11/02/1998

Plumb, Lovell Retire from AU Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures Department

AUBURN, Ala. - Two highly distinguished faculty members in Auburn University's Department of Fisheries and Allied Aqaucultures -- John Plumb and Tom Lovell -- recently retired, taking with them some 60 years of experience and innumerable contributions to the fisheries and aquaculture industries in Alabama and the world.

Lovell, distinguished university professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures at AU, contributed almost 30 years of service to Auburn University and fish farmers through his work in the area of fish nutrition and fish processing technology. A native of Arkansas, Lovell received his bachelor's degree in dairy science and master's degree in animal nutrition from Oklahoma State University and the Ph.D. in animal nutrition and biochemistry from Louisiana State University (LSU). He served as an assistant and associate professor at LSU for six years before joining the AU faculty in 1969.

During his tenure at Auburn, Lovell developed a research program in fish nutrition at AU that is the first in the United States devoted to determining nutrient requirements of warmwater fish. This program has helped establish nutrient requirements of catfish and has led to the development of guidelines for formulating commercial feeds. Lovell's research also revealed the link between vitamin C deficiency and "broken back syndrome" in catfish, and his research has addressed off-flavor problems in cultured fish and shrimp.

While at Auburn, Lovell directed some 50 Ph.D. students and 70 master's students. He also developed the first course in fish nutrition ever offered in the United States and wrote the textbook "Nutrition and Feeding of Fish," which is used in universities worldwide.

Plumb, alumni professor of fisheries and allied aquacultures, spent 29 years of service at Auburn University pioneering the field of fish disease research and treatment. A native of Virginia, Plumb received his bachelor's degree from Bridgewater College in Virginia in general biological sciences, his master's degree from the Southern Illinois University in zoology and the Ph.D. from Auburn University in zoology-fisheries. He joined the Auburn faculty in 1969 and began his research program on fish diseases, which has helped improve the health and production of commercial catfish and other fish species.

Plumb's work with fish diseases has led to the development of management strategies that are used by commercial fish producers to alleviate or eradicate many diseases. His research focused on ways to vaccinate and develop immunities in fish to infectious diseases and examined the environmental influence and epizootiology of fish diseases.

In addition to his research, Plumb supervised the Fish Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the Southeastern Fish Disease Project at AU. He also is an accomplished educator who has taught basic and advanced classes in microbial fish diseases and has led many workshops, short courses and seminars in fish disease to fishery biologists, veterinarians, students and other professionals. He also directed the graduate studies of more than 40 master's and 14 Ph.D. students.

Through the years Plumb brought in almost $1 million in competitive and noncompetitive grants to Auburn and he has assisted the International Center for Aquaculture in many capacities, traveling overseas to 22 countries where he was an invited speaker, helped with fish health inspections and evaluated fish health conditions.

"The retirement of these two remarkable individuals is a major loss to our department and to the fisheries and aquaculture industries worldwide," said John Jensen, head of the AU Department of Fisheries and Allies Aquacultures. "When you hear of the success of aquaculture in general and the growth of our own catfish industry, you can with all confidence give much of the credit to people such as Lovell and Plumb. They will be greatly missed, but we wish them an enjoyable and productive retirement."

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

11/02/98