Brittany Perrotta, PhD
Dr. Brittany Perrotta is a Research Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Brittany is broadly interested in understanding how organisms, community assemblages (from microbial to macroinvertebrate), and ecosystems respond to contaminants. She integrates toxicology assessments, host microbiome, aquatic-terrestrial linkages, and food webs spanning lab, mesocosm, and field experiments.
Professional Experience
2021-2023, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, McMaster University
2021-2023, Volunteer, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center
2020-2021, Student Services Contractor, USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Biology, Baylor University
B.S. in Integrative Biology with Research Distinction (minor Spanish), University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society for Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
Society for Freshwater Science
Science and Products
Acute and chronic toxicity of two perfluoroalkyl substances to Neocloeon triangulifer
Dataset consists of 4-day, 14-day, and full life responses of laboratory cultured mayflies (Neocloeon triangulifer) to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Responses were measured as survival at 4 days, 14 days, pre-emergent nymph (PEN) stage, and emergence; 14-day length; number of days to PEN stage, and imago live weight. Water quality and analytical chemistry re
Seasonal differences and grazing pressure alter the fate of gold nanoparticles in a microcosm experiment
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used as models to track and predict NP fates and effects in ecosystems. Previous work found that aquatic macrophytes and their associated biofilm primarily drove the fate of AuNPs within aquatic ecosystems and that seasonality was an important abiotic factor in the fate of AuNPs. Therefore, the present work aims to study if grazers, by feeding on these interfaces, mo
Authors
Christina M. Bergemann, Astrid Avellan, Brittany G Perrotta, Emily S. Bernhardt, Marie Simonin
Perfluorooctanesulfonate adversely affects a mayfly (Neocloeon triangulifer) at environmentally realistic concentrations
Of the emerging contaminant types thought to threaten freshwater biota, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances appear to be particularly widespread, and limited studies conducted with these compounds thus far indicate insects may be particularly sensitive to them. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of two commonly detected compounds on the laboratory-reared mayfly Neocloeon tria
Authors
David J. Soucek, Rebecca A. Consbrock, Erin L. Pulster, Brittany G. Perrotta, David Walters, Jeffery Steevens
PCB exposure is associated with reduction of endosymbionts in riparian spider microbiomes
Microbial communities, including endosymbionts, play diverse and critical roles in host biology and reproduction, but contaminant exposure may cause an imbalance in the microbiome composition with subsequent impacts on host health. Here, we examined whether there was a significant alteration of the microbiome community within two taxa of riparian spiders (Tetragnathidae and Araneidae) from a site
Authors
Brittany G Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, David Walters
Non-USGS Publications**
Bergemann, C.M., Avellan, A., Perrotta, B.G., Bernhardt, E.S., and Simonin, M., 2023, Seasonal differences and grazing pressure alter the fate of gold nanoparticles in a microcosm experiment: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 57, no. 37, p. 13970-13979. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01839
Perrotta, B.G., Simonin, M., Colman, B.P., Anderson, S.M., Baruch, E., Castellon, B.T., Matson, C.W., Bernhardt, E.S., and King, R.S., 2023, Chronic engineered nanoparticle additions alter insect emergence and result in metal flux from aquatic ecosystems into riparian food webs: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 57, no. 21, p. 8085-8095. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c00620
Liu, J., Li, J., Wolfe, K., Perrotta, B., and Cobb, G.P., 2021, Mobility of arsenic in the growth media of rice plants (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica. ‘Koshihikari’) with exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles in a life-cycle greenhouse study: Science of The Total Environment, v. 774, p. 145620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145620
Perrotta, B.G., Simonin, M., Back, J.A., Anderson, S.M., Avellan, A., Bergemann, C.M., Castellon, B.T., Colman, B.P., Lowry, G.V., Matson, C.W., Bernhardt, E.S., and King, R.S., 2020, Copper and gold nanoparticles increase nutrient excretion rates of primary consumers: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 54, no. 16, p. 10170-10180. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02197
Avellan, A., Simonin, M., Anderson, S.M., Geitner, N.K., Bossa, N., Spielman-Sun, E., Bernhardt, E.S., Castellon, B.T., Colman, B.P., Cooper, J.L., Ho, M., Hochella, M.F., Jr., Hsu-Kim, H., Inoue, S., King, R.S., Laughton, S., Matson, C.W., Perrotta, B.G., Richardson, C.J., Unrine, J.M., Wiesner, M.R., and Lowry, G.V., 2020, Differential reactivity of copper- and gold-based nanomaterials controls their seasonal biogeochemical cycling and fate in a freshwater wetland mesocosm: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 54, no. 3, p. 1533-1544. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05097
Greathouse, K.L., White, J.R., Padgett, R.N., Perrotta, B.G., Jenkins, G.D., Chia, N., and Chen, J., 2019, Gut microbiome meta-analysis reveals dysbiosis is independent of body mass index in predicting risk of obesity-associated CRC: BMJ Open Gastroenterology, v. 6, no. 1, p. e000247. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgast-2018-000247
Simonin, M., Colman, B.P., Anderson, S.M., King, R.S., Ruis, M.T., Avellan, A., Bergemann, C.M., Perrotta, B.G., Geitner, N.K., Ho, M., de la Barrera, B., Unrine, J.M., Lowry, G.V., Richardson, C.J., Wiesner, M.R., and Bernhardt, E.S., 2018, Engineered nanoparticles interact with nutrients to intensify eutrophication in a wetland ecosystem experiment: Ecological Applications, v. 28, no. 6, p. 1435-1449. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1742
Geitner, N.K., Cooper, J.L., Avellan, A., Castellon, B.T., Perrotta, B.G., Bossa, N., Simonin, M., Anderson, S.M., Inoue, S., Hochella, M.F., Jr., Richardson, C.J., Bernhardt, E.S., Lowry, G.V., Ferguson, P.L., Matson, C.W., King, R.S., Unrine, J.M., Wiesner, M.R., and Hsu-Kim, H., 2018, Size-based differential transport, uptake, and mass distribution of ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles in wetland mesocosms: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 52, no. 17, p. 9768-9776. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02040.
Greathouse, K.L., White, J.R., Padgett, R.N., Perrotta, B.G., Jenkins, G.D., Chia, N., and Chen, J., 2018, Gut microbiome meta-analysis reveals dysbiosis is independent of body mass index in predicting risk of obesity-associated CRC: bioRxiv, p. 367466. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgast-2018-000247
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Acute and chronic toxicity of two perfluoroalkyl substances to Neocloeon triangulifer
Dataset consists of 4-day, 14-day, and full life responses of laboratory cultured mayflies (Neocloeon triangulifer) to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Responses were measured as survival at 4 days, 14 days, pre-emergent nymph (PEN) stage, and emergence; 14-day length; number of days to PEN stage, and imago live weight. Water quality and analytical chemistry re
Seasonal differences and grazing pressure alter the fate of gold nanoparticles in a microcosm experiment
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used as models to track and predict NP fates and effects in ecosystems. Previous work found that aquatic macrophytes and their associated biofilm primarily drove the fate of AuNPs within aquatic ecosystems and that seasonality was an important abiotic factor in the fate of AuNPs. Therefore, the present work aims to study if grazers, by feeding on these interfaces, mo
Authors
Christina M. Bergemann, Astrid Avellan, Brittany G Perrotta, Emily S. Bernhardt, Marie Simonin
Perfluorooctanesulfonate adversely affects a mayfly (Neocloeon triangulifer) at environmentally realistic concentrations
Of the emerging contaminant types thought to threaten freshwater biota, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances appear to be particularly widespread, and limited studies conducted with these compounds thus far indicate insects may be particularly sensitive to them. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of two commonly detected compounds on the laboratory-reared mayfly Neocloeon tria
Authors
David J. Soucek, Rebecca A. Consbrock, Erin L. Pulster, Brittany G. Perrotta, David Walters, Jeffery Steevens
