Endocrinology of Aquatic Animals

Code:

RM25

Acronym:

EAA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Marine Biology and Ecology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 18-07-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Microscopy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Marine Sciences - Marine Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCMRM	4	Oficial Plan 2018	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Hormonal disruptions, climate change and the increasing increase in endocrine-disrupting environmental pollutants are topics of growing concern in the scientific community and society in general.

The endocrinology of aquatic organisms involves the study of hormones, and how their production can be affected in increasingly unbalanced environmental situations.

Thus, the main objectives of this curricular unit (UC) are to provide new insights about the main hormonal systems involved in sexual differentiation, growth, reproduction and osmoregulation of several groups of aquatic organisms. With the thematic provided in this UC the student will have the knowledge that will allow her/him to participate actively and knowledgeable both in studies involving biological (aquatic) conservation programs as well as understanding the impacts imposed by environmental pollutants on the physiology/endocrinology of aquatic organisms. In addition, the program of this UC will allow the acquisition of necessary skills for taking corrective environmental actions, as the endocrine system functions to communicate and coordinate internal development, homeostasis, and response to environmental changes.

Learning outcomes and competences

Provide students the ability to understand how the endocrine system of aquatic animals allows them to make adaptive changes towards environmental changes.

Understanding how endocrinology can be applied to practical problems in production and biomonitoring, and others such as migrations and relationships between species.

Increase the ability of students searching, selecting, critically analyze and present character information endocrine / physiological, schematically and integrating it with previously learned concepts.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Biology and Biochemistry

Program

Theoretical classes

Operating mode and actions coordinated by:
1. Pituitary gland
2. Pineal gland
3. Thyroid gland or similar
4. Hormones involved in the sexual development of ovaries and testicles
5. Growth hormone
6. Interrenals
7. Endocrine kidney
8. Ulti-branchial gland

Endocrinology of the reproduction of Fish, Crustaceans, and aquatic Mammals

Practical classes

Plasma determination of hormones involved in the reproduction of vertebrates (from blood collection up to the measurement of hormones at the laboratory)

"In vivo" tests for the evaluation of serotoninergic mechanisms in fish

Hormones involved in the growth of crustaceans

Development and presentation of a seminar on the subject of UC

Mandatory literature

Several; Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology, Editors Sarah L. Alderman, Todd E. Gillis, Academic Press, 2024. ISBN: 9780323908016

Complementary Bibliography

George Hadwin; Fish Endocrinology, Sofronios E. Papoutsoglou (Editor), 2017. ISBN: 978-9386314567

Comments from the literature

Will also be used scientific articles provided by the responsible course

Teaching methods and learning activities

The constructivist method in which the student is placed at the centre of the learning process. Students should develop questions, argue, and reach conclusions on their own and find the appropriate solutions to problems posed in class.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho laboratorial	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	85,00
Frequência das aulas	50,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence to three-quarters of classes taught.

Calculation formula of final grade

Type of Assessment: Distributed assessment with Final Exam.

Evaluation formula:

Final classification = Final theoretical exam grade (60%) + Average of the classifications obtained in the practical component (40%).

The minimum grade for each component is 9.5 out of 20.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Student workers (TE), association leaders (DA) and other students with special status will be evaluated similarly to regular students. However, in cases where the law exempts students from failure due to absence from classes, they will be assessed by a final theoretical/practical exam on the content taught in classes in this UC, in which they will have to obtain a minimum grade of 9.5. in 20.

Final classification = Final theoretical exam grade (100%)

Classification improvement

The improvement of the classification will be obtained in the Final Exam, in accordance with the formula.

Final grade = Final theoretical exam grade (60%) + Average of the classifications obtained in the practical component (40%).

The minimum grade for each component is 9.5 in 20.