Source: MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV submitted to NRP
UNDERSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF FISHES, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, AND CULTURE
Sponsoring Institution
State Agricultural Experiment Station
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0221369
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2009
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2014
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762
Performing Department
Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries
Non Technical Summary
Aquatic ecosystems are influenced by environmental change, such as through climate trends and anthropogenic-impacts. Fishes are principal inhabitants of aquatic ecosystems, and are closely connected to their environment. In distribution, they span the globe, and are the most diverse group of vertebrates in number of species, life history strategies and body designs. Thus, environmental changes can have very different impacts to different species and different life history stages. However, for many species relatively little is known in regards to how they relate to their environment and the potential that environmental changes can have on them. The research covered in this proposal is unified through the theme of understanding these relationships between fishes and their environment; specifically, how fish respond to different environmental conditions in terms of physiological responses and the underlying physiological mechanisms that facilitate these responses. Research will occur in four topic areas: 1) Physiological ecology of fishes, 2) Physiological processes in fishes, 3) Conservation aquaculture techniques, and 4) Commercial aquaculture techniques. These studies will result in a basic understanding of a number of fish species and their relationship to environmental change. This information will be useful for guiding management and conservation of fishes and aquatic ecosystems, and improving commercial aquaculture practices.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
30508101020100%
Knowledge Area
305 - Animal Physiological Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
0810 - Finfish;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
The broad vision of this proposal is unified through the examination of how physiological adaptations and processes influence fish ecology, habitat use, growth, and survival, as exemplified in the following objectives: Objective 1: Understanding environmental effects on the physiology and ecology of fishes. Experiments will be designed to further the scientific understanding of the influences of environmental conditions and the impacts of environmental changes on the physiology of fishes. Environmental factors (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, etc.), can influence physiological processes in fishes and ultimately affect their survival. Analyzing the effects of environmental factors on individual fish physiological responses allows for a deeper understanding of how fish respond to changing conditions and the plasticity and limits that a species may have. Through these experiments, predictions can be made regarding fish utilization of different habitat types, which is highly useful to resource managers for recovery plan design and management purposes. Objective 2: Understanding the mechanisms underpinning physiological processes in fishes, and their evolutionary relationships. Fishes are the basal group of vertebrates, and have been subject to the processes of evolution for the greatest amount of time. This long duration of time, and the very different nature of their environment, compared to terrestrial vertebrates, has led to a large amount of variation in physiological operating systems. An understanding of whole-organism physiological function and the mechanisms facilitating physiological function has importance for understanding the evolution of physiological processes and how processes have been conserved in higher vertebrates, such as humans. Also, this information benefits the management and conservation of fishes through understanding their function and capabilities. Objective 3: Developing conservation aquaculture techniques for imperiled species. An increasing number of fish species are declining for a variety of reasons, such as pollution, overharvest, habitat alteration, and predation or competition from introduced or invasive species. As populations or even species become vulnerable to extirpation, captive breeding and rearing programs may be necessary to insure their continued survival. For this research objective, experiments will be designed to either develop new aquaculture techniques for fishes that have not previously been raised, or improve on existing culture techniques. Objective 4: Refining commercial aquaculture procedures through an understanding of fish responses to environmental conditions and culture techniques. Experiments will be designed to improve practices and techniques for culture of commercially important species. Because intensive fish culture systems expose fish to conditions that are often unlike those of natural environments, due to crowding, feeding regimes, and water conditions, new challenges are continually encountered. Physiological insight into these challenges can lead to the development of preventative or alternative culture techniques to improve fish health, growth, reproduction and survival.
Project Methods
Research described in this proposal will examine questions of environmental, ecological and physiological relevance to fish species both in natural and culture systems. Fish species of interest will include those in natural systems experiencing environmental or human induced changes and as a result, are a representative species from these ecosystems, or are of particular interest to resource managers. In addition, unique fish species, such as those with uncommon adaptations for occupying certain environmental extremes, primitive fishes, and those species which are useful for understanding the evolution of physiological processes will be examined. Fish species that are imperiled will be examined for reproductive processes and the development of culture techniques. Fish species that are commercially important will be studied in order to optimize their health, growth, and survival. In examining these fish species research will be conducted from the scale of the whole organism to the molecular level. At the whole organism level, experimental design will involve replicated tank systems utilizing flow-through well water or a re-circulating system design. These types of systems will allow for appropriate replication and environmental manipulation. Manipulations may involve physical or biological factors. Physical factors will include variables such as salinity (e.g., freshwater, brackish water or seawater conditions), temperature (e.g., stable or fluctuating), water flow (e.g., slow to turbulent), water chemistry (e.g., ionic concentration or pH), turbidity and dissolved oxygen. Biological factors may include variables such as life history stage, intraspecific or interspecific interactions, and food quality or availability. Studies at the whole organism level may also involve the sampling or collection of fish in the field for species that are not available through state or federal hatchery operations or for situations when wild fish are preferable. Replicated tank systems can be used to complement field sampling by examining fish under controlled and relatively low-stress conditions. Studies at the whole organism level will examine physiological "costs" relative to environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, water chemistry, etc.), and organismal tolerance limits to these different conditions. These types of studies will provide a better understanding of the requirements of different species and life history stages, which will be very useful information for resource managers assigned with conserving and managing fishes and ecological systems. Techniques utilized for examining these physiological costs will involve the measurement of metabolic rates, swimming abilities, ion concentrations, ionic flux rates, and measures of stress. Blood and tissue sampling will allow for measurements related to iono- and osmoregulation, stress, endocrine changes, and facilitate further analyses at the cellular and molecular level. Cellular and molecular changes facilitate whole organism adjustments to changing environmental conditions.

