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Duane Barker

  • Professor
  • Fish Health Parasitologist
  • Marine Ecologist
Education:
  • B.Sc. 1990 (MUN);  M.Sc. 1993 (MUN);  Ph.D. 1997 (Dalhousie University, NS)
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow 2000-2001 (Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrew’s, NB)
Biography:

Dr. Barker has studied parasites and diseases of wild and cultured fish (freshwater & marine) for over 20 years. Dr. Barker was recently awarded a Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Strategic Projects grant (over $413,000 from 2009-2012) to define the ecological and immunological roles of sea lice in the propagation and development of salmon pathogens in BC. His collaborative team includes members from Fisheries & Oceans, Canada (Drs. S. Jones, K. Garver, S. Johnson), BC Ministry of Agriculture & Lands (Drs. M Sheppard, I. Keith, Ms. M Coombs), the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (Dr. S. Saksida) and Marine Harvest, Canada (Dr. D. Morrison, Mr. B. Boyce). He is currently working with a team of VIU undergraduates and recent VIU alumni (now graduate students) on this project.

In addition to this grant, his other current research interests include industry-testing of oral immunostimulants for cultured fish, surveys of parasites and pathogens of wild fish and the histopathology of chemotherapeutants used on alternative aquaculture species. His previous research efforts have focused primarily on Atlantic cod, American eel, winter flounder, Atlantic salmon, Atlantic halibut and Greenland halibut (turbot) with research topics including parasite ecology, pathology, as well as environmental influences on fish parasites. During a post-doctoral fellowship at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick (2000-2001), he was part of a collaborative research team (academia, government and industry) that was the first to find and describe a strain of nodavirus from wild winter flounder in Atlantic Canada. Prior to joining Vancouver Island University in 2005, Dr. Barker taught at the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland (2001-2005), Saint Mary’s University (1994-2000) and Dalhousie University (1997-2000) in Nova Scotia.

Courses taught:
  • AQUA 171T/172T: Field Practicum
  • AQUA 191T/192T: Projects in Fish Husbandry
  • AQUA 204: Aquatic Plant Ecology and Culture
  • AQUA 241: Fish Health
  • AQUA 341: Diseases of Fish and Shellfish
  • BIOL 121: Introductory Zoology
  • BIOL 122: Introductory Botany
  • BIOL 315: Parasitology
  • BIOL 491: Undergraduate Research project
  • FISH 123: Concepts in Biology
  • FISH 322: Coastal & Estuarine Ecosystems
  • FISH 123: Concepts in Biology
  • FISH 490: Directed Studies in Fisheries & Aquaculture
  • FISH 491: Undergraduate Research project
Current Research:
  • Disease challenges (Aeromonas salmonicida, Lepeophtheirus salmonis) using Atlantic salmon.
  • Isolation of bacteria from external and internal samples of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis).
  • Efficacy of oral immunostimulants against bacterial diseases of hatchery salmonids.
  • Biology and epidemiology of parasites and pathogens of wild fish.
  • Pathology of chemotherapeutants used on alternative aquaculture species.
Past Research:
  • Pathology of ectoparasites infecting cultured flounder and halibut.
  • Efficacy of oral immunostimulants added to commercial feeds for cultured flounder and halibut.
  • Epidemiology of pathogens and parasites among wild populations of winter flounder.
  • Environmental influences on parasites of eels.
  • Parasites as indicators of pollution (e.g., pulp & paper, crude oil) and ecosystem stress.
  • Parasites as indicators of fish migration.
Potential Research:
  • Vaccine development/testing.
  • Development of immunostimulant feeding protocols for fish culture.
  • Wild fish & shellfish pathogen surveys.

Organizations and Affiliations:

Aquaculture Association of Canada (AAC) – currently serving on Board of Directors, member since 2000

Sample of Publications (previous 15 years only):

Barker DE, LM Braden, MP Coombs & B Boyce. 2009. Preliminary studies on the isolation of bacteria from sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, infecting farmed salmon in British Columbia, Canada. (In press: Parasit res # 2009-0012-R1)

Barker DE, LM Braden, MP Coombs & B Boyce. 2009. Little bugs with smaller bugs: Preliminary studies on the role of sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, as a vector of bacterial pathogens. AAC Spec Pub 6: 15-18.

Barker DE, LD Cook & DJ Speare. (In prep). Histopathology and sensitivity of hatchery-reared, juvenile Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, and halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, to varying therapeutic formalin concentrations. (To be submitted: J Aquat Health).

Maher, J, DE Barker, G Edmondson & WH Bennett. (In Prep). Histopathology among juvenile white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, associated with exposure to varying concentrations of therapeutic formalin baths. (To be submitted: Aquaculture).

Moret C, DE Barker, G Cruise, D Fox, L Harris, R Saraga, G Spray & J Wade (In Prep). Efficacy of the oral immunomodulator, Fin-Immune™, against furunculosis in cultured rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. (To be submitted: Aquaculture).

Soko, C.K. and D. E. Barker. 2005. Efficacy of crushed garlic and lemon juice as bio-product treatments for Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (‘ich’) infections among cultured, juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Aqua Assoc Can Spec Pub 9: 108-110.

Jenkins, C. and D. E. Barker. 2005. The efficacy of oral immunostimulants in enhancing resistance against Microsporidiosis in juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) Aqua Assoc Can Spec Pub 9: 97-100.

