fish biology congress

From Individual to Population Processes in Fish. Organizers. Ian Fleming and Sigurd Einum (Memorial University and Norwegian Institute for Nature Research).

The symposium focuses on the linking of individual physiology and behaviour with population biology to better understand the dynamics of fish populations. Traditionally, studies in these disciplines have occurred independently. However, there is a growing recognition that integration of individual- and population-level approaches can provide novel insight into the dynamics of populations. Such insight is of growing practical interest as fish populations face ever increasing degrees of human impact (e.g., habitat alteration, exploitation), and there is an increasing demand for a predictive understanding of population dynamics that enables adaptive management of wild population

Linking Fish Biology to Improved Performance in Finfish Aquaculture. Organizer: Tillmann Benfey. (University of New Brunswick)

Successful finfish aquaculture requires an understanding of fish biology at many different levels. This symposium will highlight studies ranging from the larval stage to harvest, and from fish behavior to biochemical responses under culture conditions. Papers on any aspect of fish biology dealing with species currently in commercial production or those being developed for commercialization are encouraged. Sub-themes will include: 1) Live feed enrichment and larval performance; lipid and fatty acid analysis; feeding behaviour and digestive physiology; stress during larviculture; behavioual or physiological responses to variations in larval culture environment; health and disease during larviculture; 2) Effects of weaning on performance, physiology, stress, health and behaviour; 3) Effects of temperature or other environmental factors on juvenile and adult growth, survival, health and stress; diet and growth during periods of seasonal temperature change; effects of stocking density on growth and behaviour; and 4) Using physiological or behavioural criteria to assess fish welfare.

Impacts of Contaminant Exposure on Fish; Molecular Mechanisms to Ecotoxicology. Organizers: Chris Kennedy (Simon Fraser University) and Allan Kolok (University of Nebraska).

Freshwater and marine systems are the ultimate sinks of both natural and anthropogenic inputs of contaminants into the environment and evidence suggests that releases of toxic substances have had both dramatic and subtle impacts on fish and fisheries. This symposium will bring together those interested in all aspects of toxicological research on fish. It is hoped that talks in this series will range from the molecular level, through biochemistry and physiology, to effects on populations to highlight the multidisciplinary nature of this field. It will also emphasize the diversity of approaches used in understanding mechanisms of toxicity and the relevance of effects to individuals, populations and ecology. Papers may discuss toxic mechanisms, comparative approaches to toxicology, various toxicant groups including organics and metals, effects on different biochemical, physiological and organ systems, as well as research that has applicability to population-level impacts. The cumulative knowledge communicated in this symposium will enhance our understanding of piscine toxicology, an area often under-represented in the general world of basic and applied fish biology

Biomarkers of Environmental Pollution in Fish. Organizer: Mark Hartl (University College Cork).

In order to assess the toxicity and bioavailability of pollutants in the aquatic environment to fish, biomarkers, on all levels of biological organization, have become valuable ecotoxicological tools. Aquatic environments offer and sustain important habitats for many fish species, but also attract an ever-increasing level of human activity, of both commercial and recreational nature. These environments are under increasing pressure, owing to communal and industrial effluent discharge and pesticide input from agricultural runoff and antifouling agents. The aim of this symposium is to provide a platform to researchers, particularly graduate students, to present their work on new, more sensitive biomarkers and indicator species. All aquatic environments, from land-locked lakes to rivers, estuaries and the deep-sea, and all relevant fish species will be considered

Muscular Aspects of Fish Locomotion: Anatomy, Physiology, and Biomechanics. Organizer: Doug Syme (University of Calgary).

Fish typically produce a propagated wave of body bending during swimming that is powered by the axial muscles. Accommodations for varied conditions of swim speed, tail beat amplitude and frequency, temperature, and axial and radial body locations must be made by these muscles. This symposium will summarize aspects of the anatomy, physiology and mechanics of fish muscle relevant to powering swimming. Selected topics will include the various muscle fibre types in fish and their physiological characteristics relevant to producing power for swimming, design strategies used by fish to power swimming at different speeds, limits of escape behaviour and its basis in muscle power, some decidedly unique designs used to power high speed cruise swimming, the effects of axial and radial location of muscles on their mechanical performance, energetics of contraction in fish muscle relevant to power output and efficiency, and the effects of temperature on muscle function and its impact on fish swimming.