Progress 07/01/09 to 06/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: State and federal government agencies, management and conservation entitites, aquaculture industry, scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? 1 Ph.D. student, 2 M.S. students, 1 undergraduate independent research project, many undergraduate research assistants How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Scientific conferences, peer-reviewed scientific journal submissions What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A research project on the limitations of paddlefish to hypoxia was conducted that included three main experiments: acute hypoxia tolerance and effects of hypoxia and temperature on locomotion, chronic hypoxia acclimation, and recovery capacity from chronic hypoxia. Paddlefish are economically important and are primitive fish. This project accomplished Objectives 1, 2 and 4. A research project on the Atlantic sturgeon was conducted that had several studies associated with it. The first study examined salinity effects on growth and osmoregulation. The second study evaluated tag retention. The third study evaluated healing following different fin spine/ray removal techniques typically used in ageing. The fourth study evaluated trace element concentrations in calcified structures relative to environmental salinity. This project accomplished Objectives 1, 2 and 3. Two research projects on alligator gar were conducted. The first evaluated growth, ion and osmoregulation of alligator gar at different environmental salinities. The second examined salinity regulatory abilities in two populations of alligator gar: coastal LA and inland MS, and involved collaboration with researchers at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. These projects acomplished Objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4. A research project the evaluated concentrations of crude oil derivatives in Gulf of Mexico fishes following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was conducted. A controlled laboratory study on the effects of crude oil on a coastal fish species, the alligator gar was also conducted. This project accomplished Objectives 1 and 2.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

