Jill Jenkins

RESEARCH MICROBIOLOGIST

Short Biography

                     Education

                     1991-1992:         Postdoctoral Res.;  Reproductive Genetics Labs, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Univ. of TN, with Stephen Wachtel

                     1985 - 1991:       Degree:  Ph.D. in Microbiology

                                                Memphis State Univ., Memphis, TN

                     1983 - 1985:       Degree:  M.S. in Microbiology and Biochemistry

                                                Idaho State Univ., Pocatello, ID

                     1979 - 1981:       Degree:  B.S. in Biology

                                                Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

                     1977 - 1979:       Eisenhower College, Seneca Falls, NY

Journal Papers

1.    Jenkins, J.A. and D.D. Ourth.  1990.  Membrane damage to Escherichia coli and bactericidal kinetics by the alternative complement pathway of channel catfish.  Comparative Biochem. and Physiology 97B:477-481.

2.    Jenkins J.A., R. Rosell, D.D. Ourth, and L.B. Coons.  1991.  Electron microscopy of bactericidal effects produced by the alternative complement pathway of channel catfish.  Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 3:16-22.

3.    Jenkins, J.A. and D.D. Ourth.  1993.  Opsonic effect of the alternative complement pathway on channel catfish peripheral blood phagocytes.  Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 39:447-459.

4.       Jenkins, J.A. and P.W. Taylor.  1995.  An alternative bacteriological medium for the isolation of Aeromonas spp.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 31:272-275.

5.       Jenkins, J.A. and T.R. Tiersch.  1997.  A preliminary bacteriological study of refrigerated channel catfish sperm.  Journal of the WAS 28:282-288.

6.       Jenkins, J.A. and P.H. Klesius.  1998.  Elicitation of macrophages from the peritoneal cavity of channel catfish.  Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 10:69-74.

7.       El Gamal, A.A., K.B. Davis, J.A. Jenkins, and E.L. Torrans.  1999.  Induction of triploidy and tetraploidy in Oreochromis niloticus (L.) Journal of the WAS 30:269-275.

8.       Segovia, M., J.A. Jenkins, C. Paniagua-Chavez, and T.R. Tiersch.  2000.  Flow cytometric evaluation of antibiotic effects on viability and mitochondrial function of stored sperm of Nile tilapia.  Theriogenology 53:1489-1499.

9.       Cardenas, W., J.A. Jenkins, and J.R. Dankert.  2000.  A flow cytometric approach to the study of crustacean cellular immunity.  Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 76:122-199.

9.       Gomez, M.C., J.A. Jenkins, A. Giraldo, R.F. Harris, A. King, B.L. Dresser, and C.E. Pope.  2003.  Nuclear transfer of synchronized African wild cat somatic cells into enucleated domestic cat oocytes.  Biology of Reproduction. 69:1032-1041. http://www.biolreprod.org/cgi/reprint/69/3/1032?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=gomez%2C+mc&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

10.   Gauthier, J.M., J.A. Jenkins, J.P. LaPeyre.  2004.  Flow cytometric analysis of lectin binding to in vitro-cultured Perkinsus marinus surface carbohydrates.  Journal of Parasitology 90:446-454.

11.   Nickum, J.G., H. L. Bart, Jr., P.R. Bowser, I. E. Greer, C. Hubbs, J. A. Jenkins, J. R. MacMillan, J. W. Rachlin, J. D. Rose, P. W. Sorensen, and J. R. Tomasso.  2004.  Guidelines for the use of fishes in research.  Special Publication.  The AFS, American Institute of Fisheries Res. Biologists, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.  http://www.fisheries.org/afs/docs/policy_16.pdf

12.   Cardenas, W., J.R. Dankert, and J.A. Jenkins.  2004.  Flow cytometric analysis of crayfish haemocytes activated by lipopolysaccharides.  Fish and Shellfish Immunology 17:223-233.

13.   Salinas-Flores, L., C.G. Paniagua-Chavez, J.A. Jenkins, T.R. Tiersch.  2005.  Cryopreservation of sperm of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens).  Journal of Shellfish Res. 24:415-420.

