O'Brien Lab - Research

Metabolic remodeling in response to temperature

Many fish species experience temperature changes diurnally or seasonally, requiring adjustments in metabolism to maintain activity. Although metabolic remodeling in response to temperature has been well documented in many fish species, little is known about how it is regulated. Our studies aim to identify the signaling pathway involved in temperature-induced changes in metabolism in the threespine stickleback fish using an integrative approach and quantifying changes in metabolism in response to temperature at the organismal, cellular and molecular level. Identifying the molecular underpinnings of thermal plasticity will help us to assess the capacity of fishes to endure climate warming and provides insights to metabolic remodeling that is essential to the health of all organisms. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Hypoxia tolerance in Antarctic fishes

The frequency and severity of hypoxic events are increasing in marine and freshwater environments worldwide with climate warming, threatening the health of aquatic ecosystems and the viability of fish populations. The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica has historically been a stable, icy-cold, and oxygen-rich environment, but is now warming at an unprecedented rate and faster than all other regions in the Southern hemisphere. In collaboration with Drs. Yangfan Zhang and Luis Vargas Chacoff, we are investigating the hypoxia tolerance of several species of Antarctic fishes and Eleginops maclovinus, a related species inhabiting coastal regions of South America. Physiological and biochemical responses to hypoxia will be evaluated to bolster our predictions of the capacity of Antarctic fishes to cope with a changing environment. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation.