Bruce A. Barton, Professor and Co-Director, Missouri River Institute
	Ph.D. (Fisheries Science) Oregon State University, 1987 M.Sc. (Zoology/Aquatic Sciences) University of Guelph, 1974 B.Sc. (Zoology) University of Guelph, 1970

Courses Taught

• Undergraduate:
  • Ichthyology
  • Biology Survey I
  • Freshwater Ecology
  • Aquaculture And Fish Health
• Graduate:
  • Ichthyology
  • Fish Physiology Seminar
  • Aquaculture And Fish Health
  • Freshwater Ecology

Research Interests

Dr. Barton's primary research interest is in the physiological responses of fish to stress, particularly those resulting from aquacultural practices and from exposure to environmental disturbances. Past research includes investigations on the patterns of response and recovery of corticosteroid hormones in a number of fish species subjected to stressors under various environmental conditions. Future studies intend to focus on the effects of stress on fish performance and implications of stress on the health and well being of both cultured and natural fish populations. Dr. Barton has extensive working experience in fisheries management, so is also interested in various aspects of fish ecology as they apply to management concerns, such as stocking assessment and exotic introductions. Dr. Barton is also Co-Director of the Missouri River Institute.

Recent Publications

Barton, B.A. 2002. Stress in fishes: a diversity of responses with particular reference to changes in circulating corticosteroids. Integrative and Comparative Biology 42: 517-525.

 Barton, B.A., J.D. Morgan, and M.M. Vijayan. 2002. Physiological and condition-related indicators of environmental stress in fish. Chapter 4, pages 111-148 in S.M. Adams, editor. Biological Indicators of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

 Forsberg, J.A., R.C. Summerfelt, and B.A. Barton. 2001. Physiological and behavioral stress responses of walleyes transported in salt and buffered-salt solutions. North American Journal of Aquaculture 63: 191-200.

 Kim, J.B., V. Gadsbøll, J. Whittaker, B.A. Barton, and J.M. Conlon. 2000. Gasteroenteropancreatic hormones (insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and multiple forms of PYY) from the pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus (Acipenseriformes). General and Comparative Endocrinology 120: 353-363.

 Barton, B.A., H. Bollig, B.L. Hauskins, and C.R. Jansen. 2000. Juvenile pallid (Scaphirhynchus albus) and hybrid pallid x shovelnose (S. albus x platorynchus) sturgeons exhibit low physiological responses to acute handling and severe confinement. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A, 126: 125-134.

Barton, B.A. 2000. Stress. Pages 892-898 in R.R. Stickney, editor. Encyclopedia of Aquaculture. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Atwood, H.L., J.R. Tomasso, P.J. Ronan, B.A. Barton, and K.J. Renner. 2000. Brain monoamine concentrations as predictors of growth inhibition in channel catfish exposed to ammonia. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 12: 69-73.

Barton, B.A. 2000. Salmonid fishes differ in their cortisol and glucose responses to handling and transport stress. North American Journal of Aquaculture 62: 12-18.

Wang, Y., B.A. Barton, P.F. Nielsen, and J.M. Conlon. 1999. Tachykinins (substance P and neuropeptide g) from the brains of the pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus, and the paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Acipensiformes). General and Comparative Endocrinology 116: 21-30.

Forsberg, J.A., R.C. Summerfelt, and B.A. Barton. 1999. Effects of ram-air ventilation during transportation on water quality and physiology of fingerling walleyes. North American Journal of Aquaculture 61: 220-229.

Wang, Y., B.A. Barton, L. Thim, P.F. Nielsen, and J.M. Conlon. 1999. Purification and characterization of galanin and scyliorhinin I from the hybrid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus x Scaphirhynchus albus (Acipenseriformes). General and Comparative Endocrinology 113: 38-45.

Barton, B.A., A.B. Rahn, G. Feist, H. Bollig, and C.B. Schreck. 1998. Physiological stress responses of the freshwater chondrostean paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) to acute physical disturbances. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 120: 355-363.