14.   Paniagua-Chavez, C.G., J. Jenkins, M. Segovia, T.R. Tiersch.  2006.  Assessment of gamete quality for the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) by use of fluorescent dyes.  Cryobiology 53:128-138.

15.   Jenkins, J.A. and J.F. LaPeyre.  2006.  Cell proliferation detected with flow cytometric cell cycle analysis and immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) from somatic tissues of eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica.  Environmental Bioindicators 1:177-190.

16.   Jenkins, J.A. and R.G. Thomas.  2007.  Use of eyeballs for establishing ploidy of Asian carp. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 27:1195-1202.

17.   Liesl Nel-Themaat, M.C. Gómez, C.E. Pope, M. Lopez, G. Wirtu, J.A Jenkins, A. Cole, B.L. Dresser, K.R. Bondioli, and R.A. Godke.  2008.  Cloning embryos from semen. Part 2:  Intergeneric nuclear transfer of semen-derived eland (Taurotragus oryx) epithelial cells into bovine oocytes.  Cloning and Stem Cells 10:161-172. 

18.   Horváth, Á., W.R. Wayman, J.C. Dean, B. Urbányi, T.R. Tiersch, S.D. Mims, D. Johnson, and J.A. Jenkins.  2008. Viability and fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm from three North American acipenseriform species: retrospective study.  Journal of Applied Icthyology 24: 443-449.  (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120847728/abstract ;last accessed 10,22,10)

19.   Chacón, L., M.C. Gómez, J.A. Jenkins, S.P. Leibo, G. Wirtu, B.L. Dresser, C.E. and Pope.  2009.  Production of bovine cloned embryos with donor cells frozen at a slow cooling rate in a conventional freezer (-20°C).  Zygote 17: 341-351. Cambridge Journals. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0967199409005474 

20.   Len, J.A., J.A. Jenkins, B.E. Eilts, D.L. Paccamonti, S.K. Lyle, G. Hosgood.  Immediate and delayed (after cooling) effects of centrifugation on equine sperm.  Theriogenology, vol. 73, no. 2 (January 2010), p. 225-231. http://www.theriojournal.com/article/S0093-691X(09)00404-X/abstract

21.   Gómez, M.C. M.A Serrano, C.E, Pope, J.A. Jenkins, M.N. Biancardi, M. López, C. Dumas, J. Galiguis, B.L Dresser.  2010.  Derivation of cat embryonic stem-like cells from in vitro-produced blastocysts on homologous and heterologous feeder cells.  Theriogenology 74:498-515.

22.   Goodbred, S.L., J.A. Jenkins, R.O. Dale, S.A. Sobiech, C.A. Roberts, T.J. Leiker, H.A. Olivier, D.A. Alvarez.  Director’s approval.  Evidence of pesticide-induced endocrine distruption in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) from the Imperial Valley, California.  Science for the Total Environment, in review.

23.   L. Chacón, M.C. Gómez, J.A. Jenkins, S.P. Leibo, G. Wirtu, B.L. Dresser, C. Earle Pope.  2010.  Effect of cryopreservation and in vitro culture of bovine fibroblasts on histone acetylation levels and in vitro development of hand-made cloned embryos.  Zygote.  May 2010. doi:10.1017/S0967199410000316

24.   Jenkins, J.A., B.E. Eilts, A.M. Guitreau, C.R. Figiel, R.O. Draugelis-Dale, and T.R. Tiersch.  2011.  Sperm quality assessments for endangered razorback suckers Xyrauchen texanus.  Reproduction 141:55-65.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/REP-10-0153

25.  Jenkins, J.A., S.B. Hartley, J. Carter, D.J. Johnson, and J.B. Alford.  2011.  A geographic information system tool for aquatic resource conservation for the Red and Sabine River watersheds in the southeast US.  River Research and Applications. 26 pp. doi 10.1002/rra.1580. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rra.1580/pdf

