Department of Zoology and Acquaculture

Dr. V.P.Sabhlok, Professor & Head

Faculty members- Specialization

Dr. V.P. Sabhlok, Animal Ecology
Dr. R.K. Gupta, Assoc. Professor, Fish toxicology, pathology & vermiculture.
Dr. Rachna Gulati, Scientist, Acarology (Placed in Directorate of Research)
Dr. Dharambir Singh, Assistant Professor - Fisheries (Fish Hatchery)
Dr. Shashank, Assistant Professor - Zoology

Location

Building of College of Basic Sciences & Humanities.

Mailing address
Department of Zoology & Aquaculture
College of Basic Sciences & Humanities
CCS Haryana Agricultural Unviersity,
Hisar-125004, India.

Telephone No.
+91-1662-237721-26 Extn. 289230 (O)
Fax No: +91-1662-234952, 234613
E-mail: hodzoo@hau.ernet.in
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Teaching/Academic Programmes:

•	Post graduate programme leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Zoology with specialization in Apiculture and Acarology.

•	Post graduate  programme leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. in fisheries.

On-going Research Projects

On-going main research programmes:

     1.                  Breeding and culture of fresh water fishes.

2.                  Fish pathology and toxicology in fresh waters.

3.                  Use of alternative plant protein sources and additives in fish growth and metabolism.

4.                  Development of diagnostic methods for fish diseases and their control.

5.                  Pollination ecology and bees biology-emphasis on alternate protein diet and summer management.

6.                  Effective utilization of some exotic species of earthworms for the production of vermicompost and its further utilization in agricultural and fish crop.

 Major contributions in Research 

·                    Development of technology and management for fish culture in fresh water.

·                    Development of technology for sustainable  fish production by the use of fertilizers, biofertilizers and eco friendly diets.

·                    Development of technology for culturing and management of brackish water fishes in underground saline water.

·                    Analysis of heavy metal toxicity effects in Indian major and common carps.

·                    Technology for keeping and culturing of solitary bees for pollination of forage crops.

·                    Management practices for beekeeping with Apis mellifera L. in semi arid conditions.

·                    Pollination biology and       pollination requirements of alfalfa, carrot, coriander, cauliflower and many oil seed crops.

·                    Pesticidal toxicity to honeybees and identification of safe insecticides.

·                    Pesticidal residues in  honey and pollen.

·                    Methodology for the   control of field rodents.

·                    Biology and methodology for control of mites in stored products.

Salient research achievements of the department 

·                    Under composite fish culture, the combination of Catla, Rohu, Mrigal and Common carp has been found best for higher fish production in comparison to other combinations/mono-fish culture in the ratio of 3:3:2:2, respectively and the fish production ranged between 4.0-5.0 t/ha/yr.

·                    The livestock wastes such as cowdung, poultry, piggery, sheep and goat pallets, have successfully been used in fish ponds as supplementary feeds and fertilizers, boosting higher fish production. The efficiency of these wastes have been determined and graded in the decreasing order as, poultry>duckery  >piggery>sheep and goat> cowdung.

·                    Utilization of livestock wastes ‘Dose’of cow dung, at ‘safe’’concentration (0.02%) which was estimated as 24,000 kg/ha/yr. Thus, a cut of 50% cost in fish feed and fertilizer could be achieved and obtained fish production, ranging between 4.5 to 5.0 t/ha/yr. Cost benefit ratio, ranged between Rs. 70,000-80,000/ha/yr.

·                    The economics and the cost benefit ratio for fish seed production in common carp has been worked out. An input cost of Rs. 15,000/- ha and output cost, ranged between of Rs. 60,000 – 65000 ha, was estimated. Thus, giving a net profit of Rs. 45,000-50,000 /ha/4 months to the fish farmer, without hatchery unit (producing 10-12 lacs of seed/ha).

·                    When duckery excreta was used in fish ponds at ‘safe’’concentration (0.005%), which was estimated as 6000 kg/ha/yr., and obtained fish production, ranging between 5.5 to 6.0 ton/ha/yr. Cost benefit ratio ranged between Rs. 80,000-90,000/ha/yr.

·                    Poultry excreta was also used successfully in fish ponds at ‘safe’concentration (0.004 per cent) which was estimated as 4800 kg/ha/water body/yr. There was a cut of 50 per cent cost in fish feeds and fertilizer, obtained fish production, ranging between 4526 to 5866 kg/ha/yr. The cost benefit ratio ranged between Rs. 80000 to 1.00 lac/ha/yr.