Arthur, J. R., D. K. Cone, R. Cusack, D. E. Barker and M. D. B. Burt.  2004. Two species of Trichodina (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) from cultured flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) in Atlantic Canada. Comp. Parasit. 71(2): 247-250

Barker, D.E. & J. Davis. 2004. Preliminary testing of oral immunostimulants against Microsporidiosis in cultured cod (Gadus morhua). Spec. Pub. Bull. Aqua. Assoc. Can. 8:20-26

Barker, D.E. 2004. Optimal Dosage, Safety Margin and Shelf-life of the Anaesthetic, Benzocaine, for Cultured Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Technical report of the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development, Marine Institute of Memorial University. St. John’s, NL. 18 pp.

Barker, D. E., A.M. MacKinnon, L. Boston, D.K. Cone, M.D.B. Burt, S. Griffiths, D.J. Speare, M. Cook, R. Ritchie & G. Olivier. 2002a. First report of piscine Nodavirus infecting wild winter flounder, Pleuronectes americanus, in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick, Canada. Dis. Aquat. Org. 49: 99-105.

Barker, D.E. 2002a. Screening for Microsporidian Infections among Sea-caged, Hatchery Cod and Wild Fish. Technical report of the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development, Marine Institute of Memorial University. St. John’s, NL. 14 pp.

Barker, D.E. 2002b. Monitoring Parasites and Pathogens of Cod Aquaculture. Technical report of the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development, Marine Institute of Memorial University.  Marine Institute of Memorial University, St. John’s, NL. 41 pp.

Barker, D.E. 2002c. Efficacy of Oral Immunostimulants Added to a Commercial Feed for Cod: a Pilot Study. Technical report of the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development, Marine Institute of Memorial University. 15 pp.

Barker, D.E. 2002d. Evaluation of Microsporidian Infections among Sea-caged, Hatchery Cod During Summer in Hermitage Bay. Technical report of the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development, Marine Institute of Memorial University. St. John’s, NL. 10 pp.

Barker, D.E., D.K. Cone & M.D.B. Burt. 2002b. Trichodina murmanica (Ciliophora) and Gyrodactylus pleuronecti (Monogenea) parasitizing hatchery-reared juvenile winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus): effects on host growth and assessment of parasite interaction. J Fish Dis 25:81-89.

Barker, D.E. & D.K. Cone. 2000. Occurrence of Ergasilus celestis (Copepoda) and Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae (Monogenea) among wild eel, Anguilla rostrata, in relation to stream flow, pH and temperature and recommendations for controlling their transmission among captive eels. Aquaculture 187: 261-274.

Mercer, I.R.G., D.E. Barker & R.A. Khan. 1997. Stress-related changes in the cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus, living near a paper mill. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 58: 442-447.

Barker, D.E., D.J. Marcogliese and D.K. Cone. 1996. On the distribution and abundance of eel parasites in Nova Scotia: local versus regional patterns. J. Parasitology  82: 697-701.

Khan, R.A., D.E. Barker, K. Williams-Ryan, B. Murphy & R.G. Hooper. 1996. Abnormalities in winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) living near a pulp and paper mill in the Humber Arm, Newfoundland. In: Environmental Fate and Effects of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents. Eds. M.R. Servos, K.R. Munkittrick, J.H.Carey and G. VanderKraak. St. Luce, Florida. pp. 511-523.

Barker, D.E., R.A. Khan & R.G. Hooper. 1994. Bioindicators of stress in winter flounder, Pleuronectes americanus, captured adjacent to a pulp and paper mill in St. George's Bay, Newfoundland. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 51(10): 2203-2209.

Barker, D.E., R.A. Khan, E.M. Lee, R.G. Hooper & K. Ryan.1994.  Anomalies in sculpins (Myoxocephalus spp.) sampled near a pulp and paper mill. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26: 491-496.

Khan, R.A., D.E. Barker, R.G. Hooper, E.M. Lee, K. Ryan and K. Nag.1994. Histopathology in winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) living adjacent to a pulp and paper mill. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 26: 95-102.

Khan, R.A., D.E. Barker,  K. Williams-Ryan & R.G. Hooper. 1994. Influence of crude oil and pulp and paper mill effluent on mixed infections of Trichodina cottidarium and T. saintjohnsi (Ciliophora) parasitizing Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus and M. scorpius. Can. J. Zool. 72: 247-251.

Presentations - Conferences, Seminars and Lectures:
  • International Congress on the Biology of Fish (2008, 2006)
  • Aquaculture Association of Canada (2009, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000)
  • 47th Western Fish Disease Workshop (2006)
  • IHNV Workshop (2008, 2007)
  • Aquaculture Pacific Exchange Tradeshow and Conference (2008, 2006)
  • 10th International Congress for Parasitology (ICOPA-X, 2002)
  • American Society of Parasitologists (2001, 2002, 2003)
  • AquaNet IV (2004); V (2005)
  • Canadian Society of Zoologists (2000)
  • Atlantic Canada Association of Parasitologists (2002, 2001, 1996)
  • Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (2005, 2004, 2002)
  • Newfoundland Aquaculture Forum (2001)
  • St. Andrew’s Atlantic Exposition and Fair (2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000)
  • Nodavirus Workshop (2002)
  • Flatfish Diseases Workshop (2000)