Stephen D McCormick
Steve McCormick is a Scientist Emeritus at the Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory in Turners Falls, MA.
Steve’s work has centered on the environmental and hormonal control of water and salt balance, development, growth and reproduction of anadromous fishes, including salmon, trout, shad, alewife, sturgeon and lamprey. This research has addressed important environmental issues including acidification, impacts of dams, endocrine disruptors and climate change, especially the impacts of temperature and salinity. The results of this work have been published in more than 190 papers and book chapters. Steve has been Chair of the Division of Comparative Endocrinology and member of the Executive Board of the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, and President and Current Member of the Executive Committee of the Physiology Section of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). He has been a visiting scientist at the University of Goteborg (1988) and Ocean Research Institute of the University of Tokyo (1990), James Chair Visiting Professor at St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada (1999) and Visiting Scholar at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan (2002). In 2014 he received the Excellence in Fish Physiology Award for lifetime achievement from the Physiology Section of AFS. He has been an adjunct Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst since 1990 and Associate Editor of General and Comparative Endocrinology since 1996.
Professional Experience
1990-present Research Physiologist & Physiology Section Leader, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, USGS, Turners Falls, MA.
2016-present Senior Scientist, USGS
1998-1999 Acting Director, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, USGS, Biological Resources Division, Turners Falls, MA.
1989-1990 Research Fellow, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo (with Professor Tetsuya Hirano, 4 months).
1986-1989 Postdoctoral Fellow (NIH) with Professor Howard A. Bern in the Department of Zoology, Univ. of California, Berkeley.
1983-1986 Postdoctoral Fellow, with Dr. Richard L. Saunders, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. Andrews Biological Station, New Brunswick, Canada.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 1983, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanography Joint Program in Oceanography, Cambridge and Woods Hole, MA USA
Affiliations and Memberships*
1990-present, Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
1992-present, Adjunct Professor, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
1993 Member, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Science and Products
Relaxed selection causes microevolution of seawater osmoregulation and gene expression in landlocked Alewives
Comparative responses to endocrine disrupting compounds in early life stages of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Prolactin and teleost ionocytes: new insights into cellular and molecular targets of prolactin in vertebrate epithelia
Beta-thymosin gene polymorphism associated with freshwater invasiveness of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
Physiological and endocrine changes in Atlantic salmon smolts during hatchery rearing, downstream migration and ocean entry
Snake River fall Chinook salmon life history investigations: Annual report 2011 (April 2011 - March 2012)
Differential regulation of sodium-potassium pump isoforms during smolt development and seawater exposure of Atlantic salmon
Thermal sensitivity of immune function: evidence against a generalist-specialist trade-off among endothermic and ectothermic vertebrates
Prolactin regulates transcription of the ion uptake Na+/Cl- cotransporter (ncc) gene in zebrafish gill
Euryhalinity in an evolutionary context
Hormonal control of fish euryhalinity
Euryhalinity in an evolutionary context
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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Relaxed selection causes microevolution of seawater osmoregulation and gene expression in landlocked Alewives
Ecological transitions from marine to freshwater environments have been important in the creation of diversity among fishes. Evolutionary changes associated with these transitions likely involve modifications of osmoregulatory function. In particular, relaxed selection on hypo-osmoregulation should strongly affect animals that transition into novel freshwater environments. We used populations of tAuthorsJonathan P. Velotta, Stephen D. McCormick, Rachel J. O'Neill, Eric T. SchultzComparative responses to endocrine disrupting compounds in early life stages of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are endangered anadromous fish that may be exposed to feminizing endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) during early development, potentially altering physiological capacities, survival and fitness. To assess differential life stage sensitivity to common EDCs, we carried out short-term (four day) exposures using three doses each of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17β-estraAuthorsTara A. Duffy, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Stephen D. McCormickProlactin and teleost ionocytes: new insights into cellular and molecular targets of prolactin in vertebrate epithelia
The peptide hormone prolactin is a functionally versatile hormone produced by the vertebrate pituitary. Comparative studies over the last six decades have revealed that a conserved function for prolactin across vertebrates is the regulation of ion and water transport in a variety of tissues including those responsible for whole-organism ion homeostasis. In teleost fishes, prolactin was identifiedAuthorsJason P. Breves, Stephen D. McCormick, Rolf O. KarlstromBeta-thymosin gene polymorphism associated with freshwater invasiveness of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
Predicting the success of a species’ colonization into a novel environment is routinely considered to be predicated on niche-space similarity and vacancy, as well as propagule pressure. The role genomic variation plays in colonization success (and the interaction with environment) may be suggested, but has not rigorously been documented. To test an hypothesis that previously observed ecotype-speciAuthorsKatarzyna Michalak, Sergiusz J. Czesny, John Epifanio, Randal J. Snyder, Eric T. Schultz, Jonathan P. Velotta, Stephen D. McCormick, Bonnie L. Brown, Graciela Santopietro, Pawel MichalakPhysiological 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'DeaSnake River fall Chinook salmon life history investigations: Annual report 2011 (April 2011 - March 2012)
Executive Summary Chapter One – This chapter was published in the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society in 2012. We conducted a three-year radiotelemetry study in the lower Snake River to answer the questions: do fall Chinook salmon juveniles pass dams during winter when bypass systems and structures designed to prevent mortality are not operated; does downstream movement rate vary annualAuthorsKenneth F. Tiffan, William P. Connor, Brian J. Bellgraph, Tobias J. Kock, Frank Mullins, R. Kirk Steinhorst, Helena E. Christiansen, Stephen D. McCormick, Lori A. Ortega, Kathleen M. Carter, Evan V. Arntzen, Katherine J.C. Klett, Z. Daniel Deng, Tylor K. Abel, Timothy J. Linley, Valerie I. Cullinan, Scott J. St John, John M. Erhardt, Brad K. Bickford, Amanda Schmidt, Tobyn N. RhodesDifferential regulation of sodium-potassium pump isoforms during smolt development and seawater exposure of Atlantic salmon
Freshwater and seawater isoforms of the alpha subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) have previously been identified in gill ionocytes of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). In the present study we examine the abundance and cellular localization of these isoforms during the parr–smolt transformation, a developmental process that is preparatory for seawater entry. The abundance of NKAα1a was lower in smolts thaAuthorsStephen D. McCormick, Amy M. Regish, Arne K. Christensen, Björn Thrandur BjörnssonThermal sensitivity of immune function: evidence against a generalist-specialist trade-off among endothermic and ectothermic vertebrates
Animal body temperature (Tbody) varies over daily and annual cycles, affecting multiple aspects of biological performance in both endothermic and ectothermic animals. Yet a comprehensive comparison of thermal performance among animals varying in Tbody (mean and variance) and heat production is lacking. Thus, we examined the thermal sensitivity of immune function (a crucial fitness determinant) inAuthorsMichael W. Butler, Zachary R. Stahlschmidt, Daniel R. Ardia, Scott Davies, Jon Davis, Louis J. Guillette, Nicholas Johnson, Stephen D. McCormick, Kevin J. McGraw, Dale F. DeNardoProlactin regulates transcription of the ion uptake Na+/Cl- cotransporter (ncc) gene in zebrafish gill
Prolactin (PRL) is a well-known regulator of ion and water transport within osmoregulatory tissues across vertebrate species, yet how PRL acts on some of its target tissues remains poorly understood. Using zebrafish as a model, we show that ionocytes in the gill directly respond to systemic PRL to regulate mechanisms of ion uptake. Ion-poor conditions led to increases in the expression of PRL receAuthorsJason P. Breves, Sandy B. Serizier, Vincent Goffin, Stephen D. McCormick, Rolf O. KarlstromEuryhalinity in an evolutionary context
No abstract available.AuthorsEric T. Schultz, Stephen D. McCormickHormonal control of fish euryhalinity
No abstract available.AuthorsYoshio Takei, Stephen D. McCormickEuryhalinity in an evolutionary context
This chapter focuses on the evolutionary importance and taxonomic distribution of euryhalinity. Euryhalinity refers to broad halotolerance and broad halohabitat distribution. Salinity exposure experiments have demonstrated that species vary tenfold in their range of tolerable salinity levels, primarily because of differences in upper limits. Halotolerance breadth varies with the species’ evolutionAuthorsEric T. Schultz, Stephen D. McCormickNon-USGS Publications**
Yoshikawa, J.S.M., McCormick, S.D., Young, G. and Bern, H.A. 1993. Effects of salinity on chloride cell morphology and density, and Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the teleost Gillichthys mirabilis. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 105: 311-317.McCormick, S.D., S. Hasegawa and T. Hirano. 1992. Calcium uptake in the skin of a fresh water teleost. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 89: 3635-3638.
