The Laboratory of Ichthyology

The Laboratory of Ichthyology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki undertakes and promotes a multidisciplinary approach to Ichthyology, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Limnology both at the teaching and research level, with research aiming to the conservation and management of both marine and freshwater ecosystems. The academic staff of the Laboratory of Ichthyology coordinates a postgraduate course on Fisheries Biology and Management and is involved in the teaching of 9 undergraduate and 11 postgraduate modules. Their research activities include fish biology, stock assessment, fisheries management, oceanography, freshwater ecology and monitoring, zooplankton ecology and taxonomy, trophic food web interactions.

History

Since its establishment in 1990, the main targets of the Laboratory of Ichthyology were focused on the life history patterns and strategies of fish species and the ecosystem based fisheries management, on exploring the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, the monitoring of the anthropogenic pressures and the assessment of their impacts on ecosystems, and recently the use ecological indicators and models for the conservation of species and habitats and ecosystem management. Following the monitoring projects implemented within the application of Directives 92/43/EC, 2000/60/EC and 2008/56/EC, the staff of the Laboratory of Ichthyology are now involved in implementing integrated monitoring programs for the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.

Fishes

Current and near future research activities

LAB FOR FISHES
AND AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS

Resources for both educational and research needs are generally covered from the internal funding sources such as the regular appropriations of faculty members (10%) but mainly from external funding sources from international, european and national research projects (90%).

Since 2004, the Laboratory of Ichthyology is a member of the FishBase Consortium Fishbase

Current and near future research activities

LAB FOR FISHES
AND AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS

  • Fish and zooplankton biology and ecology
  • Stock assessment and fisheries management
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the ecological quality of surface waters
  • Assessing the impact of climate on fish stocks and aquatic ecosystems
  • Developing ecological models for the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems

Resources for both educational and research needs are generally covered from the internal funding sources such as the regular appropriations of faculty members (10%) but mainly from external funding sources from international, european and national research projects (90%).

Since 2004, the Laboratory of Ichthyology is a member of the FishBase Consortium