Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
 
 
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Discovery Lecture Series
presented by AltaSea and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

 
 
Friday, April 7, 2017
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Ovaries, Testes, and Copulatory Structures – Oh My! The Importance of Understanding Reproduction of Fishes

By Dr. Kristy L. Forsgren, California State University, Fullerton



Fishes comprise approximately half of all vertebrate species, occupying both fresh and saltwater habitats in temperatures ranging from 0–40 degrees Celsius. Fish live from the surface waters of the ocean to the depths of the abyss. Fish have a variety of feeding modes and display a wide range of body forms that allow them to live in such diverse habitats.

However, it is fish reproduction that exhibits some of the most extraordinary variation among vertebrates. Not only is fish reproduction interesting, but a comprehensive understanding of fish reproduction is imperative in protecting our fish populations. Agencies, such as Fish and Wildlife, are responsible for managing commercial and recreational fisheries in order to sustain the species for continued activities. Reproductive data are a key factor in adequately managing fisheries.

My laboratory at California State University, Fullerton seeks to understand the reproductive physiology and diversity of fish reproduction, from gonadal development (i.e. ovaries, testes) to mating/copulation. I look forward to sharing with you emerging research regarding giant oarfish reproduction, rockfish pheromone secretion, copulatory organs, and much more.

Kristy Forsgren is an Assistant Professor at California State University, Fullerton. She received her Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) and Master of Science (Biology) at California State University, Long Beach and her doctorate from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington (Fish Physiology and Endocrinology). Kristy did a post-doc with Dr. Daniel Schlenk at University of California, Riverside and was a Delta Science Fellow and researched the effect of bifenthrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, on the reproductive health of steelhead. Currently, her research is focused on understanding the reproductive biology of a variety of fishes including rockfishes, surf perches, and deep water fishes (e.g., giant oarfish, dragonfish). Kristy has also been involved in reproductive studies investigating invertebrate biology. She collaborates with several biologists in southern California including The Ocean Monitoring Program (Dr. Jeff Armstrong) at the Orange County Sanitation District.

Click here for teacher resources related to this lecture.

Please RSVP to: lecture@cmaqua.org




 Discovery-Lecture-Kristy-Forsgren.pdf

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