Biochemistry / Physiology

National Geographic films Biochemistry Branch on the Missouri River

The Biochemistry/Physiology Branch conducts basic and applied research at the cellular, organ, organism, and population levels in fish and wildlife. Emphasis is on the sublethal effects of chemicals that lead to behavioral, developmental and population changes that may ultimately influence ecosystem health.

Research focus includes reproductive, developmental and neurotoxic effects of stressors. Scientists develop and use molecular, genomic, biochemical and histological analyses to evaluate mechanisms of toxicity, and conduct forensic field investigations.

Current studies in the Biochemistry/Physiology Branch include the use of DNA microarray technology to study endocrine disruptor mechanisms of action, mechanisms of intersex development in adult fish, definition of gene expression profiles for contaminants with diverse modes of action, effects of thiamine deficiency on early life stage mortality in salmonines, and effects of methylmercury on reproduction.

Staff Members

Selected Publications

In Vivo Health Effects of Bisphenol A
Estimation of gonad volume, fecundity, and reproductive stage of shovelnose sturgeon using sonography and endoscopy with application to the endangered pallid sturgeon

Bryan, J.L., Wildhaber, M.L., Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Tillitt, D.E., and Annis, M.L., 2007, Estimation of gonad volume, fecundity, and reproductive stage of shovelnose sturgeon using sonography and endoscopy with application to the endangered pallid sturgeon: Journal of Applied Ichthyology, v. 23, p. 411-419.
Use of behavioral and physiological indicators to evaluate Scaphirhynchus sturgeon spawning success

DeLonay, A.J., Papoulias, D.M., Wildhaber, M.L., Annis, M.L., Bryan, J.L., Griffith, S.A., Holan, S.H., and Tillitt, D.E., 2007, Use of behavioral and physiological indicators to evaluate Scaphirhynchus sturgeon spawning success: Journal of Applied Ichthyology, v. 23, p. 428-435.
The genomic transcriptional response of female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to an acute exposure to the androgen, 17β-trenbolone (91588)

Dorts, J., Richter, C.A., Wright-Osment, M.K., Ellersieck, M.R., Carter, B.J. and Tillitt, D.E. 2009. The genomic transcriptional response of female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to an acute exposure to the androgen, 17β-trenbolone Aquatic Toxicology, 91(1): 44-53.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Yukon River Basin (91350)

Hinck, J.E., Bartish, T.M., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Gross, T.S., Myers, M.S., Anderson, P.J., Orazio, C.E. and Tillitt, D.E., 2004m Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants and Their Effects on Fish in the Yukon River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5285, 87 p.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarkers in fish from the Mobile, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint, Savannah, and Pee Dee River Basins (91525)

Hinck, J.E., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Echols, K.R., Gale, R.W., May, T.W., Claunch, R., Wieser, C., Anderson, P.J., Coyle, J.J., Gross, T.S., and Tillitt, D.E., 2007, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants, Health Indicators, and Reproductive Biomarkers in Fish from the Mobile, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint, Savannah, and Pee Dee River Basins:U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scienticific Investigations Report 2007-5176.
Chemical contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker responses in fish from rivers in the Southeastern United States (91509)

Hinck, J.E., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Echols, K.R., Gale, R.W., Wieser, C., May, T.W., Ellersieck, M., Coyle, J.J. and Tillitt, D.E. 2008. Chemical contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker responses in fish from rivers in the Southeastern United States. Science of the Total Environment, 390(2-3): 538-557.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker in fish from the Colorado River Basin (91466)

Hinck, J.E., Blazer, V.S., Denslow, N.D., Gross, T.S., Echols, K.R., Davis, A.P., May, T.W., Orazio, C.E., Coyle, J.J. and Tillitt, D.E., 2006, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants, Health Indicators, and Reproductive Biomarkers in Fish from the Colorado River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5163.
Persistence of organochlorine chemical residues in fish from the Tombigbee River (Alabama, USA): Continuing risk to wildlife from a former DDT manufacturing facility (91595)