Physiology of Early Life History Stages of Fish. Organizer: Don MacKinlay (Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver) and Alan Youngson

This symposium is soliciting papers for several sub-themes on different early life-stages of fish that discuss aspects such as metabolism, respiration, excretion, growth, development, nutrition, genetics, behavior, evolution, etc. In addition, papers are welcome that cover techniques for investigation into early life-stage physiology, including research and analysis methods, and biotechnology The sub-themes will include: 1) Formation of eggs and sperm: processes and control in gametogenesis, variability in egg size related to parental size, gamete quality evaluation, broodstock management, sex control, genetic modification; 2) Fertilization: gamete collection, fertility analysis, cryopreservation, impacts of timing and conditions on egg viability, biochemistry of the fertilization process, changes in the fertile egg; 3) Embyonic development: rates of metabolism, developmental staging, survival patterns, optimizing incubator technology, managing natural conditions and constraints for incubation; 4) Metamorphosis: the transition from an egg to a free-moving and free-feeding form, hatching dynamics, sac-fry larvae, initiation of feeding, behaviour, tissue (gut, muscle, neural) maturation; and 5) Species summaries: we are also looking for overviews for a variety of species, in the form of summaries of the biological characteristics of the early life stages in the context of adaptation to the environment in which the animals are found.

Disease, Parasites, and the Host Response. Organizers: Brian Dixon and Rene Stet (University of Waterloo and University of Aberdeen).

Knowledge of disease processes and the mechanisms by which fish respond to pathogens has expanded greatly in the past few years. This session will highlight those recent advances. Experts in pathology and immune systems of fish will present current research results in order to provide a coherent state of the art overview of how fish cope with pathogens. Topics in fish disease will include discussions of common pathogens, their impact on aquaculture, genomic approaches to understanding pathogens and state of the art detection methods for pathogenic organisms. Host response topics will include; major histocompatibility receptors and their genes, cytokines, innate immune responses, macrophages, antigen presentation, the role of temperature in regulation fish immune responses and the evolution of immune responses.

Biology of Tropical Fishes. Organizer: Adalberto Val (INPA, Brazil).

Most tropical environments include giant tracts of periodically or partially inundated land that are the result of complex geological, climatic and evolutionary processes. The interactions between fishes and these special environments are fascinating and research into these relationships has resulted in many important and exciting insights. Diversity is the organizational keynote at all levels of tropical fish biology and ecology, and this symposium is designed to gather professionals working on these aspects worldwide, as they represent the new frontier of the studies on Biology of Fish. We encourage professionals working on Biology of Tropical Fish to share their findings during the VII International Congress on the Biology of Fish to be held in St. John’s, Canada

Fish Capture, Handling, and Discard/Release: Behavioural and Physiological Aspects.
Organizers: Paul Winger and Steven Cooke (Memorial University and University of British Columbia).

This symposium solicits contributions related to measuring and predicting fish behaviour and physiology during the process of capture, handling, and release (discard) in commercial and recreational fisheries. Papers are invited on a variety of behavioural topics including, response thresholds, reactions to vessels and fishing gears, decision-making, forms of learning (habituation, social, avoidance), behavioural impairment following release (and potential predation), and changes in behaviour as a result of selective fishing. Physiological topics include the role of vision, olfaction, and hearing in relation to fish capture, swimming endurance and exhaustion, biochemical indicators of stress (e.g., blood and white muscle biochemistry), predictors of mortality, and long-term fitness consequences (e.g., growth, reproductive success) associated with capture, handling, and release (discard). Research that considers the environmental factors that mediate the physiological and behavioural consequences of capture and release (e.g., water temperature, depth of capture) is also welcomed. We are particularly interested in research that develops, evaluates, and refines strategies to minimize the physiological and behavioural disturbance associated with capture and handling. Papers on the selectivity of fishing gears, rates of discard mortality and injury, and policy/management are invited, provided they demonstrate a link to fish behaviour and/or physiology. Contributions are invited for commercial (fixed and mobile) and recreational gear types in both freshwater and marine environments that ideally integrate field and laboratory research.

