Department of Fisheries and Oceans St. Andrews Biological Station:

In the Pleurogene project we will try to identify biomarkers within the ovarian fluid and/or follicles that may be useful indicators of oocyte maturation and ovulation allowing fish to be stripped of viable, good quality eggs at the optimal time. Ovarian samples will be collected daily from individual females and proteomic profiles, osmolality, pH, oocyte diameter and degree of germinal vesicle migration determined. These variables will be compared to the fertilization success of gametes collected at the same time. Follicles will also be induced in vitro to initiate oocyte maturation and similar proteomic analysis conducted. NRC will conduct the proteomic analysis.

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Our research at the Fisheries and Oceans, St. Andrews Biological Station focuses on reproductive and environmental physiology of Atlantic halibut, haddock and Atlantic cod with the goal to improve gamete quality, spawning protocols and improved stock performance for aquaculture.

St. Andrews Biological Station

Recent research has developed techniques to produce all-female Atlantic halibut for faster growth. Gynogens were produced and sexed to ascertain that Atlantic halibut females are homogametic. Sex-reversed genetic females were capable of producing viable milt resulting in all-female fish when crossed with regular females.

In collaboration with NRC, molecular genotyping was used to genotype all wild and F1 Atlantic halibut in Canada to establish a genetic database for breeding purposes. This information was used to prevent inbreeding and initiate development of a genetic map to identify the location and effects of genes of important traits (QTL) for marker-assisted selection. Preliminary QTL correlated to eye migration, pigmentation and growth have been identified in 2 half-sib families.


Group Leader:

Debbie J. Martin-Robichaud
Debbie J. Martin-Robichaud
Research Biologist, DFO St. Andrews Biological Station
Co-investigator: Pleurogene
Telephone: +01-506-529-5923
Fax: +01-506-529-5862
E-mail: martin-robichaudd@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Biological Station
531 Brandy Cove Rd.,
St. Andrews, New Brunswick
E5B 2L9
Canada

DFO Pleurogene Team:

Left to right:
Stephanie Warrington Broodstock Technician,
Cheryl Brooking Broodstock Technician,
Debbie Martin-Robichaud Research Biologist

Selected Publications:

Hendry, C.I., Martin-Robichaud, D.J. and Benfey, T.J. (2002),
Gonadal sex differentiation in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.),
J. Fish Biol. 60: 1438-1449.
Hendry, C.I., Martin-Robichaud, D.J. and Benfey, T.J. (2003),
Hormonal sex reversal of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)
Aquaculture 219(1-4):769-781.
Jackson, T.R., Martin-Robichaud, D.J. and Reith, M.E. (2003),
Application of DNA markers to the management of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) broodstock.
Aquaculture 220(1-4): 245-259.
Martin-Robichaud, D.J. and Rommens, M. (2001),
Assessment of sex and evaluation of ovarian maturation of fish using ultrasonography.
Aquaculture Research 32: 1-8.
Martin-Robichaud, D.J. and Berlinsky, D.L. (2004),
The effects of photothermal manipulation on reproductive development in female haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus L.
Aquacult. Res. 35: 465-472.
Tvedt,H., T.J. Benfey, D.J. Martin-Robichaud and J. Power. (2001),
The relationship between sperm density, spermatocrit, sperm motility and fertilization success in Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus.
Aquaculture 194:191-200.