Institute of Aquaculture

I have a BSc. and MSc. in Aquaculture and completed a NERC funded PhD. studying the photoperiodic control of reproduction in Atlantic cod. My main research interests include environmental regulation of physiology, mainly focusing on the entrainment of sexual maturation, the optimisation of commercial broodstock management to improve the performance and quality of larval rearing along with researching the systems involved in the entrainment and regulation of biological rhythms (both daily and seasonal) in fish. A key part of this research is working with colleagues to develop transcriptomic tools to describe and characterise, molecular mechanisms involved in the perception and integration of environmental signals into regulation of puberty.

In addition to this research I lecture on marine broodstock management and current industry practice as part of the Institute MSc Aquaculture/Aquatic Pathobiology/Aquatic Veterinary courses AQUPF4 and AQUPF6. I also supervise PhD and MSc research students within the group.

My publications include

• Mazorra C., Bruce M., Bell J.G., Davie A., Alorend E., Jordan N., Rees J., Papanikos N., Porter M., Bromage N. (2003) Dietary lipid enhancement of broodstock reproductive performance and egg and larval quality in Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) Aquaculture 227 21-33
• Davie A., Porter M. & Bromage N. Photoperiod control of maturation and growth in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) (2003) Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 28, 399-401
• Migaud H, Taranger G.L., Taylor J., Davie A., Cerda´-Reverter J.M., Carrillo M., Hansen T., & Bromage N.R., (2006). Pineal gland sensitivity to light intensity in salmon (Salmo salar) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): an in vivo and ex vivo study Journal of Pineal Research, 41, 42-52.
• Davie A., Porter M., Bromage N., & Migaud H. (2007). The role of seasonally altering photoperiod in regulating physiology in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Part I. Sexual maturation. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 64(1), 84-97.
• Davie A., Porter M., Bromage N., & Migaud H. (2007). The role of seasonally altering photoperiod in regulating physiology in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Part II. Somatic growth. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 64(1), 98-112.
• Fletcher R. C., Roy W, Davie A., Taylor J., Robertson D. & Migaud H. (2007) Evaluation of new microparticulate diets for early weaning of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): implications on larval performances and tank hygiene. Aquaculture, 263, 35-51.
• Davie A., Mazzora, C.M., Bromage N., Treasurer J. & Migaud H., (2007). Inhibition of sexual maturation in tank reared haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) through the use of constant light photoperiods. Aquaculture, 270: 379-389.
• Migaud, H., Davie, A., & Al-Khamees, S., (2007). Evidence for differential photic regulation of pineal melatonin synthesis in teleosts, Journal of Pineal Research, 43: 327-335
• Davie A., Mazzora, C.M., Treasurer J. & Migaud H., (2008). Photoperiod regulation of sexual maturation and growth in Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). International Journal of Ichthyology, 32: 326
• Migaud H, Davie A., Taranger G.L., Taylor J., Martinez Chavez, C., & Carrilo M., (2008) Diversity of circadian organisation and light sensitivities among teleosts species. International Journal of Ichthyology, 32: 37
• Davie A., Minghetti M., Migaud H. (2009) Seasonal variation in clock gene expression in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Chronobiology International, 26(3): 37-41 And recent (2007-2009)

Conference presentations (2007-2009) include: 

• Migaud H., Davie A., Cowan M. and Taylor J.F., 2009. Optimisation of on growing of marine finfish- a welfare perspective. Scottish Aquaculture - A Sustainable Future, The Royal Society of Edinburgh and Scottish Agriculture Research Forum, 21st - 22nd April 2009.
• Migaud H., Davie A., Vera L. & Taylor J (2009) Perception of light by cod, intensities and spectrum, effect of shading, in the lab and commercial seapens. Sats pa Torsk 2009, Bergen, Norway, February 2009
• Davie A., Taylor J., Bourhill A., Thompson K., Adams A. & Migaud H. (2009) UK commercial scale trials of narrow-bandwidth lighting systems to control maturation in Atlantic cod. Sats pa Torsk 2009, Bergen, Norway, February 2009
• Davie A. & Migaud H. (2009) Non visual light perception in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): first evidence of relative photoreception in teleosts. Sats pa Torsk 2009, Bergen, Norway, February 2009
• Migaud H., Davie A., Vera L., Taylor J., Martinez-Chavez C.C., (2008) Current knowledge, new concepts and future developments in light perception in fish and implications for artificial lighting regimes in aquaculture. Aquaculture Europe 2008, Krakow, September 2008.
• Davie A., Migaud H. (2008) Non visual light perception in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): first evidence of relative photoreception in teleosts. 24th Conference of European Comparative Endocrinologists, Genoa, September 2008.
• Vera L., Migaud H., Davie A. (2008) Comparison of the influence of light intensity and spectrum on melatonin production by the pineal gland in salmon, sea bass and cod 24th Conference of European Comparative Endocrinologists, Genoa, September 2008.
• Migaud H., Davie A., Taylor J.F., Martinez Chavez C., Al-Khamees S. (2008) Comparative studies of the circadian light axis in teleosts. 24th Conference of European Comparative Endocrinologists, Genoa, September 2008.
• Ágústsson T., Schram J.G., Migaud H., Taylor J., Davie A., Lyså P.A., Taranger G.L., Pickova J., Björnsdóttir R., Björnsson B.Th. and Sigurgísladóttir S., 2007. The effects of photoperiod manipulations on maturation and growth in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.): use of cold cathode light technology in seacages. European Aquaculture Society Conference 2007, Istanbul, Turkey, October 2007.
• Migaud H., Cowan M., Davie A., Taylor J., 2007. Research and development of stock management strategies to optimise growth potential in ongrowing cod and halibut. The British Marine Finfish Association Conference, 14-16th November 2007.
• Davie A., Minghetti M., Migaud H. (2007) The clock mechanism in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar); isolation and characterization of the molecular mechanism which entrains reproduction. 8th International Symposium on the Reproductive Physiology of Fish, St Malo, June 2007.
• Davie A., Mazzora, C.M., Treasurer J. & Migaud H., (2007). Photoperiod regulation of sexual maturation and growth in Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). 8th International Symposium on the Reproductive Physiology of Fish, St Malo, June 2007.
• Migaud H, Davie A., Taylor J., Carrilo M. & Taranger G.L., (2007) Diversity of circadian organisation and light sensitivities among teleosts species; implications for the management of reproduction in commercial culture. 8th International Symposium on the Reproductive Physiology of Fish, St Malo, June 2007.
• Davie A. Taylor J & Migaud H (2007) Environmental regulation of reproduction in cod: From laboratory to commercial practice. 2nd Scottish Cod ecology meeting, Glasgow, May 2007
• Migaud H., Davie A., Taylor J. (2007) Light perception in Atlantic cod. 2nd Scottish Cod ecology meeting, Glasgow, May 2007
• Migaud H. & Davie A (2007) Shining the Light on Salmon and Cod Farming: Current Knowledge and New Developments. 15th Annual Farmed Fish Health Management Workshop, Maine, USA, March 2007.