26.   Blazer, V.S., L.R. Iwanowicz, H. Henderson, J.A. Jenkins, J.D. Hedrick, S.J Reeser, J.E. Mullican, D.A. Alvarez, J. Young, and P.M. Mazik.  2011.  Reproductive Endocrine Disruption in Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the Potomac River Basin: Spatial and Temporal Comparisons of Biological Effects.  Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 26 pp. http://www.springerlink.com/content/p22v3w52gv42r3h1/fulltext.pdf

27.   Blazer, V.S., AE. Pinkney, J.A. Jenkins, L.R. Iwanowicz, S.D. Zaugg, S. Minkkinen, R.O. Draugelis-Dale, and J.H. Uphoff.  Reproductive health of the yellow perch Perca flavescens in selected tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.  Submitting 2012.  Science of the Total Environment.

28.   Jenkins, J.A., Reynaldo Patiño, Michael R. Rosen, Kathy Echols, Erik Orsak, Rassa O. Dale, and Steven L. Goodbred.  Reproductive condition of male common carp in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (1998 – 2006). Journal of Aquatic Animal Health

29.    J.A. Jenkins, L. Torres, R. Patiño, D.A. Alvarez, H.M. Olivier, R.A. Draugelis-Dale, and E. Nilsen. Cytometric data enhances reproductive studies of male fish along a contaminants gradient in the Columbia River.  Science of the Total Environment, special issue

30.    Jenkins, J.A. and D. Papoulias. Planned. Review of concepts useful for maintaining quality of aquatic animal reproductive field samples for laboratory study.  Journal of Applied Icthyology

31.    Jenkins, J.A., Draugelis-Dale. R., Olivier, H., and Bourgeois, B.  2012.  Biomonitoring Results from Davis Pond and Caernarvon Mississippi River Freshwater Diversions.   Planned for an ecosystems journal.

32.   Jenkins and Olivier.  Invited Oil Symposium AFS paper.  Maintaining quality of blood from field to lab. 

book chapters

33.   Jenkins, J.A.  2000.  Infectious Disease and Quality Assurance Considerations for the Transfer of Cryopreserved Fish Gametes.  In Cryopreservation in Aquatic Species.  Tiersch, T.R. and P.M. Mazik, Editors.  WAS.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Pp.  343-363.

34.   Jenkins, J.A.  2000.  Regulatory Considerations for the Global Transfer of Cryopreserved Fish Gametes.  In Cryopreservation in Aquatic Species.  Tiersch, T.R. and P.M. Mazik, Editors.  WAS.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Pp.  364-379.

35.   Jenkins, J.A.  2000.  Minimizing Microbial Contamination of Sperm Samples.  In Cryopreservation in Aquatic Species.  Tiersch, T.R. and P.M. Mazik, Editors.  WAS.  Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Pp.  276-279.

36.   Tiersch, T.R. and J.A. Jenkins.  2003. Biosecurity and regulatory considerations for transfer of cryopreserved sperm and early life stages of aquatic species.  In Biosecurity in Aquaculture Production Systems:  Exclusion of Pathogens and Other Undesirables.  Lee, C.-S. and P.J. O’Bryen, Editors.  The WAS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States.  Pp.  171-198. [INVITED]

37.   Tiersch, T.R., H. Yang, J.A. Jenkins, and Q. Dong.  2007.  Sperm cryopreservation in fish and shellfish, In Spermatology.  Roldan, E.R.S., and Gomendio, M., Editors.  Society of Reproduction and Fertility supplement 65, Nottingham, U.K., Nottingham Univ. Press, p. 493-508. 

38.   Papoulias, D.M., Candrl J, Jenkins JA,  Tillitt DE. (2011) Verification of ploidy and reproductive potential in triploid black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).  In: Chapman DC, Hoff MH (eds), Invasive Asian Carps in North America. American Fisheries Society Symposium 74, Bethesda, Maryland 251-266 pp.

39.   Thomas RG, Jenkins JA, David J (2011) Occurrence and distribution of Asian carps in Louisiana. In: Chapman DC, Hoff MH (eds), Invasive Asian Carps in North America. American Fisheries Society Symposium 74, Bethesda, Maryland. 239-250 pp.

