Fish Health and Nutrition

The overall health of individual fish and their nutritional status can be important indicators of the health and viability of populations. Whereas, whole animal responses such as increased mortality, reduced growth or production, and reproductive failure, are still widely used to assess the effects of contaminants on fish.
CERC is increasingly utilizing more subtle responses of individual fish to contaminant as indicators of potential effects at the population level. Often these responses are measured at the cellular and sub-cellular levels. Parameters such as DNA variation and damage, histological analyses of target organs, contaminant residues in the whole body or specific organs, and hormone or enzyme levels are measured. These subtle responses are often associated with deleterious effects on natural populations.

Research Studies

Publications

Growth of fishes in the Missouri River and lower Yellowstone River and factors influencing recruitment of freshwater drum in the lower channelized Missouri River

Braaten, P.J., 2000, Growth of fishes in the Missouri River and lower Yellowstone River and factors influencing recruitment of freshwater drum in the lower channelized Missouri River: Manhattan, Kansas, Kansas State University, 174 p.
Growth rates of young-of-year shovelnose sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River

Braaten, P.J., and Fuller, D.B., 2007, Growth rates of young-of-year shovelnose sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River: Journal of Applied Ichthyology, v. 23, p. 506-515.
First-year growth, condition, and size-selective winter mortality of freshwater drum in the Lower Missouri River

Braaten, P.J., and Guy, C.S., 2004, First-Year Growth, Condition, and Size-Selective Winter Mortality of Freshwater Drum in the Lower Missouri River: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, v. 133, p. 385-398.
Estimation of gonad volume, fecundity, and reproductive stage of shovelnose sturgeon using sonography and endoscopy with application to the endangered pallid sturgeon

Bryan, J.L., Wildhaber, M.L., Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Tillitt, D.E., and Annis, M.L., 2007, Estimation of gonad volume, fecundity, and reproductive stage of shovelnose sturgeon using sonography and endoscopy with application to the endangered pallid sturgeon: Journal of Applied Ichthyology, v. 23, p. 411-419.
Early Development of Four Cyprinids Native to the Yangtze River, China

Chapman, D.C., Editor, 2006, Early Development of Four Cyprinids Native to the Yangtze River, China, U.S. Geological Survey, Data Series 239, 51 p.
Reproductive development in the sicklefin chub in the Missouri and Lower Yellowstone Rivers (91601)

Dieterman, D.J., Roberts, E., Braaten, P.J., and Galat, D.L., 2006, Reproductive development in the sicklefin chub in the Missouri and Lower Yellowstone Rivers: Prairie Naturalist, v. 38, no. 2, p. 113-130. (The online abstract is not available from Prairie Naturalist. You will be directed to Dr. Braaten's profile.)
Skin Component May Protect Fishes from Sunburn and Fungal Infection Resulting from Exposure to Ultraviolet-B Radiation (90870)

Fabacher, D.L. and Little, E.E., 1996, Skin Component may Protect Fishes from Sunburn and Fungal Infection Resulting from Exposure to Ultraviolet-B Radiation, Chapter 20 in Modulators of Immune Responses: The Evolutionary Trail.
Trout density and health in a stream with variable water temperatures and trace element concentrations: Does a cold-water source attract trout to increased metal exposure? (91599)

Harper, D.D., Farag, A.M., Hogstrand, C. and MacConnell, E. 2009. Trout density and health in a stream with variable water temperatures and trace element concentrations: Does a cold-water source attract trout to increased metal exposure? Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(4): 800-808.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Yukon River Basin (91350)

Hinck, J.E., Bartish, T.M., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Gross, T.S., Myers, M.S., Anderson, P.J., Orazio, C.E. and Tillitt, D.E., 2004m Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants and Their Effects on Fish in the Yukon River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5285, 87 p.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker in fish from the Colorado River Basin (91466)

Hinck, J.E., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Gross, T.S., Echols, K.R., Davis, A.P., May, T.W., Orazio, C.E., Coyle, J.J. and Tillitt, D.E., 2006, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants, Health Indicators, and Reproductive Biomarkers in Fish from the Colorado River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5163.
Persistence of organochlorine chemical residues in fish from the Tombigbee River (Alabama, USA): Continuing risk to wildlife from a former DDT manufacturing facility (91595)

