Do strain differences in microalgae alter their relative quality as a food for the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis?

Brachionus plicatilis is used in aquaculture to feed larval fish and crustaceans. It is well established that different prey species alter rotifer productivity. Isochrysis galbana is one microalgal prey that is commonly fed to rotifers, and there are several strains of this flagellate available to aquaculturists. As microalgae strains may differ in their composition and growth attributes, we rigorously examined if growth and biochemical differences in I. galbana strains elicit differences in the growth and biochemical attributes of B. plicatilis. Four I. galbana strains and one strain of the flagellate Nanochloropsis were grown under standard conditions. Growth rate, cell volume, production, and composition (dry weight, carbohydrate, protein, lipid) were measured. Significant differences occurred between strains in all of these attributes (at times 2 to 3 fold), but no clear pattern emerged that one strain was superior. Of note was that for some measurements, strain differences were significantly greater than differences between species. The strains were then fed to rotifers, and a number of parameters were measured: growth rate, reproductive rate, fecundity attributes, a number of developmental rates, and composition (dry weight, carbohydrate, protein, lipid). There were significant effects of prey strain on some of these attributes, but none was dramatic (rarely more than 10% and occasionally up to 30%), suggesting that aquaculturists need not be too concerned regarding which I. galbana strain they use. However, we do indicate subtle differences, induced by different prey strains and suggest that for maximum productivity these differences should be considered.     

Brachionus vs Artemia duel: Optimizing first feeding of Upogebia pusilla (Decapoda: Thalassinidea) larvae

Larval rearing of many marine organisms is dependent on the availability of live food. The aim of this study was to optimize larval first feeding for the mud shrimp Upogebia pusilla, by comparing the effectiveness of the two most commonly used live feeds: Brachionus plicatilis and Artemia sp. nauplii. Survival, larval duration, molt synchronism and megalop size were compared using five feeding treatments: Artemia from zoea I to IV (B0), Brachionus during zoea I and Artemia from zoea II to IV (B1), Brachionus during zoea I and II and Artemia during zoea III and IV (B2), Brachionus from zoea I to III and Artemia during zoea IV (B3) and Brachionus from zoea I to IV (B4). The proportion of larvae that reached the megalop stage was 0.00% in treatment B0, 3.33% in treatment B1, 33.33% in treatment B2, 66.67% in treatment B3 and 76.67% in treatment B4. Larvae fed on rotifers until zoea III or zoea IV stages had a higher survival but no differences were found either in time to reach megalop or in megalop size. This study demonstrates that rotifers are essential for the survival and development of U. pusilla early larval stages but that rotifers can be successfully replaced by Artemia nauplii in the zoea IV stage.     

Essential fatty acid enrichment of cultured rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis, Müller) using frozen-concentrated microalgae

There is a growing interest in preserving microalgal preparations to maintain constant properties over a long period. The aim is to ensure sufficient delivery of essential fatty acids (and other key nutrients) to mollusc and crustacean larvae and to zooplankton used as live prey in the first feeding of fish larvae. For example, the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis has to be enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) prior to fish feeding. We used four microalgal species [ Isochrysis galbana (T-ISO), Chaetoceros muelleri (CHGRA), Pavlova lutheri (MONO), and Nannochloropsis sp.] both as fresh culture or in a frozen-concentrated form to enrich rotifers. Overall, rotifers had similar relative fatty acid levels when fed the frozen-concentrated or fresh microalgal diets. The levels of 20:4n-6, 22:6n-3, and 20:5n-3 between B. plicatilis and the microalgal diets were linearly correlated. The fatty acid 20:4n-6 was the most readily assimilated: the content found in rotifers reached half the level measured in the microalgal diets. Our results indicate that both the fresh and frozen-concentrated forms of the four microalgal species can be used to enrich PUFA levels in rotifers. Further experiments should be conducted to test if assimilation differs when rotifers are enriched with mono- or multispecific microalgal preparations.     

饲料中添加酵母培养物对黄颡鱼生长性能、非特异性免疫和肠道健康的影响

为研究饲料中添加酵母培养物对黄颡鱼生长性能、非特异性免疫和肠道健康的影响,在基础饲料中分别添加0、1%和2%的酵母培养物YC1(粗蛋白含量为50%)、1%和2%的酵母培养物YC2(粗蛋白含量为55%),配制5种等氮等脂 (42%粗蛋白和8%粗脂肪) 的实验饲料,分别命名为C、YC1-1、YC1-2、YC2-1和YC2-2。选择初始体质量为 (4.87±0.00) g 的黄颡鱼375尾,随机分为5组 (每组3个重复,每个重复25尾),进行为期8周的养殖实验。结果显示,YC2-1和YC2-2处理组黄颡鱼的增重率 (WG) 显著高于对照组,YC2-2处理组的特定生长率 (SGR) 显著高于对照组;YC2-1和YC2-2处理组黄颡鱼肌肉的蛋白沉积率 (PPV) 显著高于对照组,蛋白质效率 (PER) 随着酵母培养物添加水平的上升呈先上升后下降的趋势,YC2-1处理组的PER最高;YC2-1和YC2-2处理组的饲料系数 (FCR) 显著低于对照组,YC2-2处理组的FCR显著低于YC2-1处理组;YC2-1和YC2-2处理组肝脏溶菌酶 (LSZ) 和超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 活性均显著高于对照组;YC2-1处理组的肠道皱襞高度显著高于YC1-1处理组,皱襞宽度和上皮细胞高度显著高于YC2-2处理组。嗜水气单胞菌攻毒实验中,酵母培养物组的平均累积死亡率 (CMR) 均低于对照组,YC2-1处理组的CMR显著低于对照组。研究表明,在本实验条件下,饲料中添加酵母培养物YC2能有效改善黄颡鱼机体非特异性免疫功能、提高抗氧化能力、维持肠道健康以及提高黄颡鱼抗嗜水气单胞菌感染的能力。     

