Expanding the Ecophysiological Toolbox

Ecophysiological research is by definition multidisciplinary, combining research techniques to study physiology, biochemistry, and behavioural ecology. Our work uses various technologies for estimating animal energy expenditure, tracking their individuals movements, and logging their physiological variables and behavioural preferences. Along with this work we’ve worked to develop and test new tools and refine and standardize methods. We’re also interested in the development of affordable, open-source equipment and tools for use in ecophysiological research. For the analysis of maximum metabolic rates in fish using the chase protocol, check out our R package chaseR, which can be used to extract metabolic rate estimates and perform various diagnostics and data checks (look here for a step-by-step walk-through of the workflow for this package).

Example Papers:

Jones, NAR, Cortese, D, Spence-Jones, H, Munson, A, Storm, Z, Killen, SS, Bethel, R, Deacon, R, Webster, M, Závorka, L. In Press. Maze design: size and number of options impact performance in cognitive assays. Journal of Fish Biology. 00:00-00.

Nathan, R, Monk, C, Arlinghaus, R, Adam, T, Alós, J, Assaf, M, Baktoft, H, Beardsworth, CE, Bertram, MG, Bijleveld, AI, Brodin, T, Brooks, JL, Campos-Candela, A, Cooke, SJ, Gjelleand, KØ, Gupte, PR, Harel, R, Hellström, G, Jeltsch, F, Killen, SS, Klefoth, T, Langrock, R, Lennox, RJ, Lourie, E, Madden, JR, Orchan, Y, Pauwels, IS, Říha, M, Roeleke, M, Schlägel, U, Shohami, D, Signer, J, Toledo, S, Vilk, O, Westrelin, S, Whiteside, MA, Jarić, I. 2022. Big-data approaches enable increased understanding of animal movement ecology. Science. 375: eabg1780. PDF

Killen, S.S., Christensen, E., Cortese, D., Závorka, L., Norin, T., Cotgrove, L., Crespel, A., Munson, A., Nati, J.J.H., Papatheodoulou, M., McKenzie, D.J. 2021. Guidelines for reporting methods for estimating metabolic rates using aquatic intermittent-closed respirometry. Journal of Experimental Biology. 224: jeb242522. PDF

Schneider, EVC, Brooks, EJ, Cortina, MP, Bailey, DM, Killen, SS, Van Leeuwen, TE. 2021. Design, construction, and deployment of an affordable and long-lasting moored deep-water fish aggregation device. Caribbean Naturalist. 83:2021.

Christensen, EAF, Berggsson, H, Andersen, LEJ, Steffensen, JF, Killen, SS. 2021. Shuttle-box systems for determining environmental preference and avoidance in aquatic animals. Conservation Physiology. 1:coab028. PDF

Lennox RJ, Westrelin S, Souza AT, Šmejkal M, Říha M, Prchalová M, Nathan R, Koeck B, Killen S, Jarić I, Gjelland K, Hollins J, Hellstrom G, Hansen H, Cooke SJ, Boukal D, Brooks JL, Brodin T, Baktoft H, Adam T, Arlinghaus R. 2021. A role for lakes in revealing the nature of animal movement using high dimensional telemetry systems. Movement Ecology. 9:40. PDF

Rácz, A., Allan, B., Dwyer, T. Thambithurai, D., Crespel, A., Killen, S.S. 2021. Identification of individual zebrafish (Danio rerio): A refined protocol for VIE tagging whilst considering animal welfare and the principles of the 3Rs. Animals. 11: 616 PDF

Blasco, F.R., Esbaugh, A.J., Killen, S.S., Rantin, F.T., Taylor, E.W., McKenzie, D.J. 2020. Using aerobic exercise to evaluate sub-lethal tolerance of acute warming in fishes. Journal of Experimental Biology. 223: jeb218602 PDF

Rácz, A., Dwyer, T., Killen, S.S. 2019. Overview of a disease outbreak and introduction of a step-by step protocol for the eradication of Mycobacterium haemophilum in a zebrafish system. Zebrafish. 16(1):77-86 PDF

Halsey, L.G., Killen, S.S., Clark, T.D., Norin, T. 2018. Exploring key issues of aerobic scope interpretation in ectotherms: absolute vs. factorial. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 28: 405-415. PDF

Guzzo, M.M, Van Leeuwen, T.E., Hollins, J, Koeck, B., Newton, M., Webber, D.M., Smith, F.I., Bailey, D.M., Killen, S.S. 2018. Field testing a novel high residence positioning system for monitoring the fine-scale movements of aquatic organisms. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9:1478-1488 PDF

Killen, S.S., Norin, T., Halsey, L.G. 2017. Do method and species lifestyle affect measures of maximum metabolic rate in fish? Journal of Fish Biology. 90: 1037–1046 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.1319 PDF

Treberg, J.R., Killen, S.S., MacCormack, T.J., Lamarre, S., Enders, E.C. 2016. Estimates of metabolic rate and major constituents of metabolic demand in fishes under field conditions: Methods, proxies, and new perspectives. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A. 202: 10-22. PDF

Nadler, L.E., Killen, S.S., McClure, E.C., Munday, P.L., McCormick, M.I. 2016. Shoaling reduces metabolic rate in a gregarious coral reef fish species. Journal of Experimental Biology. 219: 2802-2805 doi: 10.1242/jeb.139493 PDF

Killen, S.S., Adriaenssens, B., Marras, S., Claireaux, G., Cooke, S.J. 2016. Context-dependency of trait repeatability and its relevance for management and conservation of fish populations. Conservation Physiology. 4: cow007 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow007 PDF

Stanley, R.R.E., Bradbury, I.R., DiBacco, C.D., Snelgrove, P.V.R., Thorrold, S., Killen, S.S. 2015. Environmentally mediated trends in otolith composition of juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). ICES Journal of Marine Science. doi: 10.1093/icesjms/fsv070 PDF