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R. L. Herman

Publications and source records attributed to R. L. Herman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fine structure of an unidentified protozoon in the epithelium of rainbow trout exposed to water with Myxosoma cerebralis

An intracellular protozoon was discovered in the epithelium of young rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri ) exposed for as short a time as 1 hr to water known to contain infective stages of Myxosoma cerebralis. Light- and electron-microscopic examination of this tissue revealed what appeared to be a proliferative stage (presumptive schizont) of a sporozoon; other possible stages in the life cycle were also observed. The relationship of this unidentified protozoon to M. cerebralis remains unresolved.

Journal of Protozoology

Tolerance of lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), sac fry to dissolved gas supersaturation

The tolerance of sac fry of lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), to the acute effects of gas supersaturation, from hatching to swim-up, was tested using six gas levels, ranging from ΔP 8 to 148. Although many fish were moribund by the time the yolk was nearly absorbed, mortality during the 40-day study was negligible; survival to swim-up was 96–99%, including 99% survival at ΔP 148. Of fish examined at ΔP 42, 40% showed bubble formation around the rim of the eye. Signs of trauma were greatest at ΔP 119 and 148, and included intestinal bubbles, a distended abdomen, and bubbles around the eye, in the mouth and in jaw tissues.

Journal of Fish Diseases

Epidermal tumors of rainbow smelt with associated virus

Epithelial tumors of the skin occurred in landlocked populations of rainbow smelt ( Osmerus mordax ) in several lakes in New Hampshire (USA) during the spawning runs. Histologically, these were noninvasive epithelial cell lesions. Herpesvirus-like particles could be seen in the nucleus and cytoplasm. The lesions occurred in both males and females. Prevalence, which varied annually, was as high as 30%.

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Liver lesions in winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) from Jamaica Bay, New York: Indications of environmental degradation

Liver sections of winter flounder ( Pseudopleuronectes americanus ) collected from Jamaica Bay and Shinnecock Bay, New York, in 1989, were examined microscopically to determine the pervasiveness of liver lesions observed previously in Jamaica Bay winter flounder. Neoplastic lesions were not detected in fish from Jamaica Bay or the Shinnecock Bay reference site. Twenty-two percent of Jamaica Bay winter flounder examined (n=103) had unusual vacuolization of hepatocytes and biliary pre-ductal and ductal cells (referred to hereafter as the vacuolated cell lesion). The lesion, identical to that found in 25% of Jamaica Bay winter flounder examined in 1988, has previously been identified in fishes taken from highly polluted regions of the Atlantic coast (e.g., Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, and Black Rock Harbor, Connecticut). Prevalence of the vacuolated cell lesion in winter flounder from Jamaica Bay was significantly greater (p<0.0001) than in 102 specimens collected from Shinnecock Bay. Current scientific literature indicates vacuolated hepatocytes and cholangiocytes are chronically injured and that the extent of their deformity is consistent with the action of a hepatotoxicant. The high prevalence of vacuolated hepatocytes in Jamaica Bay winter flounder and absence of the lesion in flounder from reference sites strongly supports the hypothesis that this impairment is a manifestation of a toxic condition in at least some portions of Jamaica Bay.

New York

Development of a practical diet for juvenile striped bass

We formulated four diets that simulated the amino acid profiles of eggs of striped bass Morone saxatilis , carcasses of larval striped bass, eggs of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss , or nauplii of Artemia salina ; a fifth diet contained a high concentration (33.6%) of shrimp meal. These diets were fed to juvenile striped bass for 14 weeks. Striped bass grew best when fed diets with an amino acid pattern that simulated the patterns of rainbow trout eggs or Artemia salina . Fish fed these two diets grew as well as, and had carcass compositions and protein efficiency ratios similar to those of, control fish fed the federally specified ASD2‐30 salmon diet. No histological or morphological abnormalities were noted. These two diets, which have potentially lower production costs and contain slightly less protein than ASD2‐30, may be used as prototype diets specifically for striped bass. Through further minor refinements, the diets could be used in production hatcheries.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society

Effects of orally administered steroids on lake trout and Atlantic salmon

Lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) and Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) fed 30 mg β‐estradiol/kg of feed for 100 d from first feeding had liver and kidney pathology similar to but much less severe than that previously reported for rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Mortality was not affected. Both lake trout and Atlantic salmon treated with estradiol weighed significantly less than control fish at the end of the treatment period and at 200 d posttreatment. Testosterone‐treated fish of both species weighed less than control fish at the end of the treatment period. By day 200 posttreatment, testosterone‐treated and untreated lake trout weighed the same, but testosterone‐treated Atlantic salmon were heavier than control fish. Estradiol treatment produced an all‐female population of Atlantic salmon but not of lake trout. Testosterone at 5 mg/kg feed increased the ratio of males to females in both species.