Hinck, J.E., Norstrom, R.J., Orazio, C.E., Schmitt, C.J. and Tillit, D.E. 2009. Persistence of organochlorine chemical residues in fish from the Tombigbee River (Alabama, USA): Continuing risk to wildlife from a former DDT manufacturing facility Environmental Pollution 157(2): 582-591.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Rio Grande Basin (91338)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Bartish, T.M., Denslow, N.D., Blazer, V.S., Anderson, J.J., Coyle, J.J., Detloff, G.M. and Tillitt, D.E. 2004. Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Rio Grande Basin. U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Report, 2004-5108.
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Columbia River Basin (91337)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Bartish, T.M., Denslow, N.D., Blazer, V.S., Anderson, P.J., Coyle, J.J., Dethloff, G.M., and Tillitt, D.E., 2004, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental Contaminants and Their Effects on Fish in the Columbia River Basin: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scientific Investigations Report, 2004-5154.
Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program (91551)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Chojnacki, K.A. and Tillitt, D.E. 2008. Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Online First Edition.
Environmental contaminants in fish and their associated risk to piscivorous wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska (91465)

Hinck, J.E., Schmitt, C.J., Echols, K.R., May, T.W., Orazio, C.E. and Tillitt, D.E. 2006. Environmental contaminants in fish and their associated risk to piscivorous wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 51(4): 661-672.
Hierarchical Bayesian Markov switching models with application to predicting spawning success of shovelnose sturgeon (91586)

Holan, S.H., Davis, G.M., Wildhaber, M.L., DeLonay, A.J., and Papoulias, D.M., 2009, Hierarchical Bayesian Markov switching models with application to predicting spawning success of shovelnose sturgeon: Applied Statistics, v. 58, no. 1, p. 47-64.
Reproductive Condition and Occurrence of Intersex in Bighead Carp and Silver Carp in Missouri River

Papoulias, D.M., Chapman, D.C., and Tillitt, D.E., 2006, Reproductive Condition and Occurrence of Intersex in Bighead Carp and Silver Carp in Missouri River:U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri. Publication Brief
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Field procedures for assessing the exposure of fish to environmental contaminants (91116)

Schmitt, C.J., Blazer, V.S., Dethloff, G.M., Tillitt, D.E., Gross, T.S., Bryant, W.L., Jr., DeWeese, L.R., Smith, S.B., Goede, R.W., Bartish, T.M., and Kubiak, T. J., 1999, Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Field Procedures for Assessing the Exposure of Fish to Environmental Contaminants: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Information and Technology Report, 1999-0007
Dreissenid mussels from the Great Lakes contain elevated thiaminase activity (91657)

Tillitt, D.E., Riley, S.C., Evans, A.N., Nichols, S.J., Zajicek, J.L., Rinchard, J., Richter, C.A. and Krueger, C.C. 2009. Dreissenid mussels from the Great Lakes contain elevated thiaminase activity. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 35(2): 309-312.
Development of methods to determine the reproductive status of pallid sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River

Wildhaber, M.L., Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Tillitt, D.E., Bryan, J.L., and Annis, M.L., 2006, Development of Methods to Determine the Reproductive Status of Pallid Sturgeon in the Lower Missouri River: U.S. Geological Survey, Science Support Program Final Report, 88 p.
Physical and hormonal examination of Missouri River shovelnose sturgeon reproductive stage–a reference guide

Wildhaber, M.L., Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Tillitt, D.E., Bryan, J.L., and Annis, M.L., 2007, Physical and hormonal examination of Missouri River shovelnose sturgeon reproductive stage–a reference guide: Journal of Applied Ichthyology, v. 23, p. 382-401.
Gender identification of shovelnose sturgeon using ultrasonic and endoscopic imagery and the application of the method to the pallid sturgeon (91382)

Wildhaber, M.L., Papoulias, D.M., DeLonay, A.J., Tillitt, D.E., Bryan, J.L., Annis, M.L., and Allert, J.A., 2005, Gender identification of shovelnose sturgeon using ultrasonic and endoscopic imagery and the application of the method to the pallid sturgeon: Journal of Fish Biology, v. 67, no. 1, p. 114-132.
Biomarkers of metals exposure in fish from lead-zinc mining areas of Southeastern Missouri, USA (91491)

Schmitt, C.J., Whyte, J.J., Roberts, A.P., Annis, M.L., May, T.W. and Tillitt, D.E. 2007. Biomarkers of metals exposure in fish from lead-zinc mining areas of Southeastern Missouri, USA Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 67(1): 31-47.
A screening-level assessment of lead, cadmium, and zinc in fish and crayfish from Northeastern Oklahoma, USA (91451)

Schmitt, C.J., Brumbraugh, W.G., Linder, G.L. and Hinck, J.E. 2006. A screening-level assessment of lead, cadmium, and zinc in fish and crayfish from Northeastern Oklahoma, USA. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 28(5): 445-471.