Molecular, Cellular and Neuroendocrine Responses to Stress in Fish. Organizers Bruce Barton and Luis Afonso (NRC-IMB, Halifax, Canada).

Physiological responses of fishes to physical and chemical stressors have been studied extensively during the last 30 years, and have been the subject of many published reviews and symposia at past Fish Biology Congresses. Nevertheless, scientists are just beginning to learn about and understand the neurobiology associated with the perception and interpretation of stressful stimuli and the mechanisms and significance of responses at molecular and cellular levels. This symposium is intended to focus on these little understood aspects of stress in fish and will highlight research on genomics and gene expression, proteomics, hormone-receptor interactions, neural pathways, neurotransmitter action and function, and related topics associated with the stress response. We plan to invite speakers for this session and the website will be updated as the symposium develops. We look forward to receiving contributions from interested investigators in these fields as well and strongly encourage student participation

Cardiovascular Physiology. Organizers Tony Farrell (University of British Columbia) and Michael Axelsson (University of Goteborg).

As part of an essential life support system, the cardiovascular system is central to how fish live and feed in diverse environments, perform remarkably long and sometimes arduous migrations, avoid predators and cope with long- or short-term changes in their environment. Fish cardiovascular physiology is an extremely active area of research, with our understanding of design, function, control and importance continuing to grow. In fact, we are entering a very exciting and integrated period of cardiovascular research as new research tools become available. Building on solid and expanding laboratory-based in vivo studies, the field is now propelled by in vitro technical advances that allow us not only to study maximum cardiac performance in working heart preparations but also to look at membrane events in isolated cardiac myocytes. In addition, studies are emerging that take advantage of molecular cDNA microarray technologies at one level of biological organization and, at the other, biotelemetry of cardiovascular variables in a field setting. Thus, cardiovascular physiology is actively bridging and integrating between molecular characterization and ecological application. This symposium, which draws on an international field of expertise, will reflect the diversity, ingenuity and excitement of the researchers in this fast growing field.

Physiology of North Atlantic Fish. Organizer: Helga Guderley (Université Laval).

The North Atlantic is home to a considerable variety of fish and contains some of the most productive fishing grounds on the planet. The fairly direct connection between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans allows species to inhabit a range of habitats, differing in their thermal regimes. Changes in ocean circulation patterns have changed both abiotic and biotic conditions in formerly productive fishing grounds. The last decade has seen radical declines in the abundance of North Atlantic fish species and coastal communities are still reeling from the impact. Key to understanding how and why these populations collapsed is knowledge of the impact of biotic and abiotic factors upon the performance of these species. The impact of altered abiotic and biotic parameters upon cellular processes, organismal physiology, swimming performance and survivorship may help explain the changes we have observed and help manage the remaining populations. We encourage scientists working on the physiology of North Atlantic fish to share their findings with us during the upcoming International Congress on the Biology of Fish.

Genetically Modified Fish: Effects of Ectopic Gene Expression on the Biology of Fishes. Organizers: Garth Fletcher and Bob Devlin (Memorial University and Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Vancouver).

The initial driving force behind the application of transgenic technology to fish was the desire to produce genetically superior broodstocks for food production. However, it is now evident that gene transfer can be used as a tool to understand the precise role of specific genes and their pleiotropic effects on the biology of fish. This symposium is intended to bring together fish biologists with interests in understanding the effects of transgene expression on the molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology and behaviour of fish, and on potential ecological effects which may arise if transgenic fish enter natural ecosystems as well as biological containment methods for preventing impacts.

The Physiology of Olfactory and Chemosensory Communication in Fish: From Mechanisms to Behavior. Organizers: Andy Dittman (Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA) and Hugh Jarrard (Washington College, MD).

