Donald
L. Lovett
Professor
Department
of Biology
The College of New Jersey
Office:
Biology 129
Office Phone: (609) 771-2876
Research Lab: Biology 134
Lab Phone: (609) 771-2675
EM Facility: Biology 143
e-mail:
lovett@tcnj.edu
Research Interests
Vitae
Publications
Courses Taught
Curricular and Pedagogical Work
Beta
Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
Scholarships,
Fellowships and Research Opportunities for Students
Microscopy
Facilities at TCNJ
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Osmoregulation in Crabs
My
long-range research goals have been to
understand how crabs osmoregulate
(maintain salt balance in the blood). In this work I study anatomy, ultrastructure, cell biology, and physiology of the gill in estuarine crabs.
The estuarine crab is an interesting creature: it is able to tolerate
exposure to a wide range of environmental salinity from fresh water to
full-strength seawater to hypersaline conditions. Not only does it
tolerate a wide range of salinities, but it can tolerate a rapid transfer from hypersaline
to freshwater – a treatment that would kill most organisms. We know
that the gills are the primary organ in the crab used to osmoregulate and
that during acclimation to various salinities, the crab modulates the activity
of the enzyme Na+,K+-ATPase in the gills. The
real question is how does the crab do this?
Previous investigators have
examined either crab gill morphology or ATPase activity following acclimation
to a change in salinity. My research has examined how morphology
and enzyme activity are linked and how they each may be regulated in the
crab. Specifically, I have described the differences between short-term
(acute) and long-term (acclimation) responses to change in salinity.
If the crab is exposed to an acute change in salinity, the size of the
osmoregulatory patches on the gills remains unchanged. However, around
four days after transfer to a different salinity, the size of the patch
begins to change (it gets larger in low salinity). Through studies
of RNA and DNA ratios, I have determined that this change occurs through
differentiation of existing cells in the gill, rather than by addition
of new cells.
In the course of examining
the anatomy of the crab gill, I have
found
that the gill does not function
in the manner that has been hypothesized
for many years. For example,
I now hypothesize that a microvasculature
system in the crab actually represents
a unique vascular system that is
separate from the blood circulatory system.
Furthermore, I serendipitously
discovered a new gland in the crab (which
is connected to this micro-
vasculature). If my hypotheses about the
microvasculature and this new
gland prove to be correct and can be supported
adequately by my data,
then this discovery could revolutionize the entire
field of invertebrate
endocrinology.
In recent years, my
research has turned toward examining
endogenous compounds that may function
in triggering osmoregulatory
mechanisms in crabs. In particular,
I have examined the effects of both
polyamines and methyl farnesoate (MF).
Polyamines have been shown to
affect both the activity of Na+,K+-ATPase
and the differentiation of cells
in other organisms; I also have demonstrated
that levels of polyamines in
the crab change when salinity changes.
Thus, it is logical to predict that
polyamines may be involved in modulating Na+,K+-ATPase activity in crabs
and in stimulating
the differentiation of cells in gill during acclimation.
Despite
these discoveries, I had been unable to determine until recently
what triggers
either the production of polyamines or other aspects of
osmoregulatory
responses in gills.
MF is a little-known hormone
that is related chemically to insect juvenile hormone (JH). Because
JH is associated primarily with molting, metamorphosis, and sexual maturation,
most research on MF in crustaceans has focused on similar functions.
I have hypothesize that MF is involved in the regulation of salt balance
in the blood of crabs. I have determined that MF, indeed, is intimately
involved in the response of crabs to changes in salinity. When salinity
decreases, the level of MF in the blood increases and remains elevated
as long as the salinity remains low. The amount of MF in the blood
and the activity of ATPase are inversely proportional to the salt content
of the water. My current research goal is to demonstrate whether
changes in MF levels actually initiate the osmoregulatory response or whether
levels of MF change in response to the stress induced by the crab being
exposed to changes in salinity. If there is an interaction between
MF and the osmoregulatory response, the application of this work could
be extended beyond the study of crabs; it may have application in medical
research. My work has been used by other investigators to develop
controlled protocols for increasing hormone levels in arthropods, using
techniques less stressful than the eye ablation that has been the standard
technique for years.