Hinck, J.E., Norstrom, R.J., Orazio, C.E., Schmitt, C.J. and Tillit, D.E. 2009. Persistence of organochlorine chemical residues in fish from the Tombigbee River (Alabama, USA): Continuing risk to wildlife from a former DDT manufacturing facility Environmental Pollution 157(2): 582-591.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Columbia River Basin (91337)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Bartish, T.M., Denslow, N.D., Blazer, V.S., Anderson, J.J., Coyle, J.J., Detloff, G.M. and Tillitt, D.E. 2004. Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Columbia River Basin. U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Report, 2004-5154.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Rio Grande Basin (91338)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Bartish, T.M., Denslow, N.D., Blazer, V.S., Anderson, J.J., Coyle, J.J., Detloff, G.M. and Tillitt, D.E. 2004. Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Rio Grande Basin. U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Report, 2004-5108.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Columbia River Basin (91337)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Bartish, T.M., Denslow, N.D., Blazer, V.S., Anderson, P.J., Coyle, J.J., Dethloff, G.M., and Tillitt, D.E., 2004, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants and Their Effects on Fish in the Columbia River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scientific Investigations Report, 2004-5154.
Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program (91551)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Chojnacki, K.A. and Tillitt, D.E. 2008. Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Online First Edition.
Environmental contaminants in fish and their associated risk to piscivorous wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska (91465)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Echols, K.R., May, T.W., Orazio, C.E. and Tillitt, D.E. 2006. Environmental contaminants in fish and their associated risk to piscivorous wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 51(4): 661-672.
Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. Exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment and plant discharge (91608)

Iwanowicz, L.R., Blazer, V.S., Guy, C.P., Pinkney, A.E., Mullican, J.E. and Alvarez, D.A. 2009. Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. Exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment and plant discharge. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(5): 1072-1083.
Fish growth, mortality, recruitment, condition, and size structure

Pierce, C.L., Guy, C.S., Braaten, P.J., and Pegg, M.A., 2003, Fish growth, mortality, recruitment, condition, and size structure. Volume 4. Population structure and habitat use of benthic fishes along the Missouri and lower Yellowstone rivers.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Selected methods for monitoring chemical contaminants and their effects in aquatic ecosystems (91084)

Schmitt, C.J., and Dethloff, G.M., editors, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program : Selected Methods for Monitoring Chemical Contaminants and their Effects in Aquatic Ecosystems: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia Missouri, Information and Technology Report, 2000-0005.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Field procedures for assessing the exposure of fish to environmental contaminants (91116)

Schmitt, C.J., Blazer, V.S., Dethloff, G.M., Tillitt, D.E., Gross, T.S., Bryant, W.L., Jr., DeWeese, L.R., Smith, S.B., Goede, R.W., Bartish, T.M., and Kubiak, T. J., 1999, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Field Procedures for Assessing the Exposure of Fish to Environmental Contaminants: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Information and Technology Report, 1999-0007
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Mississippi River Basin (91213)

Schmitt, C.J., editor, 2002, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants and their Effects on Fish in the Mississippi River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scientific Investigations Report 2002-0004.
Illustrated Field Guide for Assessing External and Internal Anomalies in Fish

Smith, S.B., Donahue, A.P., Lipkin, R.J., Blazer, V.S., Schmitt, C.J., and Goede, R.W., 2002, Illustrated Field Guide for Assessing External and Internal Anomalies in Fish: U.S. Geological Survery, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Information and Technology Report, 2002-0007, 46 p.
Dreissenid mussels from the Great Lakes contain elevated thiaminase activity (91657)

Tillitt, D.E., Riley, S.C., Evans, A.N., Nichols, S.J., Zajicek, J.L., Rinchard, J., Richter, C.A. and Krueger, C.C. 2009. Dreissenid mussels from the Great Lakes contain elevated thiaminase activity. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 35(2): 309-312.
Age estimation for shovelnose sturgeon: A cautionary note based on annulus formation in pectoral fin rays (91602)

Whiteman, K.W., Travnichek, V.H., Wildhaber, M.L., DeLonay, A., Papoulias, D., and Tillett, D., 2004, Age estimation for shovelnose sturgeon: A cautionary note based on annulus formation in pectoral fin rays: North American Journal of Fisheries Management, v. 24, no. 2, p. 731-734.
Physical and hormonal examination of Missouri River shovelnose sturgeon reproductive stage–a reference guide

Wildhaber, M.L., Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Tillitt, D.E., Bryan, J.L., and Annis, M.L., 2007, Physical and hormonal examination of Missouri River shovelnose sturgeon reproductive stage–a reference guide: Journal of Applied Ichthyology, v. 23, p. 382-401.
Chemical contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker responses in fish from rivers in the Southeastern United States (91509)

Hinck, J.E., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Echols, K.R., Gale, R.W., Wieser, C., May, T.W., Ellersieck, M., Coyle, J.J. and Tillitt, D.E. 2008. Chemical contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker responses in fish from rivers in the Southeastern United States. Science of the Total Environment, 390(2-3): 538-557.
Diet composition of larval and young-of-year shovelnose sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River (91499)

Braaten, P.J., Fuller, D.B. and McClenning, N.D. 2007. Diet composition of larval and young-of-year shovelnose sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23(4):516-520.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarkers in fish from the Mobile, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint, Savannah, and Pee Dee River Basins (91525)

Hinck, J.E., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Echols, K.R., Gale, R.W., May, T.W., Claunch, R., Wieser, C., Anderson, P.J., Coyle, J.J., Gross, T.S., and Tillitt, D.E., 2007, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants, Health Indicators, and Reproductive Biomarkers in Fish from the Mobile, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint, Savannah, and Pee Dee River Basins:U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scienticific Investigations Report 2007-5176.