·                    Piggery excreta was also tried in fish ponds at ‘safe’concentration (0.012 per cent), which was estimated as 14,400 kg/ha/yr. Fish yield ranged between 4,693 to 6,.054 kg/ha/yr, as net and gross fish production, respectively. The cost benefit ratio ranged between Rs. 75000 – 85000/ha/yr.

·                    The ectoparasitic crustacean infections due to Lernaeosis (Lernaea spp) in Cyprinus carpio, ammonium chloride @ 150 mg/litre was found very effective in its treatment, cured the disease within 8-10 days.

·                    City sewage effluents at ‘safe’ concentration (8.31%) can be used in fish farming economically, it replaces costly fish feeds and fertilizer and has proved a technology for fish production at low-cost inputs, indirectly it controls the culture of bacterial, viral and fungal colonies. Fish yield ranged between 4.0 – 5.0 t/ha/yr.

·                    Culture studies on grey mullet, Mugil cephalus, Liza macrolepis, and Liza tade, have provided a good evidence that these species can be grown/culture in inland saline ground waters. For mullet species, 10-15 ppt salinity appears to be optimal for higher growth. Milkfish in the saline water conditions, requires higher salinity (25 ppt or above) for better survival and growth.

·                    The ‘Black spot’ an ectoparasitic fish diseases found among major and common carps, can successfully be controlled by Malachite green @ 5 mg/l, within 2-3 days at the farmer’s pond.

·                    The “White spot”disease, an ectoparasite fish diseases can be controlled at the farmer’s pond by “Malachitge green”@ 1.0 mg/l or by “Methylene blue”@ 2 mg/l respectively within 5-10 days.

·                    Studies on the utilization of inland saline ground waters in aquaculture have revealed that these waters can  successfully be utilized for the culture of fish species like, grey mullet, milkfish and pearlspot.

·                    The protocol for Mx gene of Indian major carp, such as, Rohu, was standardized. This gene is inducible by ‘Type I interferon’ and is involved in antiviral defense mechanism.

·                    “Argulosis” disease in major carps, caused by Argulus spp. can be controlled by i) Short bath in common salt solution @ 2-3% for 5 minutes/day, till the disease is cured. ii) Alternate bath in 1:2000 acetic acid solution, followed by bath of 2 per cent NaCl solution for 2-5 minutes/day. iii) The use of KMNO₄ @ 500 ppm, as a bath treatment/day, for 2-3 hrs for 5-6 days. 

·                    The ‘Ulcer’ disease in major and common carps can be controlled by i) Disinfection of the aquatic environment by 0.1 ppm, KMNO₄, followed by liming @ 300 kg/h/yr ii) Chloromycetin bath @5-10 mg/l for 1-2 hrs/day or till the fish comes under stress. iii) Exchange the  water upto 50% from the infected fish ponds.

Extension Activities 

i)                    Exhibition Hall of the university related to fisheries unit, Department of Zoology & Aquaculture, depicts fisheries activities through charts, photographs, specimens and models. 

ii)                   Department participate every year in “Kisan Mela”during Feb. 2008 amd shows the latest technologies in fish breeding fish, seed production and management practices, to the farmers as well as scientists/extension workers and the women farmers at the Kisan Mela. 

iii)                 Adoption of two fish farmers of Hisar and Hansi during the last 10 years     to transfer the fish culture and production technology. 

iv)                  Printed the fisheries extension literature including write-ups pamphlets, booklets etc. to distribute to fish farmers/extension workers, free of cost during Kisan Mela, and Kishan Divas Feb., 2008. 

v)                  Instant/emergency visits at the number of farmer’s fish ponds of district Hisar and adjoining areas, to solve the problems, regarding diseases, breeding, seed production and hatchery management. 

vi)                 Publication of extension article on aquaculture and fisheries.  

vii)               Department’s fisheries scientists are continuing as ‘Master Trainer’ in fisheries, during the last 10 years to guide different types of management practices in fisheries to the fish farmers. 

viii)              Guiding number of farmers on phones on various aspects of fisheries, at Farmer’s Helpline Centre (Agriculture Technology Information Centre), Directorate of Extension Education, CCSHAU, Hisar. 

ix)                 Delivering no. of extension lectures on fisheries at various Institutes/department/University covered latest management practices in fisheries including fish diseases and their control.

Last updated - 03/02/12