1. Ecology and Animal physiology in relation to environmental contaminants

   
   
   1. Ecology and Animal physiology (fertility regulation and environmental biomarkers. The albino rats exposed to bisphenol A showed biochemical and histological alterations which were ameliorated by supplementation with Vitamin C.
   2. Studies conducted on fingerlings of Labeo rohita revealed that exposure of microplastics induced oxidative stress and histological alterations in vital organs of treated fingerlings in dose and time dependent manner.
   3. The studies conducted on Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla) and Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) revealed that fishes of South-western region of Punjab are more prone to oxidative stress due to groundwater contaminants and can be used as bioindicator for monitoring the impact of environmental contamination of water of this region.
   4. The mixture of heavy metals (As, Cd and Pb) present above permissible limits recommended by Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) in drinking water caused reproductive toxicity, hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity in albino rats which could be ameliorated with dietary components such as Curcumin and Ascorbic acid.
   
   
   

   Biology of parasites and vectors 

   1. Development of immunodiagnostics for parasites of agricultural importance, and protocol studies are in progress to develop standardize technique for biological control against mosquitoes which are vector to various diseases. 
   2. Parasite and vector biology Survey of various types of standing water bodies of different districts of Punjab showed presence of Culex larvae in all types of water samples followed by Anopheles larvae , in paddy fields, road side ditches and gardens. While, Aedes larvae were found only in the water samples collected from desert coolers and earthern pots present in peri-domestic areas.
   3. The identified cyclopoid, Mesocyclops aspericornis (body size > 1.0 mm) was found to have efficient predatory potential against the Ist instar larvae of Dengue spreading Aedes aegypti mosquito in comparison to Anopheles and Culex, under laboratory conditions.

Biosystematics and biodiversity

Functional aspects of Faunal biodiversity. Biodiversity of animals of agricultural importance with particular reference to zooplankton from natural water bodies, soil fauna, birds and rodents. Department has one Museum of Natural History, located in the Department of Zoology, that showcases the evolution, distribution, anatomy and functional organization of the representative fauna of animal kingdom, through specimens, models and wall mountings. The museum is used to demonstrate functional organization of the representative fauna of animal kingdom etc.

Vertebrate pest management

AINP on VPM (Agricultural Ornithology)

Community structure of birds and their diversity in different habitats and in relation to crop stages, evaluation of bird habitat and behaviour, identification, development and evaluation of eco-friendly bird management practices, exploitation of beneficial birds for the suppression of insect/rodent pests, monitoring of house sparrow population in different habitats, management of Indian Peafowl to minimize conflict in agricultural landscape, location specific status of bird fauna at animal flaying and disposal centres and status of bird fauna of wetland. The emphasis is on effective, efficient and eco-friendly methods of vertebrate pest management. 

AINP on VPM (Rodent Control)

• Surveillance of pest rodents in predominant cropping system of the region, monitoring of rodent abundance and damage in Punjab; social engineering activity on rodent pest management as participatory adaptive research in adopted villages, behavioural studies on predominant rodent pest species and population regulation mechanisms in Bandicota bengalensis and Rattus rattus, evaluation of botanical products for anti-fertility effects on Bandicota bengalensis and Rattus rattus.