In addition to the
traditional cell biology and invertebrate anatomy and physiology aspects
of my
research, I recently have begun to incorporate techniques from molecular
biology into my research. Irrespective of what actually turns the
osmoregulatory mechanism off and on in the crab, this response involves
some aspect of genetic regulation. Over the past year and a half
I have adapted standard molecular biology techniques to use in my study
of the crabs. Using Western blots, I have quantified
the amount of Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme present in gill tissue
(which is different from measuring the activity of the enzyme) have determined
that the crab synthesizes more enzyme when it acclimates to low salinity.
Using real time PCR, I have been able to quantify the amount of mRNA for Na+, K+-ATPase
in the gills, and have found that the amount of mRNA increases transiently
during acclimation to low salinity. BY the time that crabs have acclimated
to low salinity, the amount of mRNA returns to levels found in crabs acclimated
to high salinity.
Shrimp
Nutrition and Development of the Digestive System
My anatomical and physiological studies of developmental changes in the
digestive system of the shrimp have revealed a previously unknown model
of metamorphosis. My results have contradicted widely-held ideas
about feeding and nutrition in crustaceans and served as a nucleus for
debate about the validity of trends assumed to be universal for all crustaceans
(i.e., mastication of food shifts from the mandibles to the gut at metamorphosis;
lack of assimilation of foods is due to the absence of essential nutrients).
Most significantly, I observed and documented a process of reverse peristalsis
in the gut of shrimp and demonstrated that the part of the shrimp designated
as the intestine does not function in a manner similar to that of the human
intestine. I continue to be involved with the field, and have recent
collaborated with an investigator from Iran in studying the effects of
probiotics in the ability of shrimp to digest and assimilate food.
Relative Growth in Crustaceans
Allometric (relative growth) characteristics have been used to estimate
the size of an organism at the onset of sexual maturity. In my work,
I have proposed an argument against the common method used to quantify
relative growth (i.e., least squares regression of log-transformed meristic
data). .The basic argument is that body parts typically do not grow
logarithmically in relation to to total body length; they grow proportionally
at a linear rate.
Vitae for Donald L. Lovett
EDUCATION
University of Montana, Missoula
B.A.S., Zoology (High Honors), 1975
B.S., Fisheries (High Honors), 1975
Honors Thesis: Distribution of aquatic macroinvertebrates in thermal waters.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
M.S., Resource Ecology, 1977
Master's Thesis: Horizontal migrations of zooplankton in a dystrophic bog
lake.
University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette
Ph.D., Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, 1988
Dissertation: Ontogeny of morphology, ultrastructure, and function in larval
and
postlarval white shrimp Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus 1767).
RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED
John O. Crane Fellowship and Baxter Fellowship.
2004. The Marine Biological
Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.
Principal Investigator. Physiological significance of methyl
farnesoate in osmoregulation by
crabs. $7,550.
National Science Foundation, Integrative and Animal Biology (IBN-0240903). 2003-
2006. Co-principal Investigator with
D.W. Borst. Studies of methyl farnesoate in
crustaceans: physiological
significance and peptide regulation.
$480,300 ($126,396
funded at TCNJ) plus $5,500 REU
supplement.
Mount
Desert
Island
Biological Laboratory. 2002.
New Investigator Fellowship.
Principal Investigator. Modulation of Na+,K+-ATPase
in estuarine crabs during acute and
acclimation responses to salinity change. $7,000.
Phi Kappa Phi,
The College of New Jersey.
2001. Student-Faculty Research Scholarship.
Faculty Mentor. Modulation
of ATPase enzyme level and activity in the blue crab during
acclimation to salinity
change. $400 (awarded to student Joseph Burgents).
Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research. 1998. Faculty Mentor.
Osmoregulatory modulation
of Na+,K+-ATPase activity
in crab gills by methyl farnesoate. $700 (awarded to student
Michael Verzi).
The Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole,
MA. 1998 MBL Associates
Fellowship. Principal Investigator.
Modulation of Na+,K+-ATPase by methyl farnesoate.
$2,500. (declined).
Phi Kappa Phi, The College of New Jersey.
1998. Student-Faculty Research Scholarship.
Faculty Mentor. Osmoregulation
in crabs. $400 (awarded to student Michael Verzi).
The Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole,
MA. 1997. John O. Crane Fellowship
and Esther and Joseph Klingenstein
Fellowship. Principal Investigator. Methyl farnesoate
and polyamine modulation
of crustacean Na+,K+-ATPase. $9,130.
National Science Foundation Research Opportunity
Award. 1997. Co-principal
Investigator with D.W. Borst,
NSF IBN-93-19206. The regulation of crustacean
development and reproduction.
$7,500.
National Science Foundation Research Experience
for Undergraduates. 1997.
Co-principal Investigator
with D.W. Borst, NSF IBN-93-19206. The regulation of
crustacean development and
reproduction. $3,000.
Council for Undergraduate Research Summer Opportunity
for Research (CURSOR).
1993. Principal Investigator
with Jason Faris (student). In vitro effect of polyamines on
kinetics of Na+/K+-ATPase
from the gill of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. $3,150.
New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium Development
Grant. 1990. Principal
Investigator. Mechanisms
of osmoregulatory response in gills of the blue crab. $7,496.
Lake Forest College Summer Research Grant.
1989. Principal Investigator. Shoreline
avoidance in Diaptomus leptopus.
$1,750,
Louisiana Sea Grant College Program. 1985-88.
Co-Principal Investigator with D.L.
Felder. Ontogeny of feeding
habits and of gut structure and function in the white and
brown shrimp. $81,747,
USL Foundation Development Research Grant.
1983-84. Co-Principal Investigator with
D.L. Felder. Evaluation
of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis as a substitute for Artemia in feeding
larvae of Macrobrachium
rosenbergii. $1,000.
PUBLICATIONS
(*-indicates student co-author)
Lovett, D.L., M.P. Verzi*, J.E. Burgents*,
C.A. Tanner*, K. Glomski*, J.J. Lee*,
and
D. W. Towle.
2006.
Expression profiles of Na+,K+-ATPase during acute and
chronic
hypo-osmotic stress
in the blue crab Callinectes
sapidus.
Biological Bulletin
211:58-65.
Lovett, D.L.,
T. Colella*, A.C. Cannon*, D.H. Lee*, A. Evangelisto*, E.M. Muller*,
and D.W. Towle.
2006.
Effect of salinity on osmoregulatory patch epithelia in gills
of the blue crab
Callinectes sapidus. Biological
Bulletin 210:132-139.
Lovett, D.L., C.A. Tanner*, K. Glomski*, T.M. Ricart*, and D.W. Borst.
2006. The effect
of seawater composition and
osmolality on hemolymph levels of methyl farnesoate in the
green crab Carcinus maenas. Comp.
Biochem. Physiol. Part A. 143:67-77.
Ziaei-Nejada*, S., M.H. Rezaeib, G.A. Takamic, D.L. Lovett, A.R. Mirvaghefia ,
and M.
Shakourie. 2006. The
effect of Bacillus spp. bacteria used as probiotics on digestive
enzyme activity, survival and growth
in the Indian white shrimp Fenneropenaeus indicus.
Aquaculture 252:516-524.
Lovett,
D.L.
,
C.A.
Tanner*, T.M. Ricart*, and D.W. Borst. 2003.
Effect of seawater
osmolality on hemolymph levels of methyl farnesoate
in the green shore crab Carcinus
maenas. Bull. Mount
Desert
Island
Biol. Lab.
43:
42:83-84.
Lovett,
D.L.
,
C.A.
Tanner*, T.M. Ricart*, and D.W.
Towle. 2003.
Modulation of Na+,K+-
ATPase expression during acclimation to
salinity change in the blue crab
Callinectes
sapidus.
