Shasta R. Kamara
Fish Physiologist | Aquatic Ecologist | Conservation Researcher
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My research integrates fish physiology, thermal ecology, behavior, and fisheries management to understand how environmental stressors influence fish performance and inform aquatic conservation and restoration.
Featured Research
Featured Research
Paddlefish Conservation and Management
Paddlefish Conservation and Management
My dissertation research examines how temperature, capture, and geographic variation influence paddlefish physiology, behavior, and performance. By integrating physiological and behavioral approaches, this work aims to improve our understanding of paddlefish responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors and inform conservation and fisheries management. Below are four research projects that comprise my dissertation, all co-produced with fisheries managers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
01 — Exercise, Recovery & Thermal Tolerance
How do temperature and exercise influence paddlefish recovery and thermal tolerance?
This project examines how temperature influences paddlefish recovery following exercise and their upper thermal limits. Understanding how paddlefish respond to exercise across temperatures can help identify conditions that may affect their ability to recover from capture and other energetically demanding events.
Focus: Exercise recovery · Thermal tolerance · Temperature
Partner agencies: Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery and Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery
Published article: Temperature alters thermal tolerance and physiological response to simulated angling in paddlefish
02 — Capture Stress & Post-Release Behavior
How does temperature influence the physiological and behavioral responses of commercially captured paddlefish?
This project examines how temperature influences the physiological and behavioral response of paddlefish following commercial capture and release. Understanding how capture conditions affect recovery can help inform handling practices and fisheries management strategies that reduce stress on paddlefish.
Focus: Commercial capture stress · Temperature · Post-release behavior
Partner agencies: Illinois River Biological Station and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Pre-print article: Quantifying the physiological and behavioral response of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) to commercial capture across temperatures
03 — Variation in Reproduction Across Latitudes
How does female size relate to egg characteristics across the geographic range of paddlefish?
This project examines relationships between female paddlefish size and egg characteristics across the species' geographic range. Understanding how reproductive characteristics vary among female sizes and across their geographic range can provide insight into how environmental conditions influence reproductive strategies and help inform paddlefish management and conservation.
Focus: Female size · Egg characteristics · Geographic variation
Partner agencies: Illinois River Biological Station, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Missouri Department of Conservation, South Dakota Fish, Game and Parks, Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
04 — Thermal Performance Across Latitudes
How do paddlefish from different latitudes differ in thermal tolerance, preference, and physiological performance?
This project examines how paddlefish from different latitudes respond to temperature, including differences in thermal tolerance, preference, metabolism, and swimming performance. Understanding geographic variation in thermal performance can help predict how paddlefish populations may respond to changing environmental temperatures and climate change.
Focus: Thermal tolerance · Thermal preference · Metabolism · Swimming performance
Partner agencies: Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery, Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, and Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery
Previous Research
Previous Research
Bass and Livewells
Bass and Livewells
Research question:
How does livewell cooling influence largemouth bass physiological recovery and thermal preference following exercise?
Description:
Largemouth bass are commonly held in livewells during competitive fishing tournaments, where anglers may use ice or other additives to reduce water temperature. This project, led by undergraduate Joelle Busby (pictured), examined how livewell cooling influences physiological recovery and thermal preference following exercise.
Focus: Fish physiology · Tournament angling · Thermal ecology
Cull Tags
Cull Tags
Research question:
What are the potential physiological and behavioral consequences of cull-tag use during tournament angling?
Description:
Cull tags allow tournament anglers to temporarily mark fish while selecting larger individuals for weigh-in. This project examined potential injuries, reflex impairment, and latent mortality associated with cull-tag use and livewell holding in largemouth bass.
Focus: Fish welfare · Tournament angling · Reflex impairment
Link: Examining the consequences of angling tournament culling practices on Largemouth Bass
Marsh Terraces
Marsh Terraces
Research question:
How do marsh terraces influence finfish and crustacean assemblages through time?
Description:
My master's thesis evaluated a marsh restoration project using marsh terraces in coastal Louisiana. I compared finfish and crustacean assemblages across three habitat types to assess how restoration influenced aquatic communities through time.
Focus: Aquatic restoration · Wetland ecology · Fisheries
Limpkins and Apple Snails
Limpkins and Apple Snails
Research question:
What is the relationship between invasive apple snail abundance and Limpkin distribution in coastal Louisiana?
Description:
Working with the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, I participated in a census of non-native Limpkins and investigated the relationship between Limpkin presence and their primary prey, invasive apple snails.
Focus: Invasive species · Wetland ecology · Wildlife management
Larval Invasive Carp
Larval Invasive Carp
Research question:
Where are invasive carp spawning in Louisiana?
Description:
Working with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, I participated in a five-year ichthyoplankton sampling project to identify potential invasive carp spawning locations across Louisiana. Samples were sorted and larval fishes were identified to family to detect invasive carp larvae.
Focus: Invasive species · Ichthyoplankton · Fisheries management
Morris Fish Lab
Morris Fish Lab
Research question:
How does behavior contribute to evolutionary divergence among swordtail fishes? How does environmental pollution influence the behavior of fish?
Description:
At the Morris Fish Lab at Ohio University, I worked with swordtail fishes (Xiphophorus spp.) on projects investigating behavior and its relationship to potential evolutionary pathways.
Focus:
Behavioral ecology · Evolution · Fish behavior
Links: Chronic exposure to elevated nitrate concentrations alters behaviour in the swordtail fish, Xiphophorus hellerii and Evidence for genetic integration of mating behavior and morphology in a behaviorally plastic alternative reproductive tactic
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