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Emily O'Rourke
Teams and roles for Emily O'Rourke
Research Associate
School of Biosciences
Research student
School of Biosciences
Overview
Working with Cardiff University Otter Project, my research focuses on uncovering the extent and impact of chemical pollution in freshwater ecosystems.
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) serves as a powerful sentinel species, providing unique insights into environmental contamination. As non-migratory, top predators with a predominantly piscivorous diet, otters accumulate pollutants in their tissues over their lifetime, reflecting the chemical burden of the ecosystems they inhabit. By leveraging the Otter Project’s 30-year archive of otter samples, I analyse contaminant levels across regions and time to track pollution trends and identify emerging threats.
Using multivariate statistical approaches, I integrate biotic, environmental, and contaminant data to examine spatial and temporal variation in pollution. My research has focused on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and metals, assessing their sources, distribution, and long-term patterns. This work directly informs environmental policy and conservation strategies by identifying key drivers of contamination, evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation measures, and contributing to regulatory discussions.
I have a keen interest in science communication; I am committed to policy and public engagement, translating complex scientific findings into accessible information for policymakers, conservation organisations, and the wider public to drive awareness and action on freshwater pollution.
Publication
2024
- Alygizakis, N. et al. 2024. Network analysis to reveal the most commonly detected compounds in predator-prey pairs in freshwater and marine mammals and fish in Europe. Science of the Total Environment 950, article number: 175303. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175303)
- O'Rourke, E. et al. 2024. Persistence of PFOA pollution at a PTFE production site and occurrence of replacement PFASs in English freshwaters revealed by sentinel species, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Environmental Science and Technology 58(23), pp. 10195–10206. (10.1021/acs.est.3c09405)
2022
- Gkotsis, G. et al. 2022. Assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in European apex predators and their prey by lc-qtof ms wide-scope target analysis. Environment International 170, article number: 107623. (10.1016/j.envint.2022.107623)
- O'Rourke, E. et al. 2022. Anthropogenic drivers of variation in concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in otters (Lutra lutra) from England and Wales. Environmental Science and Technology 56(3), pp. 1675-1687. (10.1021/acs.est.1c05410)
- Androulakakis, A. et al. 2022. Determination of 56 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in top predators and their prey from Northern Europe by LC-MS/MS. Chemosphere 287(P2), article number: 131775. (10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131775)
Articles
- Alygizakis, N. et al. 2024. Network analysis to reveal the most commonly detected compounds in predator-prey pairs in freshwater and marine mammals and fish in Europe. Science of the Total Environment 950, article number: 175303. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175303)
- O'Rourke, E. et al. 2024. Persistence of PFOA pollution at a PTFE production site and occurrence of replacement PFASs in English freshwaters revealed by sentinel species, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Environmental Science and Technology 58(23), pp. 10195–10206. (10.1021/acs.est.3c09405)
- Gkotsis, G. et al. 2022. Assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in European apex predators and their prey by lc-qtof ms wide-scope target analysis. Environment International 170, article number: 107623. (10.1016/j.envint.2022.107623)
- O'Rourke, E. et al. 2022. Anthropogenic drivers of variation in concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in otters (Lutra lutra) from England and Wales. Environmental Science and Technology 56(3), pp. 1675-1687. (10.1021/acs.est.1c05410)
- Androulakakis, A. et al. 2022. Determination of 56 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in top predators and their prey from Northern Europe by LC-MS/MS. Chemosphere 287(P2), article number: 131775. (10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131775)
Teaching
I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE, 11-18) from Canterbury Christ Church University and have seven years of experience teaching science across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5 in two schools in Kent. During this time, I also completed the Middle Leadership Development Programme with the National College for Teaching and Leadership, gaining valuable skills in leadership and management within a school setting.
At Cardiff University, I have contributed to teaching and student support by assisting lecturers with undergraduate and postgraduate statistical analysis courses, mentoring students through dissertation projects and practical sessions, and leading journal club-style discussions for undergraduates.
Biography
After gaining my undergraduate degree in Zoology from Cardiff University in 2009, I pursued my passion for science education, completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in secondary science at Canterbury Christ Church University in 2011.
I then spent seven years teaching Key Stage 3, GCSE and A-level science at two secondary schools in Kent. I took on a range of roles, including Head of Department, Key Stages 3 and 5 Coordinator, Year 7 Activity Week Coordinator, Literacy and Independent Learning Leader, and Curriculum Mentor for PGCE students. In 2013, I developed my leadership skills by completing the Middle Leadership Development Programme with the National College for Teaching and Leadership.
In 2019, I returned to Cardiff University to join the Otter Project, submitting my PhD thesis in 2024. Now a postdoctoral researcher, my work focuses on using Eurasian otters as sentinels of freshwater chemical pollution. By analysing archived otter tissues collected over 30 years, I investigate chemical presence, long-term trends, and regional variation, helping to uncover the impact of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems.
Professional memberships
IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Otter Specialist Group
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Toxicology
- Bioavailability and ecotoxicology