Bull. Mount
Desert
Island
Biol. Lab.
42:103-104.
Lovett, D.L., M.P. Verzi*, P.D. Clifford*, and D.W. Borst. 2001.
Hemolymph levels of
methyl farnesoate increase in response
to osmotic stress in the green crab, Carcinus
maenas. Comp. Biochem Physiol.
A. 128:299-306.
Lovett, D.L. 1999. A metamorphosis in teaching biology. Biosis
70(1):30-35.
Lovett, D.L., P.D. Clifford*, and D.W. Borst. 1997. Physiological
stress elevates hemolymph
levels of methyl farnesoate
in the green crab, Carcinus maenas. Biol. Bull. 193(2):266-
267.
Ogan, J.*, A. Shaub*, D.L. Lovett, and D.W. Borst. 1997. Relationship
of methyl
transferase activity and
methyl farnesoate levels in the spider crab, Libinia emarginata.
Biol. Bull. 193(2):267-268.
Lovett, D.L., and S.A. Watts. 1995. Changes in polyamine levels
in response to acclimation
salinity in gills of the
blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. Comp. Biochem.
Physiol.110B:115-119.
Lovett, D.L., D.W. Towle, and J.E. Faris*. 1994. Salinity-sensitive
alkaline phosphatase
activity in gills of blue
crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.
109B:163-173.
Lovett, D.L. 1991. Review of Functional Morphology of Feeding
and Grooming in Crustacea,
B.E. Felgenhauer, L. Watling,
and A.B. Thistle (eds). Crustacean Issues, Vol. 6, F.R.
Schram (ed.). A.A. Balkema,
Rotterdam. Quarterly Review of Biology 66:214.
Lovett, D.L. and D.L. Felder. 1990. Ontogenetic change of enzyme
distribution and midgut
function in developmental
stages of Penaeus setiferus. Biol. Bull. 178:160-174.
Lovett, D.L. and D.L. Felder. 1990. Ontogenetic change in digestive
enzyme activity of larval
and postlarval white shrimp
Penaeus
setiferus. Biol. Bull. 178:146-159.
Lovett, D.L. and D.L. Felder. 1990. Ontogeny of kinematics in
the gut of Penaeus setiferus.
J. Crustacean Biology
10:53-68.
Lovett, D.L. and D.L. Felder. 1989. Ontogeny of gut morphology
in the white shrimp
Penaeus setiferus.
J. Morphology 201:253-272.
Lovett, D.L., and D.L. Felder. 1989. Application of regression
techniques to studies of
relative
growth in crustaceans. J.
Crustacean Biology 9:529-539.
Felder, D.L. and D.L. Lovett. 1989. Relative growth and sexual
maturation in the estuarine
ghost shrimp Callianassa
jamaicense Schmitt. J. Crustacean Biology 9:540-553.
Lovett, D.L., and D.L. Felder. 1988. Evaluation of rotifer Brachionus
plicatilis as a substitute
for Artemia
in feeding larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Aquaculture
71:331-338.
Lovett, D.L. 1981. A Guide to the Shrimps,
Prawns, Lobsters, and Crabs of Malaysia and
Singapore.
Occasional Publications of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science,
Universiti Pertanian Malaysia No. 2.
156 pp.
PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS
(*-indicates student
co-author)
McKeon-Fish, A.F.*, Treitler,
P.C.*, and Lovett, D.L. 2006. Modification of the α-subunit modulates
Na+,K+-ATPase activity in gills of the euryhaline crabs Callinectes sapidus
and Carcinus maenas. Integrative and Comparative Biology 46(6): in press.
Parikh, P.C.*,
K.J. Tierney*, N.L.Gerber*, D.L. Lovett. 2005.
Na+,K+-ATPase activity in
gills of the green crab Carcinus
maenas may be modulated by membrane trafficking
during salinity change. Integrative
Comparative Biology 45(6):1175.
Novotney, D.*,
Ding, X., Lahey, B.*, Lovett, D.L., and Borst, D.W. 2004.
