Lecture Notes - Vocabulary Flashcards (Aquaculture, Ornamental Fish, Floriculture, Postharvest, Dengue, Filariasis)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms and concepts from aquaculture, ornamental fish culture, nursery management, floriculture propagation, postharvest food preservation, dengue, and filariasis as presented in the notes.

Aquaculture (FAO definition)

Farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic plants.

Importance of aquaculture

One of the best solutions for feeding the ever-increasing human population.

High-protein diet benefits

Helps ensure growth and reduces sickness by supplying essential nutrients.

Wild sources cannot meet demand

Harvests from wild sources cannot keep up with growing human demand.

Over-fishing consequences

Excess fishing can lead to depletion and loss of species.

Dual role of aquaculture

Meets human demand for fish while relieving pressure on wild stocks.

Climate tolerance (first requirement)

Selected species must withstand the local regional climate.

Fast growth rate (aquaculture)

Species should grow quickly under prevailing water parameters.

Ease of breeding

Species should be easy to breed with available techniques.

Incubation and rearing techniques

Incubation of eggs and rearing of hatchlings/fry should be achievable.

Hardy stock

Hardy eggs, larvae, fry, fingerlings, juveniles, and adults ease hatchery management.

Food and feeding habits knowledge

Known feeding habits at each developmental stage for balanced diets.

Seed availability

Sufficient fertilized eggs or early fry should be obtainable.

Late sexual maturation

Favours management by delaying early reproduction in culture.

Formulated food acceptance

Species should readily accept formulated feeds.

Efficient feed converter

Efficient conversion of economical or low-cost feeds into growth.

Environmental safety (release risk)

Species should not cause adverse environmental impacts if released.

Density tolerance

Species should tolerate high stocking densities and still grow well.

Disease resistance

Resistance to common diseases is advantageous.

Consumer satisfaction traits

Desirable taste, nutritive value, flesh texture, appearance, color.

Ornamental fish keeping

A long-standing human hobby of maintaining decorative fish.

Initial ornamental fishes from the wild

Early ornamental species were collected from the wild for garden ponds.

Worldwide attractiveness of ornamental fishes

Attracted by color, shape, fin variety, swimming behavior, captivity suitability, and space efficiency.

Reasons for home ornamental fish keeping

Decoration, education, enjoyment, relaxation, prosperity, rarity, propagation.

Global popularity of ornamental fish keeping

Second only to photography as a hobby.

Common freshwater ornamental fish in Sri Lanka

Guppy, Black Molly, Swordtail, Platy, Angelfish, Discus, Siamese fighting fish, Kissing gourami, Goldfish, Koi carp.

Guppy (scientific name)

Poecilia reticulata.

Aquarium (definition)

A container designed to hold water and sustain aquatic life over time.

Aquaria variations

Vary in size, shape, and design—from simple bottles to large exhibit tanks.

Home aquarium maintenance (general)

Daily, weekly, fortnightly, and monthly tasks to maintain water quality.

Daily feeding (aquarium)

Nutritionally balanced diet offered in 2–3 meals.

Health check during feeding

Daily check of fish health; affected individuals removed for treatment.

Light adaptation (aquarium)

Manage light to prevent stress; align with room lighting.

Weekly feeding schedule

Do not feed on one day per week, except brood fish, fry, and fingerlings.

Fortnightly maintenance (step 1)

Switch off aeration before maintenance.

Fortnightly maintenance (surface)

Gently rake/stir surface of rooting medium (under-gravel filter).

Algae management (fortnightly)

Scrape excess algal growth.

Debris management (fortnightly)

Allow debris to settle before cleaning.

Water removal during maintenance

Siphon off 20–25% of aquarium water with debris.

Replacement water (parameters)

Use freshwater matching temperature, pH, and hardness.

Final step (fortnightly)

Switch on aeration after maintenance.

Monthly maintenance (water removal)

Take out some water into a basin or bucket for precaution.

Monthly maintenance (fish transfer)

Carefully transfer fish using a net to the basin/tank with aeration.

