Biology and Physiology of Fish and Amphibians
This field involves research into species of fish and amphibians that are less well known. The areas of research are: reproduction growth and nutrition in nature and behavior. In addition, certain aspects of environmental physiology of species of fish and amphibians are under examination: the objects of this aspect of research is the study of metabolism, and the influence of temperature on growth, the physiological adaptation of amphibians to their environment, in water economy and the control of body fluids under the influence of different environmental conditions of moisture and temperature, especially salinity tolerance and osmoregulation. These are studies in the fields of comparative and environmental physiology.
Nutrition of Fish and Amphibians
This research can be divided into a number of areas. A portion deals with the natural food of animals. Another portion involves efforts to improve the formulation of artificial food for fish (a) through learning the chemical body composition of fish, and from this determining the percentages of its required ingredients; (b) through examining the value of protein in fish food; (c) examining the value of fats,); (d) examining the value of carbohydrates. At present, work in nutrition concentrates on the development of the formulation of food for tropical fish.
The Influence of Hormones on the Growth and Reproduction of Fish (molecular endocrinology)
Current work concerns the steroids and other hormones of fish, and their influence on various processes in fish, in particular growth, body composition, food requirements and enzymatic processes . Particularly worth mentioning is the breakthrough in which Prof. Degani has shown that growth hormones and insulin can be absorbed into the body of the fish through oral administration: up to that time it was thought that whole proteins could not be absorbed into the bloodstream via the gills or the digestive system. Further work on the reproductive system has shown that other proteinous hormones can be administered in the same way, e.g., gonadotropin. Present research work concerns hormonal control of reproduction.
Animals in the Ecological System and Environmental Behavior
Dr Degani's work on the ecology of water systems concentrates mainly on the interrelationship between various animals and their aquatic ecosystems, especially environmental influences such as water quality and food, the prime factors in animal interaction. There is an additional interest in behavioral models of animals in nature, aiming to establish how the animal adapts itself to its environment through its behavior
Education
Ph.D. 1979, Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University
M.Sc. 1976, Department of Biology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa
Academic and research experience
Since 2008-2013: Chairperson, M.Sc. Program, Department of Biotechnology, Tel Hai College
Since 1998: Professor, Tel-Hai College Faculty of Sciences and Technology
Since 1997: Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University
Since 1986-2011: Scientific Director, MIGAL - Galilee Technology Center
1999 – 2003: Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Tel-Hai College
1987 – 1999: Academic Director of Agriculture, Tel-Hai College
1994: Visiting Professor, University of Maryland
1993: Adjunct Professor, East Carolina University, NC
1991: Visiting Scientist, City University of New York, Brooklyn College
1990-2000 Head of Golan Research institute
1983 – 1984: Visiting Scientist, East Carolina University, NC, USA
1981 – 1982: Research Associate, Department of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Since 1979: Lecturer, Tel-Hai College Faculty of Sciences and Technology and researcher at MIGAL - Galilee Technological Center.
Books
Degani, G. & Gallagher, M.L. (1995). Growth and Nutrition of Eels. Israel: Laser Pages Publishing.
Degani, G. (1996). The Salamander at the Southern Limit of its Distribution. Israel: Laser Pages Publishing. 1996 Salamandra Israel PDF.pdf
Degani, G. (2001). Blue Gourami (Truchogaster Trichopterus) Model for Labyrinth Fish. Israel: Laser Pages Publishing. 2001 Blue Gourami Book PDF.pdf
Degani, G. & Yom-Din, G. (2005). Research on New Fish Species for Aquaculture in Northern Israel. Haifa, Israel: Ayalon Offset Ltd. 2005 New Fish North Israel Book PDF.pdf
Degani, G. 2019. The Fire Salamandra (Salamandra infraimmaculata) and the Banded Newt (Triturus vittatus) Along the Southern Border of Their. Published by Scientific Research Publishing, Inc. ISBN: 978-1-61896-693-3. 2019 THE FIRE SALAMANDRA E-book.pdf
Degani, G. (2022). Interaction of Sexual Behavior and Hormone Gene Expression in the Labyrinthici Fish Blue Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) during Reproduction. 2022 Link to the book.
Scientific Publications
A Qualitative Model Demonstrating the Adaptation of Amphibians to Semi-Arid and Arid Habitats: Comparing the Green Toad Bufotes sitibundus (Pallas, 1771) and Pelophylax bedriagae (Camerano, 1882)
Sex Differences in the Brain Transcriptomes of Adult Blue Gourami Fish (Trichogaster trichopterus)
Biological Adaptations of Anuran Species across Diverse Habitats, Spanning Mediterranean to Desert Climates
Transcriptome variation in banded newt (Ommatotriton vittatus) during its life cycle and habitat transition
Transcriptome variation in banded newt (Ommatotriton vittatus) during its life cycle and habitat transition
Volume 50, June 2024, 101203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101203