    Outputs
    Target Audience: State and federal government regulatory agencies, management and conservation entitites, aquaculture industry, scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Ph.D. graduate student - continuing dissertation M.S. graduate student - started project in August 2013 Undergraduate student - several have participated in research, and one who has been very involved gave a presentation How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Scientific conferences, peer-reviewed scientific journal submissions. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The paddlefish project will continue with expected completion in the next year. The Atlatnic sturgeon tag retention, fin healing, and trace element studies will conclude in the next year. Research projects on alligator gar will be expanded to include researchers from Louisiana State University. A new project on spawning induction in white crappie has been initiated and will involve researchers from Louisiana State University as well. Crude oil analyses will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? A research project on the limitations of paddlefish to hypoxia was continued. Past research evaluated the tolerance of paddlefish to acute hypoxia exposure and the physiological performance ramifications, in terms of metabolism and swimming performance. Thie second experiment this past year built off of these earlier findings and evaluated chronic hypoxia exposure and the ability of paddlefish to acclimate to hypoxia over time. Preliminary results indicate that paddlefish do not acclimate to hypoxia levels near their tolerance level. A third experiment is evaluating recovery to responses to hypoxia, evaluating both the ability of paddlefish to recover, the time frame of recovery, and the physiological processes involved. Experiments on Atlantic sturgeon continued. Long-term salinity exposures indicated that fish >400 g could acclimate successfully to seawater, in terms of survival and osmo- and ionoregulation, although growth decreased at full seawater (33 ppt) compared to brackish water (10 ppt) and freshwater (0 ppt). Experiments are currently underway that evaluate tag retention, healing following different fin spine/ray removal techniques, and trace element concentrations in calcified structures. The tag retention studies are evaluating the retention of different types of tags (passive integrated transponder or spaghetti style). The PIT tags appear to have much better retention and much less inflamation than the spaghetti style tags. Fin ray healing is being conducted to determine the best methods for fin ray collection, which are used to age fish. The time frame of recovery, survival, and ability of the would to heal are being evaluated. The trace element concentrations are being used to calibrate changes in wild fish, from fin rays collected as a result of normal field sampling. An experiment on salinity acclimation in alligator gar from Mississippi and coastal Louisiana was conducted in collaboration with University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. Analyses on controlled experiments based on crude oil exposure continued. These studies are currently being prepared for peer-reviewed journal submission. Previous analyses on salinity effects on alligator gar were also prepared for submission, as well as the salinity study on Atlantic sturgeon.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Schwarz, D. E., P.J. Allen. In review. Effects of salinity on growth and ion regulation of juvenile alligator gar Atractosteus spatula. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Allen, P.J., Z.A. Mitchell, R.J. DeVries, D.L. Aboagye, M.A. Ciaramella, S.W. Ramee, H.A. Stewart, R.B. Shartau. In review. Salinity effects on Atlantic sturgeon growth and osmoregulation. Journal of Applied Ichthyology.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Allen, P. J., Mitchell, Z. A., and R. J. DeVries. 2013. Effect of salinity on growth and osmoregulation of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon. 7th International Symposium on Sturgeon, 7/21-25/13, Nanaimo, B.C., Canada.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Shartau, R. B., Aboagye, D., Allen, P. J., Brauner, C. J. 2013. American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) offer insights into the evolution of pH regulation. 7th International Symposium on Sturgeon, 7/21-25/13, Nanaimo, B.C., Canada.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Mitchell, Z., R. J. DeVries and P. J. Allen. 2013. Effects of salinity on growth and osmoregulation of Atlantic sturgeon. Mississippi State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, 3/22/13, Starkville, MS.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Wesche, P., P.J. Allen, and L. Petrie-Hanson. 2012. Evaluation of micronuclei formation and other nuclear abnormalities in alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) exposed to crude oil. Annual Meeting of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Dec. 1-5. Seattle, WA.
    • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Allen, P.J. 2012. Understanding, growing and conserving Mississippi's diverse fishes. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Seminar Series. 11/29/2012 - 11/29/2012. Ocean Springs, MS. Invited


    Progress 01/01/12 to 09/30/12

    Outputs
    Target Audience: State and federal governmentt regulatory agencies, management and conservation entities, aquaculture industry, scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? M.S. graduate student - completed thesis Ph.D. graduate student - continuing dissertation How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Presentations at local, regional and national scientific meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue research analyses on crude oil effects on Gulf of Mexico fishes. Continue research on hypoxia effects on paddlefish and salinity effects on Atlantic sturgeon. Publish research on salinity effects on alligator gar.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? A research project was continued on the limitations of hypoxia to paddlefish. This project has significance both to aquaculture and to conservation interests. For the field component of the project, a report was finalized on the water quality of the Noxubee Refuge in areas known to hold paddlefish in the winter to early spring. For the laboratory component of the project, two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, acute or short-term hypoxia tolerance was determined for juvenile paddlefish. In the second experiment, the effects of temperature were examined for acute hypoxia tolerance and swimming performance, a physiological measure of exercise capacity. Collaboration arrangements were made with the USFWS Private John Allen Hatchery to collect paddlefish broodstock from the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge, spawn the fish, and utilize the progeny for laboratory experiments. Collaboration was also initiated with Dr. Steve Mims of Kentucky State University, an expert on paddlefish culture. A research project on Atlantic sturgeon in the field and in the laboratory was also initiated. Collaboration with the Delaware State University, USFWS, and NOAA scientists was forged to facilitate field collection of fin spine samples from wild Gulf sturgeon in the Choctawhatchee River system in Florida. Samples were collected for trace element analyses in order to conduct retrospective analyses of habitat use. Collaboration arrangements were also made with the USFWS Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery in South Carolina to secure juvenile Atlantic sturgeon for laboratory experiments. Fish were reared in freshwater conditions at the Mississippi State University South Farm Aquaculture facility for 1 year. At the end of this period, a long-term salinity exposure project was initiated. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effects of salinity on juvenile Atlantic sturgeon growth and osmoregulation. Sample analyses were also continued for a field and laboratory project conducted on the effects of crude oil and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Gulf of Mexico Fishes. These analyses are being finalized and prepared for publication in scientific peer-reviewed journals. Research was completed on salinity effects on alligator gar.