PCB exposure is associated with reduction of endosymbionts in riparian spider microbiomes
Microbial communities, including endosymbionts, play diverse and critical roles in host biology and reproduction, but contaminant exposure may cause an imbalance in the microbiome composition with subsequent impacts on host health. Here, we examined whether there was a significant alteration of the microbiome community within two taxa of riparian spiders (Tetragnathidae and Araneidae) from a site
Authors
Brittany G Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, David Walters
Non-USGS Publications**
Bergemann, C.M., Avellan, A., Perrotta, B.G., Bernhardt, E.S., and Simonin, M., 2023, Seasonal differences and grazing pressure alter the fate of gold nanoparticles in a microcosm experiment: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 57, no. 37, p. 13970-13979. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01839
Perrotta, B.G., Simonin, M., Colman, B.P., Anderson, S.M., Baruch, E., Castellon, B.T., Matson, C.W., Bernhardt, E.S., and King, R.S., 2023, Chronic engineered nanoparticle additions alter insect emergence and result in metal flux from aquatic ecosystems into riparian food webs: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 57, no. 21, p. 8085-8095. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c00620
Liu, J., Li, J., Wolfe, K., Perrotta, B., and Cobb, G.P., 2021, Mobility of arsenic in the growth media of rice plants (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica. ‘Koshihikari’) with exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles in a life-cycle greenhouse study: Science of The Total Environment, v. 774, p. 145620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145620
Perrotta, B.G., Simonin, M., Back, J.A., Anderson, S.M., Avellan, A., Bergemann, C.M., Castellon, B.T., Colman, B.P., Lowry, G.V., Matson, C.W., Bernhardt, E.S., and King, R.S., 2020, Copper and gold nanoparticles increase nutrient excretion rates of primary consumers: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 54, no. 16, p. 10170-10180. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02197
Avellan, A., Simonin, M., Anderson, S.M., Geitner, N.K., Bossa, N., Spielman-Sun, E., Bernhardt, E.S., Castellon, B.T., Colman, B.P., Cooper, J.L., Ho, M., Hochella, M.F., Jr., Hsu-Kim, H., Inoue, S., King, R.S., Laughton, S., Matson, C.W., Perrotta, B.G., Richardson, C.J., Unrine, J.M., Wiesner, M.R., and Lowry, G.V., 2020, Differential reactivity of copper- and gold-based nanomaterials controls their seasonal biogeochemical cycling and fate in a freshwater wetland mesocosm: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 54, no. 3, p. 1533-1544. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05097
Greathouse, K.L., White, J.R., Padgett, R.N., Perrotta, B.G., Jenkins, G.D., Chia, N., and Chen, J., 2019, Gut microbiome meta-analysis reveals dysbiosis is independent of body mass index in predicting risk of obesity-associated CRC: BMJ Open Gastroenterology, v. 6, no. 1, p. e000247. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgast-2018-000247
Simonin, M., Colman, B.P., Anderson, S.M., King, R.S., Ruis, M.T., Avellan, A., Bergemann, C.M., Perrotta, B.G., Geitner, N.K., Ho, M., de la Barrera, B., Unrine, J.M., Lowry, G.V., Richardson, C.J., Wiesner, M.R., and Bernhardt, E.S., 2018, Engineered nanoparticles interact with nutrients to intensify eutrophication in a wetland ecosystem experiment: Ecological Applications, v. 28, no. 6, p. 1435-1449. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1742
Geitner, N.K., Cooper, J.L., Avellan, A., Castellon, B.T., Perrotta, B.G., Bossa, N., Simonin, M., Anderson, S.M., Inoue, S., Hochella, M.F., Jr., Richardson, C.J., Bernhardt, E.S., Lowry, G.V., Ferguson, P.L., Matson, C.W., King, R.S., Unrine, J.M., Wiesner, M.R., and Hsu-Kim, H., 2018, Size-based differential transport, uptake, and mass distribution of ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles in wetland mesocosms: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 52, no. 17, p. 9768-9776. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02040.
Greathouse, K.L., White, J.R., Padgett, R.N., Perrotta, B.G., Jenkins, G.D., Chia, N., and Chen, J., 2018, Gut microbiome meta-analysis reveals dysbiosis is independent of body mass index in predicting risk of obesity-associated CRC: bioRxiv, p. 367466. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgast-2018-000247
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government