Research

Our overall approach is comparative, with physiology and toxicology studies focusing on a range of model fish species, including phylogenetically ancient jawless fishes such as lampreys and hagfishes, and jawed fishes including prehistoric sturgeon, trout and even the common goldfish, which can live without oxygen for week or months at a time.

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Presently, the research goals in the lab are to:

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1. determine how ammonia and oxygen deprivation alters brain function and metabolism in fishes,

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2. establish the mode of toxicity of the pesticides, 3-trifluoromethyl-4- nitrophenol (TFM) and niclosamide, which are used to control lamprey populations in the Great Lakes, ​​​​​

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3. learn more about how the gills of fishes are used to control internal ion and acid-base balance, and to excrete highly toxic metabolic wastes such as ammonia.