The site of yolk protein
synthesis in the green crab. Integrative and
Comparative Biology 44(6):732.
Lee, J.J.*, Glomski, K.*, Tanner,
C.A.*, Borst,
D.W., Lovett, D. 2004. Hemolymph levels of
Ca2+ may modulate methyl
farnesoate levels in the green crab Carcinus maenas.
Integrative and Comparative Biology
44(6):718.
Lovett, D.L., C.A.Tanner*, K. Glomski*, and D.W. Towle. 2003. Induction of
gene
expression for Na+,K+-ATPase
and actin during acclimation of the blue crab Callinectes
sapidus to dilute seawater.
Integrative and Comparative Biology 43(6):1044.
Tanner,
C.A. *,
T.M. Ricart*, D.W. Borst, and D.L. Lovett.
2002.
The effect of osmotic
conditions on methyl farnesoate
levels in the green crab, Carcinus maenas. Integr.
Comp. Biol. 422(6):1322.
Lovett, D.L., T.M. Ricart*, C.A. Tanner*, and D.W. Towle. 2002.
Chronic
exposure of the
blue crab, Callinectes sapidus,
to low salinity stimulates expression of Na+,K+-ATPase α-
subunit mRNA and protein in gills.
Integr. Comp. Biol. 422(6):1269.
Burgents, J.E.*, and D.L. Lovett. 2001. Is the increase in Na+,K+-ATPase
activity observed
hyperosmoregulation in the
blue crab Callinectes sapidus due to stimulation of
translation? Am. Zool.
421(5):84A.
Verzi, M.P.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1999. An immunological
analysis of the Na+,K+-ATPase
protein in the blue crab,
Callinectes
sapidus, during osmoregulation. Am. Zool.
39(5):66A.
Verzi, M.P.*, J.T. Ogan*, D.L. Lovett, and D.W. Borst. 1998.
Change in methyl farnesoate
levels in response to hemolymph
osmolality in the green crab Carcinus maenas.
Am. Zool. 38(5):
102A.
Verzi, M.P.* and D.L. Lovett. 1998. Osmoregulatory modulation
of gill Na+,K+-ATPase
activity from the blue crab
Callinectes
sapidus by endogenous compounds. Bull. N.J.
Acad. Sci.
43(1):21.
Lovett, D.L., P.D. Clifford*, and D.W. Borst. 1997. Hypoosmotic
stress causes sustained
elevation of methyl farnesoate
levels in the green crab Carcinus maenas. Am. Zool.
37(4):86A.
Ogan, J.*, A. Shaub*, D.L. Lovett, and D.W. Borst. 1997. Methyl
farnesoate (MF) levels
and the mandibular organ
(M0) activity in the spider crab, Libinia emarginata. Am. Zool.
37(5):150A.
Megjugorac, N.J.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1997. The microvasculature
within gills of the blue crab
Callinectes sapidus is
a network of ducts extending from a newly-discovered gland.
Bull. N.J. Acad. Sci.
42(1):17.
Stevenson, V.A.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1995. A new gland in the
blue crab, Callinectes sapidus:
A new model of secretion
delivery? Am. Zool. 35(5):113A.
Muller, E.M.*, E. Terrill*, and D.L. Lovett. 1995. Further studies
of the effect of
polyamines on the activity
of Na+,K+-ATPase from gills of the blue crab, Callinectes
sapidus.
Am. Zool. 35(5):75A.
Gallagher, M. *, and D.L. Lovett. 1994. In vitro effects
of polyamines on reaction kinetics of
Na+,K+-ATPase from the gills
of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Bull. N. J. Acad.
Sci. 39(1):27.
Gallagher, M.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1994. Morphology of the "microvasculature"
in gills of the
blue crab, Callinectes
sapidus. Am. Zool. 34(5):97A.
Bloor, J.J.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1994. A re-evaluation of the
histology of gills of the blue crab
Callinectes sapidus:
The "microvasculature" actually is a series of excretory ducts.
