The course deals with the study of Fish Biology, Ecology and Behavior as well as the understanding of some contemporary issues related to fish populations and fishery management.

Upon successful completion of the course students are expected to have acquired scientific knowledge, critical thinking and skills-abilities for the: a) identification of fishes based on their morphological characteristics, b) study of fish feeding and reproductive strategies, c) analysis of data to estimate the age and growth of fish, d) understanding the key features of fishes, such as swimming, buoyancy regulation, respiration and osmosis regulation, perception of the environment and evolutionary adaptations to a wide variety of habitats, e) evaluation of fisheries data for fish population management f) use of the basic functions of the “Fish base” database, g) on-line access to libraries, databases and journals, h) use of software packages for analyzing biological data, i) understanding, analyzing and presenting research and bibliographic data.

1. External fish morphology, systematic characters and diversity. Internal morphology, organization and evolutionary relationships of the various systems – 2. Reproduction. Reproductive system, gametogenesis, maturity, fecundity – 3. Reproductive strategies and behavior – 4. Age and growth. Age estimation methods – 5. Age and growth. Von Bertalanffy equation – 6. Feeding strategies and morphological adaptations. Mechanisms of food intake. Nutrition – 7. Zoogeography of Fishes - Factors affecting their distribution – 8. Adaptations to extreme environments – 9. Responses to external stimuli (tactics) – 10. Swimming and alternative modes of transport. Shoaling. Migrations – 11. Communication and Interactions. Symbiosis, predation and parasitism – 12. Characteristics of fish populations and Stock evaluation models. Fish marking techniques – 13. Fishery impact on the stocks and marine ecosystems.  Management.

1. External anatomy of a bony fish, meristic and morphometric measurements – 2. Internal anatomy of a bony fish, gonad maturity stages (microscopic and macroscopic study) – 3. Anatomy of a shark, maturity stages and fecundity – 4. Age estimation methods and techniques – 5. Applications of Fish Base – 6. Taxonomy and fish identification

Field exercise: Visit to Keratsini fish auction – Sampling and identification of commercial fish species.

There are no prerequisites for the student to choose and attend the course.

The course is offered to Erasmus students: Teaching in Greek language - Exams in English language.

The evaluation process is carried out in Greek language (there is the possibility of written exams in English for Erasmus students). The grade of laboratory exams contributes 40% to the final, total, course grade and the grade of the theory exams contributes 60%.