Laboratory of Applied
Hydrobiology

Research Topics

The research activity of the Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology focuses on the study of aquatic organisms, in terms of husbandry, ethology, physiology and ecology.

  • Effect of rearing factors such as temperature, feeding regime, fish density, photoperiod, tank coloration, light density and coloration etc on aquatic organisms. Effects of experimental conditions are evaluated with hematological parameters (hematocrit, cortisol, glucose, electrolytes, enzymatic activity, dissolved gasses etc.).

  • Fish behavior is studied with a view to understand ethological and dietary demands, in relation with diets enriched with various nutrients (e.g. fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins etc), targeting towards improving fish welfare, growth rates and carcass quality. The aforementioned research is always conducted considering the protection of aquatic environment.

  • Enhancement of fish quantitative and qualitative traits during intensive production as well as the improvement of the production systems.

  • Fish traceability and authenticity trials, in order to define local fish populations with the use of modern molecular biology techniques.

  • Sustainable management of the marine environment.

Research Projects

The Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology coordinates and participates in private sector, National and European funded research projects:

  • “Brightfish: Use of yeasts and fungi in sea bream diets towards improving skin pigmentation and immune response” 2020-2023

  • “EstroFish: Development and comparison of methods for detection and quantification of
    phytoestrogens in fish feed raw materials, fish feed and Mediterranean farmed fish species” 2019– 2022

  • “EU-CONEXUS Research for society” funded by Horizon 2020. Call: H2020-IBA-SwafS-Support-1-2020. 2021

  • “Evaluation of feeding dry diets to red seabream larvae”. Source of funding: Private sector. 2020-2021.

  • “EU‐CONEXUS: European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability” Co funded by Erasmus + Programme of the European Union. 2019

  • “The use of antioxidants in gilthead seabream nutrition”. Source of funding: Private sector. 2019-2020.

  • “Development and comparison of methods for detection and quantification of phytoestrogens in fish feed raw materials, fish feed and Mediterranean farmed fish species.” Funding: MIA-RTDI, Special Actions: Aquaculture – Industrial Materials – Innovation open to culture (EPAnEK). 2019.

  • “Structured Light-Based fish BiOmass estimator – SaLTBOx”. Source of funding: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2019-2022.

  • “Control of authenticity and nutrition of the Greek market with molecular identification” of the OP Fisheries and Maritime 2014-2020, co-funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund – EMFF. 2019-2021.

  • “Evaluation of feeding dry diets to gilthead seabream larvae”. Source of funding: Private sector. 2019-2020.

  • “Compensatory growth and single nucleotide variation in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)”. Wageningen University and Research. ΤΝΑ funded by AQUAEXCEL Η2020. 2019.
    Bottarga’s Chemical composition. Funded by Trikalinos Co. 2018.

  • “Blue Career Centre of Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea (MENTOR)” funded by the European Commission EASME/EMFF. 2017.

  • “The use of emulsifiers in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) diets”. Source of funding: Private sector. 2017-2019.

  • “Evaluation of European sea bass larvae nutritional state”. Source of funding: Private sector. 2016-2017.

  • “Modernization, equipment update and accreditation of the Department of Applied Hydrobiology of the Agricultural University of Athens, for the control of quality and safety of fish products” funded under the Greek Fisheries Operational Programme 2007-2013, Ministry of Rural Development and Food. 2016.

  • “Exploitation of discards from the Greek seas for fish oil production and its use for experimental sea bream and sea bass rearing”, funded under the Greek Fisheries Operational Programme 2007-2013. 2016.

  • “New Agriculture for a New Generation-Recharging Greek Youth to Revitalize the Agriculture and Food Sector of the Greek Economy” funded by Rudgers the State University of Νew Jersey. 2015.

  • “Fish oil replacement in aquafeeds for sea bream and sea bass with alternative lipid sources” (2013-2015) funded under the National Strategic Reference Framework NSRF 2007-2013, General Secretariat of Research and Technology. Partners: AUA (Coordinator), NKUA, BIOMAR, ABOTIS. 2015.

  • “Development of sustainable fishfeeds for sea bass: effects of growth and chemical composition of fish” funded by Biomar Hellenic, 2014.

  • “Effect of dietary inclusion of sanguinarine on growth, physiological status and quality of juvenile gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata”. Source of funding: Phytobiotics, Futterzusatzstoffe GmbH (Germany), 2010-2011.

  • “Organic Aquaculture – Perspercives on development” Greek Fisheries Operational Programme, Ministry of Rural Development and Food. 2008

Participation in Organizations

The laboratory staff participates in National and International Organizations such as:

  • Hellenic Society for Animal Science

  • Hellenic Society of Oceanography

  • Hellenic Zoology Association

  • Commission internationale pour l’exploration scientifique de la mer Méditerranée (Comité du Plancton)

  • Hellenic Union of Biologists

  • Geotechnical Chamber of Greece

  • European Aquaculture Society (EAS)

  • World Aquaculture Society (WAS)

  • Aquacultural Engineering Society (AES)

Education Resources