The Kentucky State University Aquaculture Program offers a 3-credit-hour Fish Reproduction and Spawning Techniques undergraduate Internet course (AQU 427) and a graduate (AQU 527) Internet course. Dr. Boris Gomelsky teaches the courses. These courses are in a video format. Students see the instructors' recorded PowerPoint lectures. These lectures are supplemented with corresponding practical demonstration videos.

The graduate-level course (AQU 527) is intended for students who already have or are completing a bachelor's (or higher) degree. During the course, students take three online tests. Graduate-level students also prepare a review paper directed towards a more detailed examination of reproduction of one specific fish species. ____________________________________________________________________________________

The course presents an overview of the biology of fish reproduction and techniques of artificial spawning for common fish species.

The course consists of three parts, which include 16 lectures (classes):

Part I. Biological Basis of Fish Reproduction

Class 1. Development of Reproductive System in Fish

Class 2. Diversity of Fish Reproduction

Part II. Endocrine Control of Fish Reproduction and Artificial Spawning

Class 3. Environment and Hormonal Control of Fish Reproduction

Class 4. Hormonal Induction of Final Oocyte Maturation, Ovulation and Spermiation

Class 5. Induced Spawning

Class 6. Early Life History of Fish

Class 7. Methods of Fish Breeding and Broodstock Management

Class 8. Structure of Fish Spermatozoa and Preservation of Gametes

Part III. Spawning Techniques for Common Aquaculture Species

Class 9. Paddlefish Hatchery Techniques

Class 10. Catfish Hatchery Techniques

Class 11. Reproduction of Carps (family Cyprinidae)

Class 12. Hatchery Techniques for Production of Striped Bass Hybrids

Class 13. Control of Reproduction in Tilapia species

Class 14. Reproduction of Sunfishes (family Centrarchidae)

Class 15. Temperate Hatchery and Nursery Production of Freshwater Prawns

Class 16. Reproduction of Marine Fish

Every lecture is divided into several modules (video segments). Students may view modules on their computers as often as they wish.

The online classes also include practical demonstration videos which show labs and field trips recorded during conventional classroom courses. Online students do not take these labs and do not make these trips. However, the viewing of these practical videos is very informative and important for online students for acquiring practical skills. The classes contain the following demonstration videos:

- Lab on fish gonad morphology and determination of gonadosomatic index

- Lab on localization of germinal vesicles in oocytes

- Artificial spawning of koi

- Artificial spawning of paddlefish

- Semi-natural spawning of crappie

- Hatchery production of hybrid striped bass

- Hatchery production of freshwater prawns

Comments From Previous Students Who Have Taken This Course:

"Thank you for the great class, it really helped me to better understand fish reproduction and spawning."

Tom Waldrop

"I found your class to be comprehensive and informative. I learned a lot from it."

Eric Landis, Ph.D.

"GREAT class, really enjoyed it and learned a lot."

Steven Gregg

"I enjoyed your class a lot. I learned a lot from the class that my schooling lacks and my employer does not have much of a training program."

Joe Kasulaitis