• The aquatic environment; seas and oceans; physical, chemical and biological features; primary and secondary production; trophic webs; water as rearing environment; light and photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems; hydrodynamism; effects of temperature, turbidity, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients on the reared aquatic species. Description of the principal animal taxa living in the waters.
• Taxonomy of fish (generalities): morphological, anatomical and physiological characteristics. Finfish farming: main marine and freshwater species reared in Italy and worldwide. Trout farming: artificial reproduction of the rainbow trout; pre-fattening and fattening. Eel farming: generalities and biological features of the species; pre-fattening and fattening techniques. Main methods of intensive rearing of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).
• Phytoplankton culture techniques. Main microalgal species used in mollusk, crustacean and fish larval rearing. Zooplankton culture: production of Rotifer and Artemia as food for larval stages of marine finfish. Larval weaning of marine finfish using inert diets. Nutritional and energy requirements of larval stages and juveniles of valuable fish species.
• Brackish waters: classification, ecological and productive role; euryhaline fish species; fishery “valli”, ponds and lagoons; the “lavoriero”; aquaculture in brackish environments. Ichthyofauna of the Mediterranean lagoons: spatio-temporal distribution, reproductive cycles, management practices.
• Bivalve mollusk culture: rearing cycle of the main species cultured in Italy.