Transport and Metabolism in Fish

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In a country with the longest coastline in the world, with 1/7 of the world's freshwater, processes are modified by environmental conditions (ii) the “osmorespiratory compromise” which is the functional tradeoff between ion/water vs O2 exchange at the gills; (iii) the physiology of feeding; (iv) the importance of dissolved organic matter (DOM, an abundant, ubiquitous but poorly understood component of all natural waters) in regulating gill physiology. Particular projects focus on the functions of NH3 as a respiratory gas in the regulation of breathing, its interactions with O2 ysiology are explored, including the importance of acid-base signals, the upregulation of transport pathways associated with food ingestion, O2 costs of feeding & their interactions with hypoxia & exercise performance are quantified. Through collaboration with a chemist, the relationships between the physical chemistry of different types of DOM molecules & their supportive actions on gill ionoregulatory function are examined. Particular emphasis is placed on the role(s) of metal-binding moieties in DOM molecules, on structural changes in gills associated with DOM exposures, & on the adaptation of fish to native DOMs. Overall, this program will train 3 postdoctoral fellows, 5 PhDs, & 15 undergrads in innovative aspects of integrative fish physiology.