Many teleosts are unique among vertebrates in that a large part of their behavioral repertoire is dominated by the reception and processing of chemosensory information. Diverse behaviors such as schooling, feeding, individual recognition, reproductive behaviour, homing and migration, and recognition of predators (and the alarm of conspecifics), are all mediated by chemosensory systems. Great strides have been made in recent years in understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying the chemoreceptive abilities of fish, the organization of the fish olfactory and gustatory systems, and their roles in behavior. In addition, because of the close proximity of receptor cells to the aquatic environment, recent research has increasingly demonstrated the exquisite sensitivity of chemosensory systems to the sub-lethal toxicity associated with exposure to many aquatic contaminants. This symposium will focus on the physiological mechanisms that underlie chemosensory function in fish, the role these systems play in the diverse behavioral repertoires of fish, and potential impacts of numerous aquatic contaminants on chemosensory behaviors at multiple levels of biological organization.

Influences and Interactions of Parasites on Fish Biology and Ecology. Organizer: Duane Barker (Marine Institute, Memorial University).

From a parasite’s perspective, the fish host is its habitat and source of food; however, in this dynamic relationship, each has influences on the other. This symposium will focus on the fantastic, yet often puzzling, ways in which parasites influence the behaviour, physiology and biology of their fish hosts, ultimately to ensure transmission. Within this framework, two sub-themes will be addressed. First, this symposium will explore a popular concept (the evolutionary “arms race”) in parasite pathology & host immunology – i.e., what factors influence parasite virulence, and the associated immunological response of fishes. Further, a second sub-theme will address the traditional concept of using parasites as “biological tags” (indicators of fish migration, stock discrimination, pollution indicators). Papers on various aspects of fish parasitology, emphasizing transmission, host behavioural/physiological alterations, pathology and immunology (relative roles of specific and non-specific immune components) are strongly encouraged

Advances in Telemetry: Tracking Fish in Nature. Organizer: Dale Webber (Vemco, NS, Canada).

This symposium will focus on studies that use telemetry techniques to investigate aspects of fish biology, from individual behaviours to population dynamics. Many fundamental questions about the life history of fish are still unknown, and telemetry holds great promise in identifying human impacts on species and ensuring their survival. Satellite, radio and acoustic telemetry allow us to study the movements, physiology and behaviour of fishes in lakes, rivers and the marine environment. Recent advances in miniaturization and digital coding techniques have led to smaller transmitters, longer battery life and greater numbers of tagged animals. In addition to studies of the behaviour and physiology of individuals, researchers are now undergoing continental size studies of fish movements in an effort to quantify survival in our changing oceans and freshwater systems. In this symposium, we invite all researchers who use telemetry to study aspects of fish biology to share their findings and experiences. We will explore a wide variety of research applications, new sensor technology, and data analysis techniques that reveal how fish use their three-dimensional world.

Integrative Physiology of Migrating Fishes. Organizers: André Péqueux (Liège University, Belgium) and Philippe Sébert (Brest University, France)

This symposium will focus on integrated aspects of the physiology of fishes that undergo migration (for reproduction or otherwise) in the course of their life cycle. Migration implies that animals have to face temperature variations, pressure changes, alterations in light intensity, and possible salinity changes. Moreover, they generally swim quite actively and, in many cases, consume a lot of energy for reproduction activities. Several questions arise: how do they combine all these tasks? do they establish priorities? This symposium intends to gather an international group of experts who will address the challenges faced by migratory fishes (salmon, cod, eels etc.), and the physiological mechanisms/solutions they use to overcome them. This symposium solicits contributions related to any aspect of migration (short or long), ranging from behaviour, to tissue and cell physiology, and down to the molecular level using genomic and proteomic tools; although a significant section will be devoted to the biological effects of hydrostatic pressure.

Fish Physiologist's Toolbox. Organizer: Brian Small (USDA-ARS Catfish Genetics Research Unit).

This symposium solicits contributions related to the techniques, methods, and tools used to assess fish physiology. Papers are invited on new or novel tools for fish physiologists as well as new uses for old tools. The tools to be described may include, but are not limited to biochemical, metabolic, molecular, genomic, proteomic, in vitro, and in vivo methodologies. Papers should describe the "tool" in the context of addressing a physiological question. Physiological topics are open to every aspect of fish physiology, including molecular, organismal, and behavioral. Scientists working in all areas of fish physiology are encouraged to share their techniques and findings with us.