Bull. N. J. Acad. Sci.
39(1):26.
Rogalski, L.*, R. Bhattacharya*, M. Kayne, and D. Lovett. 1994.
Ultrastructural
studies
of the freshwater alga Haematococcus
pluvialis, during transition from the vegetative to
the akinete stage. Bull.
N. J. Acad. Sci. 39(1):35.
Lovett, D.L., and J.E. Faris*. 1993. Polyamines affect Na+,K+-ATPase
and alkaline
phosphatase in blue crab
(Callinectes sapidus) gills. Am. Zool. 33(5):31A
Faris, J.E.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1993. Isolation and characterization
of two species of alkaline
phosphatase from the gills
of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Bull. N. J. Acad. Sci.
38(1):15.
Smith, B.E.*, R.F. Ott, Jr.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1993. Polyamines
may modulate both the
acute and acclimation osmoregulatory
response in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus.
Bull. N. J. Acad. Sci.
38(1):15.
Evangelisto, A.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1993. Acclimation changes
in size of osmoregulatory
patch size of gill lamellae in
Callinectes
sapidus reflect changes in Na+/K+-ATPase
activity. Bull. N. J. Acad. Sci.
38(1):15.
Trivedi, D.R.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1993. The putative role of
secretions from glands lining the
branchial vessels of the
blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Bull. N. J. Acad. Sci. 38(1):15.
Lovett, D.L., S.A. Watts, R.F. Ott*, and B.E. Smith*. 1992. Effect
of acclimation salinity on
Na+/K+-ATPase activity and
polyamine concentration in gills of the blue crab, Callinectes
sapidus. Amer.
Zool. 31:58A.
Colella, T.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1992. Use of RNA/DNA ratio to
examine acclimation response
in gills of the blue crab
Callinectes
sapidus. Bull. N. J. Acad. Sci. 37(2):9.
Cannon, A.C.*, and D.L. Lovett. 1992. Acclimation response in
the blue crab Callinectes
sapidus: Change in
size of osmoregulatory patch area on gill lamellae. Bull. N. J. Acad.
Sci. 37(2):9.
REVIEWER FOR SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
The Biological Bulletin
Comparative Biochemistry
and Physiology
Hydrobiologia
Integrative and Comparative Biology
Invertebrate Zoology
Journal of Comparative Physiology
Journal of Crustacean Biology
Journal
of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Journal of the Marine Biological
Association of the United Kingdom
Marine Biology
Naturwissenschaften
Marine Ecology Progress Series
The Quarterly Review of
Biology
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Society for Integrative
and Comparative Biology
The Crustacean Society
Council on Undergraduate
Research
Beta Beta Beta National
Biology Honorary (Chapter Advisor)
The College Board
Sigma Xi
Phi Kappa Phi
New Jersey Society
for Histotechnology
National Science Foundation
(reviewer for proposals)
COURSES TAUGHT
BIO 185 -- Themes in Biology
BIO
413 -- Microscopic Anatomy and Techniques
BIO 467 -- Electron Microscopy
for Biologists
BIO 497 -- Independent
Study
CURRICULAR AND
PEDAGOGICAL WORK
The College Board, New York, NY
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Natural Sciences, Development Committee, Chair, 1994-1999
Biology, Development Committee, 1994-1999
Advanced Placement Program (AP)
Biology, Development Committee, 1995-1998
Biology, Faculty
Consultant, 1991-present
Biology, Advisory Committee for development of an interactive CD-ROM based
study guide for students, 1998-1999
Biology, Development Committee for the AP Teacher Preparation Course for
Biology, 2001-2002
Educational Testing Service, Princeton,
NJ
Major Field
Test (MFT)
Biology, Development Committee, Chair, 1994-present
Praxis National Teacher's Examination
Biology Beginning Teacher Exam / National Teacher Exam,
Development
Committee, 1992-1995
Biology and General Sciences Exam, Faculty Consultant,
1991-1992
E-mail questions, comments, etc. to: Dr.
Lovett
biology@TCNJ.edu