About the Program

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.