40.   Jenkins, J. 2011. Male Germplasm in Relation to Environmental Conditions: Synoptic Focus on DNA, Chapter 16. In: Cryopreservation in Aquatic Species, 2nd Edition. T. R. Tiersch. and C. C. Green, editors. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pp. 227-239.

41.   Jenkins, J. A. 2011. Minimizing Microbial Contamination of Sperm Samples, Chapter 53.  In: Cryopreservation in Aquatic Species, 2nd Edition. T. R. Tiersch and C. C. Green, editors. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pp. 684-687.

42.   Jenkins, J. A. 2011. Infectious Disease and Quality Assurance Considerations for the Transfer of Cryopreserved Fish Gametes, Chapter 96. In: Cryopreservation in Aquatic Species, 2nd Edition. T. R. Tiersch and C. C. Green, editors. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pp. 939-959.

43.   Jenkins, J. A. 2011. Regulatory Considerations for Global Transfer of Cryopreserved Fish Gametes, Chapter 97. .In: Cryopreservation in Aquatic Species, 2nd Edition. T. R. Tiersch and C. C. Green, editors. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pp. 960-976.

Academic thesis and dissertation

44.  Jenkins, J.A.  1985.  The isolation and characterization of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, immunoglobulins.  MS Thesis.  Idaho State Univ., Pocatello, ID. 53. pp.

45.  Jenkins JA.  1991.  Immunochemistry of the alternative complement pathway of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.  Ph.D. Dissertation.  Memphis State Univ., Memphis, TN.  101 pp.

Technical Reports in Published Series

See also (15).

46.   Jenkins, J.A.  1993.  Chlorine-based biodegradable disinfectant has potential applications in aquaculture.  Res. Information Bulletin No. 71, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 4 pp.

47.   Jenkins J.A. and Morrison J.R.  1994.  Isolation of Bacillus thuringiensis from feed and intestines of channel catfish experiencing severe anemia.  Fish Health Section Newsletter, AFS, Volume 22 (3): 16-18.

48.   Jenkins J.A.  1995.  An alternative bacteriologic medium for isolation of Aeromonas.  Res. Information Bulletin, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Biological Service.  No. 02, 4 pp.

49.   Jenkins J.A. and Tiersch T.R. 1995.  Quality of refrigerated catfish sperm declines due to bacterial presence.  NBS Information Bulletin, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Biological Service.  No. 22, 3 pp.

50.   Jenkins, J.A., C.R. Reeves, and N. Nichols.  1996.  Flow cytometry verifies the production of triploid crappie.  NBS Information Bulletin, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Biological Service.  No. 3, 3 pp.

51.   Jenkins, J.A.  1997.  Biological Resources Division Res. Resource - Fish.  U.S.D.I.  4 pp.

52.   Jenkins, JA.  1996.  Hazard Communication Plan for NWRC.  OFR 96-02.  NWRC, USDI.  47 pp.

53.   Jenkins, J.A.  1996.  Chemical Hygiene Plan for NWRC.  OFR 96-01.  NWRC, USDI. 30 pp.

54.   Jenkins, J.A.  1997.  Biological Resources Division Res. Resource - Fish.  USDI.  4 pp.

55.   Jenkins, J.A, L. Johnson, and E. Shields.  1997.  Pollution Prevention Plan.  OFR 97-02.  NWRC, USDI.  15 pp.

56.   Jenkins, J.A. July, 2002.  Final Report.  Health Assessment and Mercury Analyses of Fishes of the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge.  For the Lafayette, Louisiana, Field Office, USFWS Region 4, Southeast Region, Atlanta, Georgia.  Study Identifiers:  1997-4F54, 9740002.1.

57.   Jenkins, J.A.  2002.  Article on NWRC website.  Biotechnology and Species Restoration Efforts:  Monitoring Reproductive and Genetic Consequences.  NWRC 01-162.doc.

