Barry Madison
Education:
2005-present
2002-2005
1998-2002
Ph.D Candidate
M.Sc
B.Sc (Hons.)
Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph ON, Canada
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston ON, Canada
Research:
How salmonids cope with stress during the growth process can be one of the most crucial aspects in an intensive aquaculture setting. Susceptibility to the day-to-day stressors associated with culturing can be a deciding factor of success in a competitive growth situation. The majority of my research focuses primarily on elucidating the mechanisms behind how stress affects somatic growth in salmonids (e.g. rainbow trout - Oncorhynchus mykiss & chinook salmon - Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Much of my work on stress deals with cortisol, recognized as the primary circulating indicator of the stress response (see Mommsen et al. 1999 for a substantial review of cortisol's actions in fishes), and what direct and indirect actions it has on regulating the major endocrine axis controlling growth in fish, the GH/IGF-I/IGFBP network (growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs)). Currently, I am involved in several projects examining the role of growth, stress response, immune function, aggression, and behaviour in fish spawned from a variety of mating strategies currently used in Pacific salmon (Chinook) aquaculture on the west coast of Canada namely Yellow Island Aquaculture Ltd. (YIAL), located in Campbell River, BC.
In addition to growth, I am also interested in additional neuroendocrine factors that may be involved in regulating growth via control of the appetite & satiety center in the hypothalamus and the pituitary. Neurohormones from the brain are known to have either orexigenic (appetite inducing), or anorexigenic (appetite inhibiting) characteristics, which likely play a crucial role in the orchestration of growth by either direct regulation of neuropeptides and behaviour, or indirectly through control of intermediary metabolism. Currently, I am involved in a large study examining the effects of hypercorticoidism (or induced chronic elevated plasma cortisol) on somatic growth as well as appetite and feeding behaviour.
Another area of my current research involves the examination of a recently discovered peptide in fish, leptin, suspected to play a substantial role in control of energy metabolism, particularly with respect to lipid metabolism (lipolysis and lipogenesis). Specifically, I am interested in investigating the role of leptin and its role in growth, feeding, and metabolism during chronic stress and parasitemia with Cryptobia salmositica, a common hemogelate parasite naturally occuring in salmon. Furthermore, this project aims to characterize the relationship of parasitemia on both the acute and chronic stress response and regulation of growth via the GH/IGF-I/IGFBP axis during parasitemia and recovery.
Contact:
phone x58380 (lab)
fax +1 519 767 1656
Mail:
3475 Biosciences Complex
Department of Integrative Biology
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
Canada
N1G 2W1
Publications: BN Madison, RS Dhillon, BL Tufts & YS Wang, 2006. Haematological consequences of acute nitrite exposure in Walleye (Sander vitreus). Aquatic Toxicology 79: 16-23. BN Madison, RS Dhillon, BL Tufts & YS Wang, 2008. Exposure to low-level water ammonia promotes growth in Walleye (Sander vitreus). Journal of Fish Biology 74: 872-890. SR Garner, BN Madison, NJ Bernier & BD Neff, 2008. Juvenile growth and aggression in diploid and triploid chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Journal of Fish Biology (2008) 72: 1-17. SR Garner, BN Madison, NJ Bernier & BD Neff, 2010. Behavioural interactions and
hormones in naturally and hatchery spawned Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Ethology In press