McCormick, S.D., Tsai, P.I., Kelley, K.M., Nishioka, R.S. and Bern, H.A. 1992. Stimulation of coho salmon growth by insulin-like growth factor I. General and Comparative Endocrinology 86: 398-406.McCormick, S.D., Tsai, P.I., Kelley, K.M., Nishioka, R.S. and Bern, H.A. 1991. Hormonal control of sulfate uptake by branchial cartilage of coho salmon: role of IGF-I. Journal of Experimental Zoology 262: 166-171.Bern, H.A., McCormick, S.D., Kelley, K.M., Gray, E.S., Nishioka, R.S., Madsen, S.S. and Tsai, P.I. 1991. Insulin-like growth factors "under water": role in growth and function of fish and other poikilothermic vertebrates. In: Modern Concepts of Insulin-Like Growth Factors. Ed.: E.M. Spencer. Elsevier Press, New York. Pp. 85-96.McCormick, S.D., Dickhoff, W.W., Duston, J., Nishioka, R.S. and Bern, H.A. 1991. Developmental differences in the responsiveness of gill Na+,K+-ATPase to cortisol in salmonids. General and Comparative Endocrinology 84: 308-317.McCormick, S.D., T. Sakamoto, S. Hasegawa and T. Hirano. 1991. Osmoregulatory actions of insulin-like growth factor I in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Journal of Endocrinology 130: 87-92.Herndon, T., S.D. McCormick and H.A. Bern. 1991. Effects of prolactin on chloride cells in opercular membrane of seawater-adapted tilapia. General and Comparative Endocrinology 83: 283-289.McCormick, S.D. 1990. Cortisol directly stimulates differentiation of chloride cells in tilapia opercular membrane (Oreochromis mossambicus). American Journal Physiology 259: R857-R863.McCormick, S.D. 1990. Fluorescent labelling of Na+,K+-ATPase in intact cells using a fluorescent derivative of ouabain. Cell and Tissue Research 260: 529-533.McCormick, S.D. and R.L. Saunders. 1990. Influence of ration level and salinity on circulating levels of thyroid hormones in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). General and Comparative Endocrinology 78: 224-230.Montgomery, W.L., S.D. McCormick, R.J. Naiman, F.G. Whoriskey and G. Black. 1989. Migration and use of marine resources by brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Moisie River, Quebec. Polish Archives of Hydrobiology 37: 43-61.McCormick, S.D., R.L. Saunders and A.D. MacIntyre. 1989. The effect of salinity and ration level on growth rate and conversion efficiency in Atlantic salmon smolts. Aquaculture 82: 173-180.McCormick S.D. and H.A. Bern. 1989. In vitro stimulation of Na+,K+-ATPase activity and ouabain binding by cortisol in coho salmon gill. American Journal Physiology 256: R707-R715.McCormick, S.D., C.D. Moyes and J.S. Ballantyne. 1989. Influence of salinity on the energetics of gill and kidney of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 6: 243-254.McCormick, S.D., R.L. Saunders and A.D. MacIntyre. 1989. Mitochondrial enzyme activity, and ion regulation during parr-smolt transformation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 6: 231-241Young, P.S., S.D. McCormick, J.R. Demarest, R.J. Lin, R.S. Nishioka, and H.A. Bern. 1988. Effects of salinity, hypophysectomy and prolactin on whole-animal transepithelial potential in the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus. General and Comparative Endocrinology 71: 389-397.Wildish, D.J., D.D. Kristmanson, R.L. Hoar, A.M. DeCoste, S.D. McCormick and A.W. White. 1987. Giant scallop feeding and growth response to flow. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 113: 207-220.Naiman, R.J., S.D. McCormick, W.L. Montgomery and R. Morin. 1987. Anadromous brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis: opportunities and constraints for population enhancement. Marine Fisheries Review 49: 1-13.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government