58.   Jenkins, J.A., L. De Cola, C.C. Barton, J. Buys, F.T. Manheim.  2003.  Nonlinear approaches to understanding human and environmental health.  OFR 03-097.  Abstracts from the conference on April 1-3, 2003, Reston, Virgina, Natural Science and Public Health - Prescription for a Better Environment.  p. 57.  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-097.

59.   Jenkins, J.A. and R.O. Dale.  2003.  Novel diagnostic biomarkers from aquatic animals.  OFR 03-097.  Abstracts from the conference on April 1-3, 2003, Reston, Virginia, Natural Science and Public Health - Prescription for a Better Environment.  p. 68.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-097/

60.   Dankert, J.R., and Jenkins, J.A. 2003.  Hurricane Mitch: Development of Immunological Tools to Assess the Health Status of Shrimp. OFR 03-176.  28. pp.   http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/ofr/ofr03176.

61.   Jenkins, J.A. 2003. Pallid Sturgeon in the Lower Miss. Region:  Hematology and Genome Information.  USGS OFR 03-406, 35 pp. http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/about/web/PallidHemato.pdf. (last accessed 10,20,10)

62.   Tillitt, D.  2003.  Invasive and Exotic Species:  Reproductive Potential of Triploid Grass and Black Carp.  2.pp.  Cooperators:  J. Jenkins, USGS, J. Milligan, USFWS; T. Crawford, MO Dept. of Conservation. 

63.   Jenkins, J.A., 2004, Fish bioindicators of ecosystem condition at the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana:  USGS OFR 2004-1323, 47 pp.  http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/publications/ofr2004jaj.pdf (last accessed 10,20,10)

64.   Jenkins, J.A. and Goodbred, S.L., 2005,  Viability of male gametes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) along the Lower Colorado River from the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Havasu NWR, and Lake Mohave of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, OFR, OF 2006-1007, 25 pp.  http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/wdb/pub/others/05-298.pdf (last accessed 10,20,10)

65.   Jenkins, J.A., Draugelis-Dale, R., 2006, Bioindicators from mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) sampled from the Imperial Valley in southern California: OFR, OF 2006-1307, 48 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1307/ (last accessed 10,20,10)

66.   Goodbred, S.L., Leiker, T.J., Patino, R., Jenkins, J.A., Denslow, N.D., Orsak, E., and Rosen, M.R., 2007, Organic chemical concentrations and reproductive biomarkers in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) collected from two areas in Lake Mead, Nevada, May 1999-May 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 286, 18 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2007/286/ (last accessed 10,20,10)

67.   Jenkins, J.A., E.B. Bourgeois, C.W. Jeske.  2008.  Davis Pond Freshwater Prediversion Biomonitoring Study -- Freshwater Fisheries and Eagles.  U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report.  2008-5067.  102 pp. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2008/5067/ (last accessed 10,20,10)

68.   Herman, P., and J.A. Jenkins. 2009.  DNA analysis to determine sturgeon species.  http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fisheries/library/R3-Fishlines/FishLines-Vol7No4.pdf (last accessed 10,20,10)

69.   Jenkins, J.A., S. Hartley, C.R. Demas.  2008.  Integrated measures of anthropogenic stressors in the Lower Miss. River Basin:  targeting biomarker collections in aquatic animals.  USGS Gulf Coast Science Conference.  OFR 2008-1329.  P. 60.  Orlando, FL.  Oct. 20 – 24, 2008. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1329/pdf/ofr2008-1329_lowres.pdf (last accessed 10,20,10).

70.   Jenkins, J.A., Goodbred, S.L., Sobiech, S.A. Olivier, H.M., R.O. Draugelis-Dale, D.A. Alvarez.  May. 2009.  Effects of Wastewater Discharges on Endocrine and Reproductive Function of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) and Implications for the Threatened Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae).  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1097/ (last accessed 10,20,10)

71.   Carter, J., J.A. Jenkins, C. Jeske.  2008.  Disease issues in wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico.  USGS Gulf Coast Science Conference.  OFR 2008-1329.  P. 31.  Orlando, FL.  Oct. 20 – 24, 2008. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1329/pdf/ofr2008-1329_lowres.pdf (last accessed 10,20,10)