    Publications

    • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Schwarz, Daniel. 2012. Effects of salinity on growth, oxygen consumption and ion regulation in two ages of alligator gar Atractosteus spatula. Master of Science Thesis. May. Dept. Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture. Mississippi State University. 63 pgs.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Aboagye, D., P.J. Allen. 2012. 1H-NMR characterization of the metabolic response of juvenile paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) to acute hypoxia. American Fisheries Society Southern Division Meeting. 1/26/2012 -1/29/2012. Biloxi, MS.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Allen, P.J., L. Petrie-Hanson, J.R. Rodriguez, C. Hohn, S. Pruett. 2012. Physiological effects of crude oil on estuarine and marine fishes. 10th International Congress on the Biology of Fish. 7/15/2012 - 7/19/2012. Madison, WI.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Hohn, C., A. Omar-Ali, P.J. Allen, L. Petrie-Hanson. 2012. The Deepwater Horizon disaster - the effects of crude oil on the immune cells of alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula). American Fisheries Society Southern Division Meeting. 1/26/2012 - 1/29/2012. Biloxi, MS.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Petrie-Hanson, L., C. Hohn, S. Pruett, P.J. Allen, A. Omar-Ali. 2012. The effects of oil exposure on the blood and tissues of spotted sea trout (Cynoscion nebulosus) and Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) from the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. American Fisheries Society Southern Division Meeting. 1/26/2012 - 1/29/2012. Biloxi, MS.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Schwarz, D.E., P.J. Allen. 2012. The effects of salinity on growth, metabolic rate and ion regulation of juvenile alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula). American Fisheries Society Southern Division Meeting. 1/26/2012 - 1/29/2012. Biloxi, MS.


    Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Research on environmental influences on the physiology of fishes is very important to Mississippi and the Southeast, due to the great diversity of fishes, the importance of aquaculture to the economy, and unforeseen anthropogenic impacts. In 2011, research was conducted in several key objective areas. For objective 1, understanding environmental effects on the physiology and ecology of fishes, research was carried out on the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, osmoregulation in alligator gar, hypoxia effects on paddlefish, and osmoregulation in sturgeons. For the oil spill study, fish samples were collected from the Gulf of Mexico and from non-exposed fish in aquaculture conditions. A controlled crude oil exposure study was also carried out at Mississippi State University. Results are currently being analyzed. A study on osmoregulation in alligator gar was completed at the end of 2011 and results are being written for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Alligator gar were found to have varying salinity tolerance depending on age and size. Analyses on the effects of hypoxia on paddlefish are just beginning. Early results indicate that they can withstand acute hypoxia and recover well, however, chronic conditions have not been tested yet. Studies on osmoregulation in sturgeons have continued. Fin ray samples were collected from Gulf sturgeon in Florida in association with the National Marine Fisheries Service, and Atlantic sturgeon were obtained for use as controls in trace element studies to evaluate life history movements. For objective 2, understanding the mechanisms underpinning physiological process in fishes, the epithelial calcium channel in lake sturgeon was sequenced and published. For objective 3, developing conservation aquaculture techniques for imperiled species, research on the rearing of alligator gar, paddlefish and Atlantic sturgeon is ongoing. For objective 4, refining commercial aquaculture techniques through an understanding of fish response to environmental conditions, research on high temperature effects / climate change was conducted on juvenile channel catfish. Channel catfish were found to have decreased growth, increased metabolic rates, decreased food consumption and increased activity leading to increased mortality at high temperatures. Two M.S. graduate students and one Ph.D. student were mentored as a part of this research. Results have been disseminated through regional and national conferences such as: World Aquaculture Society, American Fisheries Society, Gulf Sturgeon Workshop, and the Northern Gulf Institute. Results have also been disseminated through invited presentations such as at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alabama Birmingham and a workshop at the World Sturgeon Conservation Society, through consulting activities on report reviews, and through newspaper articles, such as in the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. PARTICIPANTS: Partner organizations: US Fish and Wildlife Service Private John Allen Hatchery (Mr. Richard Campbell, hatchery manager), the US Fish and Wildlife Service Noxubee Refuge (Mr. Henry Sansing, refuge manager), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Marine Fisheries Service (Ms.Stephania Bolden), the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alabama Birmingham (Dr. Michael Jablonsky), the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory (Dr. Jose Rodriquez), the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (Dr. Stephen Pruett and Dr. Lora Petrie-Hanson), Nicholls State University (Dr. Allyse Ferrara), Aquagreen Aquaculture (Dr. Weirick), the National Warmwater Aquaculture Center (Dr. Craig Tucker, Dr. Les Torrans, Dr. James Steeby). TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include the residents of Mississippi, residents of the Southeast, aquaculture operations, conservation groups, government agencies, commercial fishers and scientists. A workshop was held at a scientific conference to instruct and provide hands-on technical skills for assessing osmoregulatory abilities in fishes. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Outcomes of the project have been widespread. Results on the effects of crude oil on the physiological and immunological health fishes have important implications for understanding effects of the present Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and just as importantly, understanding future oil spills. The implications of understanding how oil spills affect fishes is not limited to the Gulf of Mexico and can help in predictions of the impacts of future oil spills. Results on osmoregulation abilities at different ages of alligator gar has implications for conservation stocking strategies to recover this imperiled and declining species. Conservation hatcheries are stocking this species, but source of broodstock and release areas will benefit from this study. These results also help to predict the types of habitats that juvenile alligator gar require. Results on the effects of hypoxia on paddlefish will help to guide conservation actions in terms of potential release sites. Further, this will provide local guidance on habitat restoration and needs of this species. The study on the epithelial calcium channel is important due to its importance in fishes in general for obtaining calcium. This has important implications for ion regulation and homeostasis and growth regulation in fishes. The effects of high seasonal temperatures will help to guide decisions in aquaculture operations in terms of feeding and management practices. This study also has important implications for the potential effects of climate change on the aquaculture industry.

