation to extreme environments. My work on Baltic Sea mussels has shown that adjustments to cellular sodium levels and organic osmolytes can facilitate low salinity adaptation. I am currently looking into how cellular pH, pCO2 and bicarbonate can impact oxidative stress and protein synthesis and breakdown in different tissues, in an effort to help improve welfare and productivity in crustacean aquaculture.

Organism-Environment Interactions

‘The environment determines organisms’ traits, but it is less clear how strongly organisms reciprocally modify their environment.’

While much of my work focuses on how the environment shapes animal physiology and functioning, I also study how variability in animal behaviour and physiology can affect ecosystems. This includes investigations into how biomass, burial behaviour and individual metabolism affects seafloor nutrient release and oxygen uptake. My recent research has shown that sediment-dwelling marine invertebrates contribute more to ecosystem functioning when at lower densities, and have a larger effect on sediment oxygen uptake and nutrient release in summer than in winter.

Career:

2010-2013 BSc. (hons.) Marine Biology – University of Plymouth, UK

2013-2014 Assistant Aquarium Technician – MBA Plymouth, UK

2014-2018 PhD in Marine Ecophysiology – GEOMAR, Germany

2018-2020 Career Break – Bicycle expedition 20 000 km UK to New Zealand

2020-2021 Environmental Consultant, SLR, New Zealand

2021-2022 Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Ecology, University of Southampton, UK.

2022 –Research Fellow in Animal Physiology, University of Exeter, UK