72.   Jenkins, J.A., Eilts, B.E., and Draugelis-Dale, R.O., 2010, Flow cytometry: an essential tool in biomarker research < http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2010/5146/ > [abs.], in Briggs, K.M., ed., Proceedings of the U.S. Geological Survey Interdisciplinary Microbiology Workshop, Estes Park, Colo., October 15-17, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5146, p. 34. (last accessed 12,3,10)

73.   Jenkins, J.A., H.M. Olivier, R.O. Draugelis-Dale, M.D. Kaller.  2011.  Davis Pond freshwater diversion biomonitoring – prediversion and postdiversion freshwater fish data:  U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 604, 5 p., IP-026627, <http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/604/>

74.   Jenkins, J.A., C.W. Jeske, L.K. Allain.  2011.  Photographic images captured while sampling for bald eagles near the davis pond freshwater diversion structure in Barataria Bay, Louisiana (2009-10).  U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 605, 19 p.IP-027595; http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/605/

My Science Topics

My USGS Science Strategy Areas

Jenkins’ efforts emphasize the study of potential impacts of environmental stressors at the cellular and molecular levels. Her major areas of focus include biomarker development, endocrine disruption, genetics, and comparative immunology.  Key laboratory biotechnologies she uses are photomicroscopy and flow cytometry.  Primary cell types studied are blood and spermatozoa, and assays are tailored to the particular species requirements and hypotheses being addressed. 

Jenkins specializes in the development and application of biomarkers; these are measures of variables that respond in quantifiable ways to changes in the environment.  The choice of particular biomarkers at specific biological levels of organization (such as genetic, cellular, tissue, hormonal, and organismal levels) depends on the study at hand.  Because molecular and biochemical responses of cells are preceded by chemical changes in nuclei, cytoplasm, membranes, and extracellular fluids, these responses can be diagnostic and contribute to an assessment of ecosystem health.

Studies involve:

(1)  Quality of male gametes can point to reproductive capabilities.  Typical assays include sperm counts, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, computer assisted sperm motion analysis, morphology, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, spermatogenic stage, and ATP concentration. 

(2)  Cytogenetic damage by genomic DNA integrity change, aneuploidy, detection of DNA repair proteins, assay of nuclei outside of main populations (NOMP; analogous to COMP, but used with fixed or fresh cells), and DNA adducts.

(3)  Ploidy of Asian carp, as batched, produced larvae, or feral animals (especially with eyeballs up through 2 weeks post-mortem or with frozen eyes).

(4)  Novel biomarker development including oyster cell proliferating nuclear antigen, DNA repair protein in amphibians, and sperm acrosome reactivity status in sturgeon, oysters, and mammals.

Active Projects (See highlighted sites on map below).

1. Endocrine Disruption at Lake Mead and the Chesapeake Bay:  To measure potential impacts of contaminants on reproduction of endangered razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui), studies on male gamete quality are being performed in multidisciplinary studies with USGS colleagues around the country. http://nevada.usgs.gov/water/projects/mead_endocrine.htm
2.  Columbia Contaminants and Habitat Characterization: Tracking the Occurrence and Foodweb Effects of Polybrominated Flame Retardants and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds.  To address and quantify molecular and cellular responses at the gonad level, testicular cells were studied from large-scale suckers (Catostomus macrocheilus) (as a surrogate for salmonid species) across sites representing a chemical gradient as determined by recent chemical analyses.  http://or.water.usgs.gov/projs_dir/Conhab/
3. Biomonitoring at the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Study:  To assess whether the American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is impacted by diversions of Mississippi River water and accompanying sediment-transported xenobiotics, fish from different trophic levels, bivalves, and eaglets are studied.  http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2008/5067/
4. Differentiation of Pallid (Scaphirhynchus albus) from Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) by High Resolution DNA Analysis:  Because morphological similarity between the species complicates their identification, and because molecular biology results can be unclear, careful analyses by  flow cytometry of potential genome size differences are being made with the species and hybrids.

Figure 1.  General locations on US map of Jenkins’ recent research studies.