Biomineralisation in Fish Bones and Teeth: from Microscopy to Design of Materials. Organizers: Anne Kemp (University of Queensland) and Gilles Cuny (Geological Museum, University of Copenhagen).

This symposium will discuss all aspects of biomineralisation of the hard tissues of fish, including bone, enamel, enameloid, dentine, calcified cartilage, otoliths and scale tissues. The processes involved in biomineralisation are known in part in some mammals, but little understood in fish. Studies on immunodetection of the proteins involved in the mineralization processes of hard tissues in fish are not very widely used, and the genes coding for these proteins are not always identified. That the fine structure of fish teeth shows an enormous diversity has been known since the early studies of Owen in the nineteenth century, but little of this diversity has been studied with modern techniques of microscopy. Specific adaptations of the ultrastructure of fish dentitions, in relation to stress induced during use of the teeth, have implications for biomaterials research and for the design of more effective machinery for industrial processes. Equally, analysis of the fine structure of bone has implications for biomechanics. Improved understanding of all of these aspects of fish hard tissues has also phylogenetic implications, especially for the relationships among problematic groups of fishes, or between fish and other vertebrates. This symposium will bring ideas from different fields, in biochemistry, genetics, developmental biology, biomaterials and microscopy, together and assist in the development of productive new ideas.

Fish Welfare. Organisers: Gilson Volpato (São Paulo State University – Brazil) and Victoria Braithwaite (University of Edinburgh – Scotland, UK)

Fish welfare is an increasingly topical issue in fish biology. It links several aspects of a fish’s life, such as biochemistry, morphology, physiology, behaviour, cognition, ecology and evolution. Interest in understanding the fish from a holistic point of view connects these areas to help build our knowledge of the factors that influence fish welfare. Recent understanding of fish condition has improved approaches to handling and the treatment of fish for experimental research, aquaculture and sport. Instead of ideological backgrounds, scientific studies are now providing a logical framework for solving many questions concerning fish temperament and suffering. This symposium aims to connect current knowledge from multidisciplinary areas of fish biology to discuss the central theme of fish welfare from a scientific perspective. Studies reporting fish’s condition in terms of stress, fisheries management and disease are especially welcome.

Hypoxia Tolerance in Fish: Effects of Chronic and Intermittent Hypoxia. Organizer: Steve Reid (University of Toronto).

Many fish experience, at one time or another, environmental hypoxia. Often this exposure takes place under acute conditions and elicits a series of cardiovascular, respiratory and hormonal responses. These compensatory processes have received significant attention over the years. However, many species of fish often encounter chronic periods of hypoxia or prolonged periods of intermittent hypoxia. Recent work by a number of investigators has examined adaptations to chronic hypoxia and anoxia in fish. Furthermore, it is becoming apparent that physiological responses to hypoxia can be modified by previous exposure to hypoxia (i.e., hypoxic-preconditioning). This symposia will focus on the longer-term adaptations and mechanisms associated with hypoxia/anoxia exposure rather than acute mechanisms.

Genomic and Proteomic Approaches in Fish Biology: Organizers: Bernard Rees (University of New Orleans), Andrew Grace (Stanford University) and Trish Schulte (University of British Columbia).

Advances in genomics and proteomics have opened the door to studies of gene expression on an unprecedented scale, ranging from hundreds of gene products to global, genome-wide patterns of expression. Important progress has been made in techniques to separate, detect, and identify gene products (mRNAs and proteins), as well as in the informatic and statistical tools needed to interpret large data sets. Among fishes, these approaches have been used to probe patterns of gene expression in the context of physiology, development, toxicology, and population biology. This symposium will highlight the development of genomic and proteomic technical resources and their application to addressing central questions in the biology of fish.

Ion and acid-base regulation in fish. Greg G. Goss (University of Alberta), Colin J. Brauner (University of British Columbia) and Stephen D. McCormick (University of Massassuchets)