Amy Regish
Amy Regish is a Research Physiologist at the S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory in Turners Falls, MA.
Her research has focused on the physiological response of fish species to natural and anthropogenic alterations of aquatic ecosystems. Some of the many challenges faced by fish species are from warming temperatures due to climate change, stream acidification, of cold water streams, man made impediments to migration, and contaminant exposure. The impact of these perturbations on osmoregulation, stress physiology, and thermal stress is of particular concern in the conservation and restoration efforts directed towards anadromous and cold-water fish species such as salmon, shad, river herring, brook trout, sturgeon, and lamprey in their native ranges.
Professional Experience
2000 to present Research Physiologist, Physiology Section, S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, Turners Falls, MA
1999-2000 Research Technician, Physiology Section, S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, Turners Falls, MA
1990-1995 Research Technician III, University of Washington, Department of Biochemistry, Seattle, WA
1988-1990 Senior Research Technician, Repligen Corporation, Cambridge, MA
Education and Certifications
Masters of Science: University of Massachusetts, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, 2001. Major: Aquatic Toxicology
Bachelor of Science: University of Vermont, 1988. Major: Animal Science
Science and Products
Energy depletion and stress levels of Sockeye Salmon migrating at the northern edge of their distribution
The evolutionary consequences for seawater performance and its hormonal control when anadromous Atlantic salmon become landlocked
Shifts in the relationship between mRNA and protein abundance of gill ion-transporters during smolt development and seawater acclimation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Effects of elevated temperature on osmoregulation and stress responses in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in freshwater and seawater
Proximate composition, lipid utilization and validation of a non‐lethal method to determine lipid content in migrating American shad Alosa sapidissima
Sensitivity of Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms to acid and aluminum explains differential effects on Atlantic salmon osmoregulation in fresh water and seawater
Effects of ocean acidification on salinity tolerance and seawater growth of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts
Exogenous thyroid hormones regulate the activity of citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase in warm- but not cold-acclimated lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Hepatic insulin-like growth-factor binding protein (igfbp) responses tofood restriction in Atlantic salmon smolts
Evidence for episodic acidification effects on migrating Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts
Migratory patterns of hatchery and stream-reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts in the Connecticut River, U.S.A.
Physiological and endocrine changes in Atlantic salmon smolts during hatchery rearing, downstream migration and ocean entry
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 28
Energy depletion and stress levels of Sockeye Salmon migrating at the northern edge of their distribution
The physiological challenge for anadromous fish to migrate upriver is influenced by river temperature, but the impacts of river temperature can be difficult to predict due to an incomplete understanding of how temperature influences migration costs, especially in high‐latitude (>60°N) ecosystems. To assess temperature influences on migrating Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., we measured heat shockAuthorsMichael P. Carey, Kevin D. Keith, Merlyn Schelske, Charlie Lean, Stephen D. McCormick, Amy M. Regish, Christian E. ZimmermanThe evolutionary consequences for seawater performance and its hormonal control when anadromous Atlantic salmon become landlocked
Populations of anadromous fish have become landlocked in relatively recent geological history (AuthorsStephen D. McCormick, Amy M. Regish, William R. Ardren, Björn Thrandur Björnsson, Nicholas J. BernierShifts in the relationship between mRNA and protein abundance of gill ion-transporters during smolt development and seawater acclimation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Smolting Atlantic salmon exhibit a seasonal increase in seawater tolerance that is associated with changes in the abundance of major gill ion-transporter transcripts and proteins. In the present study, we investigate how the transcript and protein abundance of specific ion-transporter isoforms relate to each other during smolt development and seawater acclimation, and how each correlates to seawatAuthorsArne K. Christensen, Amy M. Regish, Stephen D. McCormickEffects of elevated temperature on osmoregulation and stress responses in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in freshwater and seawater
Smolting in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar is a critical life‐history stage that is preparatory for downstream migration and entry to seawater that is regulated by abiotic variables including photoperiod and temperature. The present study was undertaken to determine the interaction of temperature and salinity on salinity tolerance, gill osmoregulatory proteins and cellular and endocrine stress in S.AuthorsLuis Vargas-Chacoff, Amy M. Regish, Andrew Weinstock, Stephen D. McCormickProximate composition, lipid utilization and validation of a non‐lethal method to determine lipid content in migrating American shad Alosa sapidissima
