Karolina Kwasek | Zoology Program | SIU

Karolina Kwasek

Associate Professor

My main research goal is to obtain better understanding of nutritional physiology of fish, particularly in their early ontogeny. More specifically, I am interested in how different forms of dietary amino acids affect fish larvae, development, health, intestinal transport, and hormonal regulation. In my work I am looking at different dietary dipeptide configurations, health-promoting peptides, and protein hydrolysate profiles that help to improve dietary protein utilization in young fish. In addition, my research focuses on ways of reducing the use of live feeds in hatcheries and improvement of current larval rearing techniques to improve fish production.  Simultaneously, my work also investigates how different protein sources alternative to fishmeal affect digestive processes and metabolism in fish.

Education

• B. Sc., M.Sc., Inland Fisheries, University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland;
• Ph. D., Animal Science, The Ohio State University, USA
• Postdoctorals, University of Insubria, Italy; The Ohio State University, USA

Courses Taught

Zoology 477 (Aquaculture), Zoology 570 (Advanced Aquaculture)

Selected Recent Publications

Kwasek K., Parker T., Rimoldi S., Cattaneo A.G., Dabrowski K., Terova G. (2017). The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α gene is not affected by low-oxygen conditions in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) juveniles. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry Volume 43, 849-862.

Kwasek, K., Chea, S., Tsatsaros, J., Johnstone, G., Phillips, M. (2015). The WISH pond: Potential for development of aquaculture in northeast Cambodia. WorldFish Working Paper: 2015-49.

Chea S., Johnstone G., Kwasek K., Phillips M. (2016) The role of gender in the development and adoption of small scale aquaculture - case study from Northeast Cambodia. Asian Fisheries Science Special Issue: Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries 29, 111-126.

Kwasek K., Terova G., Lee B.J., Bossi E., Saroglia M., Dabrowski K., 2014. Dietary methionine in salmonid fish feed alters the expression of genes involved in methionine metabolism. Aquaculture 433, 223-228.

Kwasek K. Dabrowski K, Nynca J., Takata R., Wojno M., Wick M., 2014. The influence of dietary lysine on yellow perch (Perca flavescens) female reproductive performance and the quality of eggs. North American Journal of Aquaculture North 76, 351-358.

Kwasek K., Dabrowski K., Nynca J., Wick M., 2014. The influence of dietary lysine on yellow perch maturation and the quality of sperm. North American Journal of Aquaculture 76, 119-126.

Portella M.C., Leitao N.J., Menossi O.C., Takata R., Kwasek K., Dabrowski K. 2013. Free amino acid of pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus eggs and larvae. Journal of World Aquaculture Society 44: 425 – 434.

Ostaszewska T., Dabrowski K., Kamaszewski M., Kwasek K., Grodzik M., and Bierła J., 2013. The effect of dipeptide, Lys-Gly, supplemented diets on digestive tract histology in juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Aquaculture Nutrition 19: 100-109

Kwasek K., Wojno M., Terova G., Ostaszewska T., Wick M. and Dabrowski K., 2012. The effect of the dipeptide, Lys-Gly, supplement on growth, muscle proteins and PEPT1 gene expression in juvenile yellow perch. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 22: 797–812.

Kwasek K., Dabrowski K., Ware K., Reddish J.M., Wick M 2011. The effect of lysine -supplemented wheat gluten - based diet on yellow perch Perca flavescens. Aquaculture Research 22: 797-812.

Bowzer, J., Dabrowski K., Ware K., Kwasek K., Ostaszewska T. 2011. Evaluation of the viability of walleye embryos and larvae after Antiviral Iodine Treatment. North American Journal of Aquaculture 73: 383-392.

Ostaszewska T., Dabrowski K., Kwasek K., Verri T., Kamaszewski M., Sliwinski J., Napora-Rutkowski L., 2011. Effects of various diet formulations (experimental and commercial) on the morphology of the liver and intestine of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles. Aquaculture Research 42: 1796-1806.

Dabrowski K.,  Zhang Y., Kwasek K., Hliwa P., Ostaszewska T., 2010. Effects of protein-, peptide- and free amino acid-based diets in fish nutrition. Aquaculture Research 41: 668-683.

Dabrowski K., Ware K., Jaroszewska M., Kwasek K., 2009. Evaluation of embryo survival and larval viability of walleye following iodine treatment. North American Journal of Aquaculture, 71: 122-129.

Kwasek K., Zhang Y., Hliwa P., Gomulka P., Ostaszewska T. and Dabrowski K., 2009. Free amino acids as indicators of nutritional status of silver bream Vimba vimba, a threatened cyprinid species in Europe, when using commercial and purified diets. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology – Part A, 153: 113-119

Kwasek K., Zhang Y. and Dabrowski K., 2009. Utilization of dipeptide based diets in larval and juvenile Koi Carp (Cyprinus carpio) - postprandial free amino acid level. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 94: 35-43.

Ostaszewska T., Dabrowski K., Hliwa P., Gomółka P. and Kwasek K., 2008.  Nutritional regulation of intestine morphology in larval cyprinid fish, silver bream (Vimba vimba). Aquaculture Research 39: 1268-1278.