Li, Z., M.P. Smith, D.W. Duff, B.A. Barton, K.R. Olson, and J.M. Conlon. 1998. Purification and cardiovascular activity of [Met¹, Met⁵]-bradykinin from the plasma of a sturgeon (Acipenseriformes). Peptides 19: 635-641.

Barton, B.A., and W.P. Dwyer. 1997. Physiological stress effects of continuous- and pulsed-DC electroshock on juvenile bull trout. Journal of Fish Biology 51:998-1008.

Barton, B.A. 1997. Stress in finfish: past, present and future -- a historical perspective. Chapter 1, pages 1-33 in G.K. Iwama, A.D. Pickering, J.P. Sumpter and C.B. Schreck, editors. Fish Stress and Health in Aquaculture. Society for Experimental Biology Seminar Series 62, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.

Pennell, W., and B.A. Barton, editors. 1996. Principles of Salmonid Culture. Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, Volume 29. Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 1,039 p.

Barton, B.A., and R.S. Grosh. 1996. Effect of AC electroshock on blood features in juvenile rainbow trout. Journal of Fish Biology , 49: 1330-1333.

Barton, B.A., and B.R. Taylor. 1996. Oxygen requirements of fishes in northern Alberta rivers with a general review of the adverse effects of low dissolved oxygen. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada 31: 361 409.

Barton, B.A., and R.E. Zitzow. 1995. Physiological responses of juvenile walleyes to handling stress with recovery in saline water. Progressive Fish Culturist 57: 267 276. (Best Paper of the Year Award)

Iwama, G.K., J.D. Morgan, and B.A. Barton. 1995. Simple field methods for monitoring stress and general condition of fish. Aquaculture Research 26: 273 282.

Barton, B.A., and G.K. Iwama. 1991. Physiological changes in fish from stress in aquaculture with emphasis on the response and effects of corticosteroids. Annual Review of Fish Diseases 1: 3 26.

Wedemeyer, G.A., B.A. Barton, and D.J. McLeay. 1990. Stress and acclimation. Chapter 14, pages 451 489 in C.B. Schreck and P.B. Moyle, editors. Methods for fish biology. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.


To see more of Dr. Barton's publications, please see these additional items.

Research Theses/Dissertations Supervised as Major Advisor:

Haukenes, A.H. 2001. Characterization of the impact of a chronic density stressor on the neuroendocrine and innate immune responses of yellow perch, Perca flavescens, to an acute challenge with lipopolysaccharide. (Ph.D.) 
Other Committee Members:  Dr. Ken Renner, Dr. Paula Mabee, Dr. Karen Olmstead and Dr. William Cafruny, Department of Basic Biomedical sciences

Carreiro, J.M. 2000. Life history characteristics of the blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) in the unchannelized reach of the Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam.  (M.S.)
Other Committee Members:  Dr. Karen Olmstead and Dr. David Swanson

Sipiorski, J.T. 2000. Neurotransmitter activity in the fore- and hind-brain of the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) following acute and chronic stress. (M.S.) Other Committee Members: Dr. Ken Renner and Dr. Cliff Summers
Sykes, C.L. 1999. Evaluation of heat-shock protein 70 and plasma cortisol responses in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to sublethal concentrations of ammonia. (M.A., Plan A)

Other Committee Members:

Dr. Karen Olmstead and Dr. Steven Hamilton, USGS/BRD, CERC Field Research Station

Rahn, A.B. 1997. The distribution, ultrastructure, and steroidogenic activity of interrenal tissue in the paddlefish, Polyodon spathula. (M.A., Plan A)

Other Committee Members:

Dr. David Swanson and Dr. Cliff Summers

Stegge, J.H. 1996. Evaluation of the diets of green and orangespotted sunfish in Clay Creek ditch and the Vermillion River, South Dakota. (M.A., Plan A)

Other Committee Members:

Dr. Jack Butler and Dr. Karen Olmstead

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