Weiming Li is jointly appointed in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, and in the Department of Physiology.  He is also a faculty member for the Neuroscience Program and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program.  Graduate students pursuing an advanced degree have options to receive training in any of the abovementioned programs or departments.   
 

Research Statement  
Primary research objective in my laboratory is to develop a better understanding of lamprey biology.  Pursuing this goal has resulted in an array of useful and exciting outcomes.  The sea lamprey is an invader of the Great Lakes of North America, and has been highly destructive to the fish community.  Our results have enabled a large scale field experiment to develop effective and environmentally benign methods to control the sea lamprey.  Moreover, the sea lamprey is one of the few extant jawless vertebrate species.  Lampreys arose at the advent of vertebrate evolution. Through examination of the sea lamprey model, we are inferring the origin of vertebrate animals, with a focus on evolution of several physiological mechanisms and gene families. A list of Publication from our research is available.   

Research Focus 1: Pheromone Communication  
Our laboratory has identified a novel compound (3kPZS) released by mature males that attracts female adults over long distance.  We further elucidated a mechanism whereby male lamprey gills actively “broadcast” this pheromone. With the first experimental user permit issued by USEPA that allows release of a synthesized vertebrate pheromone into the aquatic environment, we are conducting experiments in lamprey spawning streams to develop strategies for using this compound in management of lamprey populations.  In addition, we are examining endocrine brain gene expression changes induced by waterborne 3kPZS.   

Research on pheromone communication has been funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Defenses and other Communication Disorder and the Great Lakes Protection Fund.   

Research Focus 2: Sea Lamprey Genomics 
The sequencing of the sea lamprey genome by NIH Genome Sequencing Center at Washington University (St. Louis) closed s significant gap in genomic resources for Chordates.  An extensive lamprey genomic resource will enable researchers to dissect the molecular events that led to landmark innovations during vertebrate evolution.  We are currently pursuing four objectives in our sea lamprey genomics research: (1) developed a sea lamprey cDNA microarray and established a comprehensive genomic resource for the sea lamprey; (2) annotate the draft sea lamprey genome (in collaboration with the St. Louis Center and many other institutes); (3) examine the draft genome to extract information useful for sea lamprey control; and (4) establish a systematic and comprehensive sea lamprey transcriptome.  Research for objectives 1 through 3 are supported by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and those for objective 4 are supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.  

Research Focus 3: Lamprey Endocrinology 
It was in basal vertebrates such as lampreys that steroid hormones have evolved, leading to many vertebrate innovations and higher levels of regulatory complexity.  We have attempted to identify and characterized an androgen - androgen receptor system, aglucocorticoid - receptor system, and other circulatory steroids that might function as hormones in the sea lamprey.  Our research into lamprey endocrinology has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Bonneville Power Administration.   
 

Teaching Statement

I teach FW 473/ PSL473, Environmental Fish Physiology, in the spring semester of even academic years. Environmental Fish Physiology presents an advanced study of the biology of fishes. It provides opportunities for students to examine topics related to fish physiological adaptations, and to investigate in depth a self-selected topic through literature search. Topics for this course are focused on the physiological and behavioral adaptations of fish to their physical, chemical and biological environments.

The main goals are for students to establish a broad knowledge of fish environmental physiology, to search and organize technical information, to cultivate skills for scientific writing and oral presentation in an informative, accurate and professional format. Lectures, classroom discussions, literature search, and oral and written presentations will be used to develop these skills.

 

 

 

Dept. Fisheries and Wildlife

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Laboratory (26 Natural Resources) - (517) 432-1141
Laboratory (158 Giltner Hall) - (517) 432-3314
Fax: (517) 432-1699

-no molecular toxicology

-change functional to comparative genomics

-change physiology to endocrinology

-take out the fishes and put lamprey pic