Progressive Fish-Culturist

Resistance of underyearling and yearling Atlantic salmon and lake trout to supersaturation with air

Juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and lake trout Salvelinus namaycush of different sizes were exposed for 96 h to water supersaturated with air. Underyearlings (Atlantic salmon shorter than 66 ± 8 mm [mean total length ± SD] and lake trout shorter than 96 mm) were resistant to high dissolved-gas pressures. The level of supersaturation causing 50% mortality was lower for yearling Atlantic salmon (148 ± 17 mm long) than for underyearling Atlantic salmon, and sensitivity to supersaturation was greater in lake trout 96 ± 1 to 153 ± 17 mm long than in those 23 ± 1 to 46 ± 4 mm long. Incidence of cutaneous emphysema and other signs of gas bubble disease increased as supersaturation increased. The number of bubbles and number of sites with bubbles were higher in the older fish. Among fish 150 ± 17 mm long, Atlantic salmon seemed to be less resistant to gas supersaturation than did lake trout.

Journal of Aquatic Animal Health

Adverse effects of heated Bouin's solution on fish preservation

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (formerly Salmo gairdneri ) and lake trout Salvelinus namaycush preserved by immersion in Bouin's solution at 48°C became severely deformed due to muscle contraction. This was reflected in tissue changes, indicating that this technique induces undesirable artifacts that are likely to interfere with histological examination.

Journal of Aquatic Animal Health

Studies of contaminant and water quality effects on striped bass prolarvae and yearlings in the Potomac River and upper Chesapeake Bay in 1988

Simultaneous on‐site and in situ studies of survival of prolarval and yearling striped bass Morone saxatilis were conducted in the Potomac River during the 1988 spawning season. Various water quality and contaminant conditions were monitored during these experiments. In situ experiments on yearlings and monitoring of water quality and contaminants were also conducted in the Susquehanna, Elk, and Sassafras rivers of the upper Chesapeake Bay. Survival of striped bass prolarvae ranged from 1 to 20% in the Potomac River during three concurrent 96‐h on‐site and in situ experiments; survival of control fish was 78% or greater. Survival of striped bass yearlings was 15% or less during 28‐d in situ tests at two Potomac River field locations; survival of control fish was 100%. Mortality of prolarvae in the Potomac River was likely caused by a combination of cadmium, lead, chlordane, and sudden drops in temperature. Mortality of yearlings was possibly caused by a combination of cadmium, lead, zinc, chlordane, and ammonia. Survivals of striped bass yearlings tested in 28‐d tests in the Susquehanna, Elk, and Sassafras rivers were 57, 100, and 100%, respectively; survival of control fish was 100%. Mortality of striped bass in the Susquehanna River may have been partly caused by copper and lead concentrations; however, other nonidentified factors were likely more important. Water quality problems were not detected in the Elk or Sassafras rivers.

Maryland

Concurrent mobile on-site and in situ striped bass contaminant and water quality studies in the Choptank River and upper Chesapeake Bay

In situ and mobile on-site striped bass prolarval and yearling survival studies were conducted in the Choptank River and in the Chesapeake and Delaware (C & D) Canal area of the Upper Chesapeake Bay. Extensive chemical analyses of both organic and inorganic contaminants in the habitat water were performed and water quality parameters were monitored during these experiments. Surviving yearling striped bass were subjected to histological examination. Prolarval survival data from both the in situ and mobile on-site studies were similar for each spawning area. Prolarval survival ranged from 30 to 45% after 96 h of exposure to Choptank River water in four separate experiments (two in situ , two on-site); control survival was greater than 74%. Based on a comparison of laboratory toxicity data and reported field concentrations in the Choptank River for various water quality and contaminant conditions, the following combination of conditions was potentially stressful to striped bass prolarvae: low hardness (36 to 48 mg/L CaCO 3 ), monomeric aluminum (0.150 mg/L), cadmium (0.003 mg/L) and copper (0.040 mg/L). Yearling survival in both in situ and on-site tests ranged from 93 to 100% in both the control and Choptank River water after 9 d of exposure. Survival of striped bass prolarvae in C & D Canal water ranged from 52.5 to 70% after 96 h of exposure in four separate experiments. Control survival of prolarvae was not significantly different. Survival of yearling striped bass in on-site and in situ tests was 95% or greater in C & D Canal water and control water. Acute contaminant effects were not verified in the C & D Canal area.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry