Rockfish Development & Growth
Oocyte and embryonic growth data has been established for several ecologically and economically important rockfish species found on both sides of the Pacific Rim. The data is being combined with previously established information on the endocrine and paracrine control of pregnancy in order to develop a comprehensive picture of the viviparous reproductive strategy of this highly fecund teleost. We have established protocols for maintenance of adult fish in captivity that allows for normal reproductive seasonality in culture as well as the protocols that allow for parallel in vitro incubation of oocytes and embryos. The goal of these studies is to provide further insights into the effects of various environmental conditions experienced by rockfish in the wild and increase the capacity of effective culture of rockfish for marine enhancement and as a food resource.
The Collins Lab Group is working to find diverse applications of the the findings of the research related to rockfish development and growth in culture towards projects which seek to both understand the effects of changes in the natural environment as well as increase survival and growth in culture of a diverse range of marine fish species that are ecologically and economically valuable, in particular those deemed to be threatened by increasing demand, development and environmental degredation.
Effects of environmental disruptions & changes
The establishment of normal patterns of oocyte and embryonic development for several nearshore rockfish species on both sides of the Pacific Rim have allowed for further examinations into the effects various environmental changes. We are working closely with colleagues at the Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology at the City University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong to better understand the osmoregulatory and respiratory responses to changes in environmental salinity and dissolved oxygen levels on adult rockfish in various reproductive conditions as well as on oocytes and embryos. We are analyzing the effects of conditions using light microscopy, SEM, TEM and blood gas analysis to examine the effects on respiration and osmoregulation in adult fish and coupling this with examinations of developmental parameters and embryonic growth patterns both in vivo and in vitro. We are further establishing the techniques for novel examinations into the potential for environmental changes to disrupt sensitive endocrine processes involved in the control of reproduction in several nearshore rockfish species.
Above: Healthy rockfish embryo taken from mother (left) as compared to embryos removed from a mother exposed briefly to hypoxic conditions (right).