DEPARTMENT OF AQUATIC BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
UNIVERSITY OF KERALA
M. Phil. AQUATIC BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
SYLLABUS
(2008-09 Batch Onwards)
PAPERI -RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Methods in Aquatic Toxicology.- Dr. Tresa Radhakrishnan
Toxicity testing. Acute toxicity test: Introduction.
General Principles of acute toxicity tests. Methodology for fish
and invertebrates. Methodology for phytoplankton.
Chronic toxicity test: Introduction. Test species. Methodology.
Factors modifying toxicity: Introduction. Terminology.
Test condition.
Research Methodology.- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Concepts of scientific research, research hypotheses,
literature survey and referencing. Experimental Design.
Multiway factorial analysis. Multiplecorrelation and regression.
Communication of Research:Writing for aquatic sciencejournals.
Screening Marine Organisms for Biologically - Dr. K. Padmakumar
Active Substances.
Molecular Diagnostic Methods in Fish Pathology.- Dr. R.B. Pramod Kiran
Molecular-based detection of pathogen-specific nucleic acid
using shrimp white spot syndrome virus as model. Antibody-based
detection of pathogen-specific protein PAb and MAb, western blot
and ELISA. Molecular epidemiology of viral infection using shrimp
WSSV as model.
Principles and Practice of Aquatic Taxonomy.- Dr. A. Bijukumar
Taxonomiccollection(aquatic phyla). Taxonomic description -
procedure and practice.Taxonomic keys. Taxonomy of finfish
and shellfish (shrimps).Molecular taxonomy. Bar-coding of
marine animals.Global Taxonomy Initiative.
PAPERII- AQUATIC BIOLOGY
Environmental Problems of Kerala.- Dr. Tresa Radhakrishnan
Eco-restorationand ecological modeling.Environmental
legislation and chemical safety evaluation.
Harmful Marine Microalgae and Seafood Poisoning.- Dr. K. Padmakumar
Pathogenic and Contaminant Microorganisms in the Aquatic- Dr. R.B. Pramod Kiran
Environment.
Major fish and shellfish bacterial pathogens. Use of drugs and
chemicals in aquaculture. Probiotics and their uses in aquaculture.
Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Resources.- Dr. A. Bijukumar
Importance of inland and marine biodiversity.
Major threats to aquatic biodiversity. Freshwater biodiversity
hotspots. Management of aquatic biodiversity (Indicators,
management of gene pool, conservation of aquatic ecosystems,
restoration of ecosystems; conservation through community
participation, parks and reserves). International Instruments
(Agenda 21, Convention on Biological Diversity,
UNESCO convention, Ramsar Convention).
PAPER III -FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
Fish Immunology- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Phylogeny of immune system. MHCs. Lmphokines. Cytokines.
Interleukins. Cellular interactions. Genetic basis of immunity.
Control of immune response.Immune deficiency.
Aquaculture – Principles and Practice.- Dr. R.B. Pramod Kiran
Overview of freshwater aquaculture in India. Recent advances in
mariculture in India. Present status of shrimp farming in India
and way ahead. Sustainable aquaculture and Code of Conduct.
Model Bankable project preparation.
Advances in Fish Genetics.- Dr. R.B. Pramod Kiran
Principles of selective breeding of fish and shrimp. Cytogenetic
and chromosomal studies in fishes. Genome manipulation –
gynogenesis, androgenesis, polyploidy. Hormonal sex reversal.
Hybridisation
Sustainable Fisheries Management.- Dr. A. Bijukumar
Sustainability in world fisheries. Collapse of marine fishery
resources (Peruvian Anchovy, Atlantic cod). Stock assessments.
Trophic level as indicators of fisheries impacts. Loss of predatory
fishes. Fishing down the food web in Indian waters. Globalisation
and its impact on fisheries. Sustainable fisheries management.
FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
Semester-1 = November-April
Semester-2 = May-October
Theory Examinations (100 marks each)
Paper I – Research Methodology-5th May 2009
Paper II – Aquatic Biology-7th May 2009
Paper III – Fisheries and Aquaculture -5th August 2009
Last date of submission of dissertation-31st October 2009