University of Rhode Island, 1994 Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Research Interests
My research interest covers a comprehensive array of topics pertaining to the biology of fishes with an emphasis on the biology of American eels. The American eel is found in every aquatic habitat type in eastern North America. It has a long and complex life history that provides an interesting model for studying life history strategies, sex determination, pollution effects, and other ecologically important issues. Current eel projects in my laboratory include: examinations of the distribution and physiological effects of the recently introduced swimbladder parasite, Changes in the digestive system during the adult metamorphosis, sex determination, effects of contaminants on gametogenesis, and the development of artificial fertilization methods (in collaboration with Dr. Whitney Hable's laboratory). In addition, my graduate students have often provided inspiration for research on other species and numerous non-eel projects have been and continue to be developed in my laboratory.
Recent Publications
Iafrate, J.D. and K. Oliveira (2008). Factors affecting migration patterns of juvenile river herring in a coastal Massachusetts stream. Environmental Biology of Fishes 81:101-110.
Roemer, M.E. and K. Oliveira (2007). Validation of back-calculation growth equations of juvenile bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) using tetracycline marked otoliths. Fisheries Bulletin. 105:305-309
Oliveira, K. and J.D. McCleave. (2002) Sexually different growth histories of the American eel in four rivers in Maine. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 131 (2): 203-211
Oliveira, K., J.D. McCleave, and G.S. Wippelhauser. (2001). Regional variation and the effect of habitat on sex distribution of American eels, Anguilla rostrata. Journal of Fish Biology. 58: 943-952.
Oliveira, K. and J.D. McCleave. (2000) Variation in population and life history traits of the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, in four rivers in Maine, U.S.A. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 59: 141-151.
Past and present graduate students
Joe Iafrate: (graduated 2006)
Thesis topic: Factors affecting Migration patterns of Juvenile River Herring in a Coastal Massachusetts Stream.
Marja Roemer: (graduated 2006)
Thesis topic: Age and Growth of Juvenile Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Amy Aieta (Graduated 2007)
Thesis topic: Distribution of the swimbladder parasite Anguillicola crassus in American eels in the Northeastern Atlantic.
Tom Jaffarian (in progress)
Thesis topic: Changes in the Digestive Tract of Maturing American Eels
Vinny Manfredi (in progress)
Thesis topic: Habitat Preference and Seasonal Distribution of Age-0 Winter Flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum 1792)
Matt Tweedie (in progress)
Thesis topic: Age and growth of juvenile Black Sea Bass (Centropritis striata) in Coastal Massachusetts.
Bill Duffy (in progress)
Thesis topic: Latitudinal variation in aging of American Shad
Paul McLaughlin (in progress)
Thesis topic: The effects of the swimbladder parasite Anguillicola crassus on silver phase American eels.
Jen Kinsey (Co advisor Dr. Whitney Hable) (in progress)
Thesis topic: Sperm Characteristics of Artificially Matured American eels
Courses Taught
- Anatomy & Physiology Laboratories I and II (BIO 223, 224)
- Biology of Fishes (BIO 413/513)
- Advanced Ichthyology (BIO 531)