Monthly maintenance (rooting medium)

Rinse the rooting medium (under-gravel filter).

Cleaning aeration components

Clean aeration tube and diffuser stones of deposits.

Debris under filter plates

Siphon out accumulated organic debris beneath filter plates.

Light source check (monthly)

Check electrical terminals of the light source.

Plant maintenance (monthly)

Remove dead/dying leaves, prune, thin, tidy, replace poor plants.

Filter medium maintenance (monthly)

Rearrange filter plates and filter medium.

Refilling after maintenance

Fill halfway with clean aged water and reintroduce aeration.

Reintroduction of fish (monthly)

Reintroduce fish with water from the basin and restore original level.

Algal growth indicator (green water)

Green water indicates excessive light exposure.

Preventing green water

Reduce light intensity/duration and perform partial water exchanges.

Brown algae indicator

Indicates insufficient illumination.

Blue-green algal mats

Indicates high organic pollution; treat with cleaning and water exchange.

Infectious diseases (ornamental fish)

Caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites invading tissues.

BMPs (disease prevention)

Better management practices to maintain water quality, stocking density, and feeding to support immunity.

Biosecurity measures

Quarantine new fish/plants/ décor to prevent pathogen introduction.

Bacterial fin rot and gill rot agent

Bacteria (commonly Aeromonas sp. and Pseudomonas sp.).

Ich disease

Fish white spot disease caused by Ichthyophthirius; common in colder months.

Trichodinosis agent

Trichodina spp., unicellular ciliates infecting larvae.

External mycosis agent

Saprolegnia sp., aquatic fungi causing infections.

Dengue

Vector-borne disease caused by an RNA arbovirus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.

Aedes aegypti

Primary dengue vector; small-to-medium mosquito with white markings.

Aedes albopictus

Secondary dengue vector; similar morphology with distinct markings.

Dengue transmission factors

Biotic factors (virus, vector, host) and abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, rainfall).

Dengue transmission route

Virus transmitted to humans via bite of an infected female mosquito.

Dengue symptoms

Fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle/joint pains, nausea, rash; may be symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever

Severe dengue with plasma leakage, bleeding, respiratory distress, or organ impairment.

Dengue warning signs timing

Warning signs often occur 3–7 days after initial symptoms, with temperature drop.

Vector control (dengue)

Integrated vector management using environmental, chemical, and biological methods.

Most cost-effective dengue control

Eliminating breeding sites of mosquitoes.

Biological control for dengue

Larvivorous fish (e.g., guppy, Rasbora daniconius) and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti).

Limitations of biological control

Fish may die without food or due to unfavorable water quality; chlorinated water is harmful.

Chemical control (fogging)

Thermal fogging to kill mosquitoes; health risks to humans and animals.

Filariasis

Mosquito-borne disease caused by filarial worms; can cause permanent disability.

Wuchereria bancrofti

Mosquito-transmitted parasite responsible for ~90% of infections.

Culex quinquefasciatus

Vector mosquito for filariasis in Sri Lanka; breeds in polluted water.

Filariasis transmission site

Adult female mosquito bite introduces larvae which migrate to lymphatic system.

Microfilariae behavior

Microfilariae reside in lungs by day and circulate in blood at night.

Lymphatic filariasis consequences

Adults block lymphatic vessels causing lymphedema; hydrocele possible.

Occult filariasis

High eosinophils, chronic cough, wheeze worsened at night with dyspnea.

Asymptomatic detection

Can only be detected via active surveillance.

Personal protection (filariasis)

Mosquito nets, repellents, long sleeves and trousers.

Breeding site elimination (vector control)

Repairing septic tanks, cleaning drains, proper waste disposal, managing water storage.

Water management for vector control

Ensure continuous water supply and mosquito-proof storage tanks.

Larvivorous fish for vectors

Guppy and Rasbora daniconius; Tilapia larvae may feed on larvae.

Night blood films

Screening method to detect asymptomatic individuals carrying microfilariae.

Vector population monitoring

Monitoring vector infectivity to understand and control spread.