Lipid content forms the most important energy reserve in anadromous fish and can limit survival, migration and reproductive success. A fat meter was evaluated and compared with a traditional extractive method of measuring available lipid for migrating American shad Alosa sapidissima in the Connecticut River, U.S.A. The fat meter gives rapid (<10 s) and non‐lethal lipid measurements, whereas traditAuthorsShannon Michael Bayse, Amy M. Regish, Stephen D. McCormickSensitivity of Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms to acid and aluminum explains differential effects on Atlantic salmon osmoregulation in fresh water and seawater
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts are sensitive to acid rain and associated increases in dissolved inorganic aluminum (Al) resulting in decreased seawater tolerance at this critical life stage. Salmon have two major isoforms of the catalytic alpha subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), with NKAα1a being the major freshwater (FW) isoform and NKAα1b the major seawater (SW) isoform. Here we evaluate physAuthorsAmy M. Regish, John T. Kelly, Michael F. O'Dea, Stephen D. McCormickEffects of ocean acidification on salinity tolerance and seawater growth of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts
Human activity has resulted in increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), which will result in reduced pH and higher levels of CO2 in the ocean, a process known as ocean acidification. Understanding the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on fishes will be important to predicting and mitigating its consequences. Anadromous species such as salmonids may be especially at risk because of their rapiAuthorsStephen D. McCormick, Amy M. RegishExogenous thyroid hormones regulate the activity of citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase in warm- but not cold-acclimated lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Thermal acclimation is known to elicit metabolic adjustments in ectotherms, but the cellular mechanisms and endocrine control of these shifts have not been fully elucidated. Here we examined the relationship between thermal acclimation, thyroid hormones and oxidative metabolism in juvenile lake whitefish. Impacts of thermal acclimation above (19 °C) or below (8 °C) the thermal optimum (13 °C) andAuthorsMegan A. Zak, Amy M. Regish, Stephen D. McCormick, Richard G. ManzonHepatic insulin-like growth-factor binding protein (igfbp) responses tofood restriction in Atlantic salmon smolts
The growth hormone (Gh)/insulin-like growth-factor (Igf) system plays a central role in the regulation of growth in fishes. However, the roles of Igf binding proteins (Igfbps) in coordinating responses to food availability are unresolved, especially in anadromous fishes preparing for seaward migration. We assayed plasma Gh, Igf1, thyroid hormones and cortisol along with igfbp mRNA levels in fastedAuthorsJason P. Breves, Silas K. Phipps-Costin, Chelsea K. Fujimoto, Ingibjörg E. Einarsdottir, Amy M. Regish, Björn Thrandur Björnsson, Stephen D. McCormickEvidence for episodic acidification effects on migrating Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts
Field studies were conducted to determine levels of gill aluminium as an index of acidification effects on migrating Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts in the north-eastern U.S.A. along mainstem river migration corridors in several major river basins. Smolts emigrating from the Connecticut River, where most (but not all) tributaries were well buffered, had low or undetectable levels of gill aluminAuthorsJohn T. Kelly, Darrren T. Lerner, Michael F. O'Dea, Amy M. Regish, Michelle Y. Monette, J.P. Hawkes, Keith H. Nislow, Stephen D. McCormickMigratory patterns of hatchery and stream-reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts in the Connecticut River, U.S.A.
The timing of downstream migration and detection rates of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts and stream-reared smolts (stocked 2 years earlier as fry) were examined in the Connecticut River (U.S.A.) using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags implanted into fish and then detected at a downstream fish bypass collection facility at Turners Falls, MA (river length 192 km). In twoAuthorsStephen D. McCormick, Alexander Haro, Darren T. Lerner, Michael F. O'Dea, Amy M. RegishPhysiological and endocrine changes in Atlantic salmon smolts during hatchery rearing, downstream migration and ocean entry
Billions of hatchery salmon smolts are released annually in an attempt to mitigate anthropogenic impacts on freshwater habitats, often with limited success. Mortality of wild and hatchery fish is high during downstream and early ocean migration. To understand changes that occur during migration, we examined physiological and endocrine changes in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts during hatcheryAuthorsStephen D. McCormick, Timothy F. Sheehan, Björn Thrandur Björnsson, Christine Lipsky, John F. Kocik, Amy M. Regish, Michael F. O'Dea