Current: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Aquaculture; 2005-2006: Research Scientist, GroPep Ltd., Adelaide, South Australia; 2001-2005: PhD, Flinders University of South Australia
Research Interests
My current research interests involve studying the important roles of endocrine
growth factors (i.e. growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors) in the
growth and development of fish. Previous work has resulted in the development
and validation of an assay system (now commercially available) for the determination of circulating IGF-II levels in salmonids. Associated with this I am interested in furthering our understanding of the potentially detrimental growth consequences of husbandry and environmental related stressors in commercial aquaculture operations.
Environmental control of reproduction in salmonids
This research aims to continue investigations into the hormonal mechanisms
involved in seasonal reproduction in fish. More specifically current
experiments are designed to determine the impact of elevated winter water
temperatures characteristic of Tasmania (relative those recorded during culture
in the Northern Hemisphere) on insulin-like growth factor (IGF) production
and rate of maturation in salmonids. Additionally, the impact of accelerated
photoperiods, utilised by salmon farmers to promote growth, on IGF production
and early ovarian development is being investigated. Non-destructive
methods for assessment of fish maturation (i.e. ultrasound) are also being
assessed (UTAS staff: Ryan Longland and Hannah Woolcott).
Impacts of stress in aquaculture
In aquaculture, the detrimental effects of environmental and husbandry related
stressors on fish growth, reproductive function and immunocompetence are well
documented. Current research aims to expand on the existing knowledge
base in a range of areas including; studying variations in the individual stress
response in fish and attempting to link this information to individual fish
growth performance (Masters student: Tanmay Basrur), consequences of stressful
harvest techniques on post-harvest flesh quality and impacts of capture stress
on reproductive performance in wild fish. More recently we have been
investigating and validating techniques for non-invasive measures of stress
in southern blue-fin tuna (UTAS Collaborator: Professor
Barbara Novak, PhD
student: Darryl
Evans).
Use of photoperiod manipulation for improved aquaculture production
In many of todays farmed aquaculture species it is commonplace to use
environmental manipulation (such as photoperiod) to alter maturation, spawning
and growth. Photoperiod manipulation has been used successfully to improve
growth rates of juvenile and larval stages of a number of fish species. Current
work aims to investigate the effectiveness of artificial lighting for improving
growth of juvenile barramundi on commercial farms (PhD student: Kristen
Worrall); This work is a collaborative effort between UTAS (Professor
Chris Carter) and Ridley
Aqua-Feed Pty. Ltd. (Dr Mark Porter).
UnitsSelected Publications:- Wilkinson, R.J., Porter, M., Woolcott, H., Longland, R. & Carragher J.F., 2006, 'Effects of aquaculture related stressors and nutritional restriction on circulating growth factors (GH, IGF-I and IGF-II) in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout', Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A, pgs. In press
- Wilkinson, R.J., Elliott, P., Hohmann, A., Francis, G. & Carragher, J.F., 2004, 'Development and characterization of a competitive polyclonal antibody enzyme-immunoassay for salmon insulin-like growth factor-II', Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B, 139 , pgs. 193-201
- Wilkinson, R.J., Elliott, P., Carragher, J.F. & Francis, G. , 2004, 'Expression, purification and in vitro characterization of recombinant salmon insulin-like growth factor-II', Protein Expression and Purification, 35 , pgs. 334-343
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