Animal & Dairy Science: Academic Programs: Course Syllabi
ADS 3660
Warmwater Aquaculture
Course Particulars:
This is a 3.0 Credit, A-F graded course with a lecture that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 - 9:15 AM and a Laboratory that meets on Tuesdays at 9:30 - 10:45 AM or on Saturdays to be announced in class. All classes will meet in 201 NESPAL unless otherwise announced during class time. Selected laboratory sessions will meet at the Aquaculture Unit or field trip locations. Time required for laboratory sessions includes travel time from campus to field sites. Certain classes will utilize facilities at ABAC where microscope laboratories are available. Field trips scheduled for Saturdays will require driving time but will include 3.25 hrs of instruction.
Description:
Two 45 minute lectures and one 75 minute laboratory period. Classroom instruction plus field work to develop a knowledge of the biology of species used in aquaculture and techniques of water chemistry, feeds and feeding, spawning, harvest, and health management.
Objectives:
The student will develop a knowledge of the biology of aquatic species used for aquaculture around the world. Laboratory experience will be obtained in culture of catfish, cyprinids, centrarchids, and crustaceans. An understanding of extensive and intensive culture systems for warm water fish will be obtained in the classroom and from the laboratory.
Grading Policy:
Grades will be assigned on the standard or 90-100, A; 80-89, B; 70-79, C; 60-69, D; and less than 59, F.
The course grade will be calculated as follows:
- Attendance: 25% (all absences must have a written excuse)
- Assignments:
- Species Reference Project = 10%
- Culture System Design Project = 10%
- Laboratory: 20% (Individual reports)
- Tests:
- Pre-test = 0%
- 1st hourly = 6%
- 2nd hourly = 7%
- 3rd hourly = 7%
- Final = 10%
Make-over of tests or assignments must be completed within one week of original due date or return of student to class, after approval from instructor.
All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” Each Student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.
Instructor:
Dr. Gary J. Burtle
Department of Animal & Dairy Science
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
P.O. Box 748, Tifton, GA 31793-0748
229-386-3364 (phone); 229-386-3219 (fax)
fish@tifton.uga.edu
Class Topics:
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.
Aquaculture Overview
- History, current status and future for aquaculture
- Aquaculture and public issues
Fundamentals of warm water fish culture
- Pond ecology and hydrology
- Water chemistry
- Feeds Nutrition and Feeding
Harvesting to market
- Seining
- Fish transport
- Marketing techniques
- Economics
- Quality control in aquaculture.
Aquacultural System Design and Business Planning
- Pond systems, cage and tank system design and construction criteria for commercial and teaching purposes.
- Steps in planning a commercial aquaculture enterprise.
Special Problems in Aquaculture
- Diseases and fish health management
- Pond weeds and control methods
- Predator control
Fish culture topics:
- Commercial Catfish Production
- Catfish biology and production methods including spawning, pond systems and cage systems.
- Commercial Sportfish Hatchery Management
- Production of largemouth bass and sunfish species for the recreational fisheries market.
- Production of cyprinid fishes
- Baitfish, grass carp, and ornamental fish culture.
- Production of tilapia
- Pond and intensive culture systems used to produce tilapia.
Crustacean culture topics:
- Freshwater Prawn Production
- Crustacean biology and nursery and pond management.
- Marine shrimp culture
- Adapting to low salinity systems.
Mollusc culture topics:
- Clams and Oysters
- Mollusc biology and issues of near shore and estuarine aquaculture.
Other Commercial Species
- A summary of issues related of emerging and minor use aquacultural species.
- Alligators, sturgeon, frogs and other species.
Spawning and Fish Breeding
- Techniques of catfish cpawning
- Techniques of hormone induced spawning
- Production of hybrid fish
Assignments:
1. Species Reference Project
A list of aquatic species used in aquaculture will be used to compile a notebook of facts about the culture of these animals. A format for completing one to two pages of information about each specie will be provided. In that format there will be an opportunity to assess the possibility of culturing the animal in the United States. This assignment will be graded based on completeness, accuracy of information, usefulness as a future reference, and proper assessment of culture potential.
The completed notebook will be due on November 4.
2. Culture System Design Project
The student will choose a commercial or teaching setting in which to design a facility that could actually be constructed and operated effectively to culture catfish, tilapia, freshwater prawns, sportfish, or crawfish. The written project will include:
a. List of assumptions.
b. Drawing or schematics of facilities showing ponds or tanks, pipe locations, pipe sizes, equipment locations and descriptions, and cross sectional views when appropriate. Dimensions will be labeled on all drawings.
c. Written description of operations, management goals, and approximate budget.
The completed design project will be due on December 2.
Texts:
Primary text (Required):
Fundamentals of Aquaculture , by J. W. Avault. 1996. AVA Publishing Company, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA. ISBN 0-9649549-0-7.
Supplemental texts:
- Nutrient Requirements of Fish (Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals) by National Research Council. 124 pages. National Academy Press; 1994. ISBN: 0309048915
- Water Quality in Warmwater Fish Ponds , by C.E. Boyd. 1979. Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Alabama.
Additional reference materials will be available in the ABAC Library for use in that location. Other reference materials may be available at the CPES Library for use at that location. Please do not check out the limited materials at the CPES Library.
Tentative Schedule (Using the UGA Fall Semester 2003 schedule):
| August 19 | Overview and Pre-Test - First Lab |
| August 22 | |
| August 26 | Lab |
| August 28 | |
| September 2 | |
| September 4 | |
| September 6 | Saturday Lab Hawkinsville and Cordele |
| September 9 | Lab |
| September 11 | |
| September 16 | |
| September 18 | First hourly exam |
| September 20 | Saturday Lab Alapaha and Willacochee |
| September 23 | |
| September 25 | |
| September 30 | Lab |
| October 2 | |
| October 7 | Lab |
| October 9 | |
| October 14 | Lab |
| October 16 | |
| October 21 | Lab |
| October 23 | Second hourly exam |
| October 28 | Lab |
| October 30 | Fall Break |
| November 4 | Lab - Species reference project due |
| November 6 | |
| November 11 | Lab |
| November 13 | |
| November 18 | Lab |
| November 20 | |
| November 25 | |
| November 27 | Thanksgiving Break |
| December 2 | System design project due |
| December 4 | Last class and Third hourly exam |
| December 10-12, 15-16 | Final Exams |