Aaron Watson

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Address: Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412
Phone: 843-953-0462
E-mail: watsona@dnr.sc.gov

Education

Ph.D., 2013, University of Maryland, College Park, Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences
M.S., 2008, University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science
B.S., 2005, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Marine Biology

Research Interests

Aquaculture nutrition, taurine, fishmeal and fish oil replacement in aquafeeds, 'Omics in aquaculture

Current and planned research projects

Evaluation of craft brewery spent grains as a potential feed ingredient for marine
carnivores
Southern Flounder intensive production and stock enhancement
Red drum and cobia extensive production and stock enhancement
Effects of alternative ingredients on marine finfish production and metabolomics
Early detection of biomarkers indicative of animal health

Publications

Liu, C.L., E. Dasi, A.M. Watson, A.R. Place, R. Jagus. 2022. eIF2α phosphorylation
in response to nutritional deficiency and stressors in the aquaculture fish,
Rachycentron canadum. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. Journal of
Marine Science and Engineering 10(5), DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10050709.
Casu, F., Klett, D., Yost, J., Denson, M.R., Watson, A.M. 2022. An NMR-based
metabolomics assessment of the effect of combinations of natural feed items in
juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
10(4), DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10040547.
Klett, D., Watson, A.M. 2022. Nutritional performance of juvenile red drum
(Sciaenops ocellatus) fed various fish, shrimp, and squid diets. Aquaculture
Nutrition. DOI: 10.1155/2022/4333227.
Lu, X., Deng, D-F, Huang, F., Casu, F., Kraco, E.K., Newton, R, Zohn, M., Teh, S.J.,
Watson, A.M., Shepherd, B., Ma, Y., Dawood, M.A.O., Mendoza, L.R. 2022. Chronic
exposure to feed containing high-density polyethylene microplastic disrupts nutrient
utilization of juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Animal Nutrition Journal.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2022.01.007.
Watson, A.M., Napolitano, M.P., Schock, T.B., Bowden, J.A., Frost, J., Yost, J.,
Denson, M.R. 2020. Evaluation of graded levels of soy oil as a fish oil replacement in
high soy protein feeds for juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Aquaculture 529,
735627.
Watson, A.M., Casu, F., Yost, J., Leffler, J.W., Gaylord, T.G., Barrows, F.T.,
Sandifer, P.A., Anderson, P., Denson, M.R., Bearden, D.W. 2019. Investigation of
Graded Levels of Soybean Meal Diets for Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, using
Quantitative PCR Derived Biomarkers. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology:
Part D: genomics and proteomics. 29, 274-285.
Casu, F., Watson, A.M., Yost, J., Leffler, J.W., Gaylord, T.G., Barrows, F.T.,
Sandifer, P.A., Denson, M.R., Bearden, D.W. 2019. Investigation of graded-level
soybean meal diets in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) using NMR-based
metabolomics analysis. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics
and Proteomics. 29, 173-184.
Casu, F., Watson, A.M., Yost, J., Leffler, J.W., Gaylord, T.G., Barrows, F.T.,
Sandifer, P.A., Denson, M.R., Bearden, D.W. 2017. Metabolomics Analysis of
Effects of Commercial Soy-Based Protein Products in Red Drum (Sciaenops
ocellatus). Journal of Proteome Research. 16:7, 2481-2494.
Fadaei, H., Watson, A.M., Place, A.R., Connolly, J., Ghosh, U. 2015. Effect of PCB
Bioavailability Changes in Sediments on Bioaccumulation in Fish. Environmental
Science & Technology. 49:20, 12405-12413.
Watson, A.M., Barrows, F.T., Place, A.R. 2015. The Importance of Taurine and n-3
Fatty Acids in Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, Nutrition. Bulletin of the Fisheries
Research Agency 40:51-59.