    Publications

    • Abstracts from Scientific Presentations Aboagye, D., P.J. Allen. 2011. Use of metabolomics in fisheries biology. Southeast Natural Resources Graduate Student Symposium 2011. 3/2/2011 - 3/4/2011. Starkville, MS.
    • Aboagye, D., P.J. Allen. 2011. A new tool for the fish biologist. 37th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. 2/16/2011 - 2/18/2011. Starkville, MS.
    • Allen, P.J. 2011. Initiation of seawater movements in anadromous juvenile sturgeons. 13th Annual Gulf Sturgeon Workshop. 11/16/2011 - 11/18/2011. Niceville, FL.
    • Allen, P.J. 2011. Metabolomics and fish: do they have the right chemistry Invited speaker to the University of Alabama Birmingham, Dept. of Chemistry. 3/30/2011 - 3/30/2011. Birmingham, AL. Invited.
    • Allen, P.J., D. Weihrauch, S.J. Peake, W.G. Anderson. 2011. Water chemistry, calcium regulation and growth in sturgeons. Aquaculture America 2011, World Aquaculture Society. 2/28/2011 - 3/3/2011. New Orleans, LA.
    • Petrie-Hanson, L., P.J. Allen, C. Hohn, S. Pruett. 2011. The effects of crude oil on disease susceptibility and physiological responses of Gulf of Mexico fishes. 2011 Northern Gulf Institute Annual Conference. 5/17/2011 - 5/19/2011. Mobile, AL.
    • Schwarz, D.E., P.J. Allen. 2011. The effects of salinity acclimation on the physiology of juvenile alligator gar. 2011 SDAFS Alligator Gar Technical Committee Meeting. 5/25/2011 - 5/26/2011. Dyersburg, TN. Schwarz, D.E., P.J. Allen. 2011. Effects on the physiology of juvenile alligator gar due to increased salinity. Southeast Natural Resources Graduate Student Symposium 2011. 3/2/2011 - 3/4/2011. Starkville, MS. Schwarz, D.E., P.J. Allen. 2011. The effects of increased salinity on the physiology of juvenile alligator gar. 37th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. 2/16/2011 - 2/18/2011. Starkville, MS.
    • Allen, P.J., M.M. McEnroe, T. Forostyan, J.J. Cech Jr. 2011. nderstanding osmoregulation in North American sturgeons. 4th Annual Meeting of the North American Chapter of the World Sturgeon Conservation Society. 7/11/2011 - 7/14/2011. Nanaimo, CANADA.
    • Allen, P.J., D. Weihrauch, V. Grandmaison, P. Dasiewicz, S.J. Peake, W.G. Anderson. 2011. The influence of environmental calcium concentrations on calcium flux, compensatory drinking and epithelial calcium channel expression in a freshwater, cartilaginous fish. Journal of Experimental Biology. 214: 996-1006.
    • Allen, P.J., M.M. McEnroe, T. Forostyan, S. Cole, M.M. Nicholl, B. Hodge, J.J. Cech Jr. 2011. Ontogeny of salinity tolerance and evidence for seawater-entry preparation in juvenile green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris. Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology. 181:1045-1062.
    • Anderson, W.G., P.J. Allen. 2011. An alternative approach for the measurement of trimethylamine oxide in body fluid samples of elasmobranch fishes. Journal of Fish Biology. 78(2):667-672.
    • Allen, P.J., D. Weihrauch, V. Grandmaison, S.J. Peake, W.G. Anderson. 2011. GenBank accession HQ718409.1, Acipenser fulvescens (lake sturgeon) epithelial calcium channel (ECaC) mRNA, complete cds.


    Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Research focused on understanding environmental limitations and ion regulatory systems in fishes. Research was continued on sturgeon ion regulatory systems, and calcium regulation in particular. Research was initiated on the salinity tolerance and regulatory mechanisms for ion and osmotic balance in alligator gar. This project will evaluate changes in salinity tolerance and regulation with an older life history stage in the coming year. A second research project was initiated to determine the environmental and endogenous influences on migration at early life history stages in paddlefish. The research project utilizes the Noxubee River on the USFWS Noxubee Refuge, and has implications for the conservation and management of this species in eastern Mississippi and other areas. A third research project was initiated to examine the effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. All of these projects involved the collaboration with a number of academic, state and federal entities. Presentations were given at the American Fisheries Society Mississippi Chapter Annual Meeting in Tara Wildlife, MS, the World Sturgeon Conservation Society North American Chapter Meeting in Bozeman, MT, and the International Network for Lepisosteidae Research Meeting in Thibodaux, LA. PARTICIPANTS: Sturgeon research: Dr. W. Gary Anderson, Dr. Dirk Weihrauch, and Cam Barth, University of Manitoba, Dr. Stephan Peake, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton; alligator gar research: Dr. Allyse Ferrara and Dr. Quenton Fontenot, Nicholls State University, Richard Campbell, USFWS Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery; temperature effects on channel catfish research: Dr. Craig Tucker, Dr. Jim Steeby, Dr. Les Torrans, Dr. David Wise, Dr. Terry Greenway, Dr. Matthew Griffin, National Warmwater Aquaculture Center; environmental fish health and oil impacts: Dr. Lora Petrie-Hanson, Dr. Claudia Hohn, Dr. Steve Pruett, Mississippi State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine; paddlefish: Dr. Donald Jackson, MSU Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Jason Olive MS Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Henry Sansing and Dave Richardson USFWS Noxubee Refuge; general facilities and fish holding: Mack Fondren and staff, MSU South Farm Aquaculture Facility. TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientists, management and conservation entities, state and federal government regulatory agencies, the aquaculture industry PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    These research projects have provided important knowledge impacting a number of research and regulatory fields. First, important information has been found on the calcium regulatory systems in lake sturgeon, with implications for limitations to their populations and those of other freshwater cartilaginous fishes. The epithelial calcium channel was sequenced in lake sturgeon, which will allow for further research in this area. Studies on sturgeons and paddlefishes are also helping to determine important links between environmental conditions and migrational movements in these and other primitive anadromous fishes. Second, knowledge of environmental constraints (salinity) on juvenile alligator gar are starting to be elucidated, with implications for the timing of seawater entry, where recovery measures should be directed, and aquaculture conditions needed for this species. Third, experiments are helping to piece together a better understanding of temperature effects on southeastern fishes, notably channel catfish. Findings for this species will have implications for many other southeastern fishes, and help to understand potential climate change effects, and provide direction to the aquaculture industry.

    Publications

    • Allen, P.J., D. Weihrauch, V. Grandmaison, S.J. Peake, W.G. Anderson. 2010. GenBank accession HQ718409, Acipenser fulvescens (lake sturgeon) epithelial calcium channel (ECaC) mRNA, complete cds.
    • Belant, J.L., P.J. Allen, B.D. Leopold, D.C. Jackson. 2010. First joint TWS-AFS symposium: societies address introductions and reintroductions. First joint The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society Meeting. Starkville, MS. Fisheries 35
    • Schwarz, D.E., P.J. Allen, K.A. Brasher. 2010. MSU graduate student determines needs of giant freshwater fish. Mississippi Landmarks 6(2):21.