豆粕替代鱼粉对牛蛙生长、体组成、消化酶活力及肝脏生化指标的影响

为减少牛蛙饲料鱼粉使用量以降低养殖成本,研究了豆粕替代饲料中不同比例的鱼粉对牛蛙的生长性能、体组成、肠道消化酶活力和肝脏生化指标的影响。用豆粕分别替代0%、20%、40%、60%、80%和100%的鱼粉配制出6种等氮等能的实验饲料,每组饲料设3重复,养殖牛蛙60 d。结果显示,豆粕替代鱼粉对牛蛙摄食率、成活率、肝体指数、脏体指数、蛙体水分和灰分含量、蛙腿肌肉组成以及肝脏丙二醛含量的影响不显著;豆粕100%替代鱼粉显著降低牛蛙增重率、特定生长率、饲料系数、蛋白质效率、蛋白质累积率;随豆粕替代鱼粉比例的提高,牛蛙的肥满度和后腿指数呈下降趋势,替代100%鱼粉显著降低牛蛙肥满度,替代60%鱼粉显著降低牛蛙后腿指数;替代80%鱼粉显著降低牛蛙全体粗蛋白的含量;牛蛙全体粗脂肪含量随替代鱼粉比例的提高呈上升的趋势,替代100%鱼粉组粗脂肪含量最高;随着替代比例的提高,牛蛙肠道蛋白酶的活力显著降低,而肠道淀粉酶和脂肪酶活力显著提高。豆粕替代鱼粉显著影响肝脏超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活力,其中超氧化物歧化酶活力最低值出现在替代80%鱼粉组,过氧化氢酶活力最低值出现在替代100%鱼粉组。基于以上实验结果,建议牛蛙饲料中豆粕可替代鱼粉的比例为60%~80%。     

浒苔对赤潮异湾藻的克生作用

研究了浒苔对赤潮微藻—— 赤潮异湾藻生长的克生效应。结果表明, 浒苔新鲜组织对赤潮异湾藻的生长具有强烈的克生效应; 一次性添加浒苔培养过滤液对赤潮异湾藻生长没有显著的抑制作用, 而半连续添加浒苔培养过滤液对赤潮异湾藻生长具有显著的克生作用; 浒苔干粉末和甲醇抽提液均对赤潮异湾藻的生长产生显著的抑制作用。试验结果表明, 抑制赤潮异湾藻生长的物质很可能更多地存在于浒苔组织内, 向环境中分泌的克生物质较少。因而, 克生物质的连续分泌是有效克制赤潮异湾藻生长的关键。同时, 克生作用存在着明显的浓度效应, 当抑制物浓度达到一定阈值才表现出明显的克生作用, 在阈值之上浓度越高克生作用越强。     

Comparison of rotifer culture quality with yeast plus oil and algal-based cultivation diets

The culture quality of rotifers, Brachionus plicatilis, was compared for yeast and algal-based cultivation diets. The rotifer quality was evaluated based on factors which may affect survival and growth of marine fish larvae, including individual length and biomass, nutritional value, bacterial content, and rotifer viability. The diets used were monocultures of Tetraselmis sp., Isochrysis galbana, Pavlova lutheri, and baker's yeast plus capelin oil.Rotifers grown to early stationary phase with equal food rations exhibited equal length distribution, but the rotifer individual biomass was 10–25% higher for yeast-grown rotifers than for algal-grown rotifers.All diets gave equal protein content of individual rotifers. The lipid content was slightly higher and the ratio of protein to lipid was slightly lower with yeast plus capelin oil than with algae. The fatty acid composition of the rotifers was closely related to that of their dietary lipids and the 3 fatty acid content was not systematically different for the two types of diets.Use of yeast plus capelin oil resulted in considerably higher numbers of both suspended and rotifer-associated bacteria than with use of algal diets. No differences were found for the algal species involved. The viability of the rotifers in a temperature and salinity test was far better in groups fed algae than in groups fed yeast plus capelin oil.The results indicated an overall better quality of rotifers cultivated with algae than for rotifers cultivated with yeast and oil. Questions related to proteins and the microflora of rotifers should be further emphasized in future research.     

大黄蒽醌提取物对罗氏沼虾抗鳗弧菌感染的研究

将罗氏沼虾随机分成5组,每组三个平行,每个平行约1000尾(个体均重1g左右),第1组为对照组,投喂基础日粮,另外4组为试验组,在基础日粮中分别添加0.05%、0.1%、0.2%、0.4%大黄蒽醌提取物,饲养6周后对罗氏沼虾进行鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)感染.测定生长以及0、12、24、48h血清和肝胰腺溶菌酶、丙二醛(MDA)、总抗氧化能(T-AOC)以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)等指标.生长试验表明,与对照组相比,0.1%组、0.4%组罗氏沼虾的增重率、特定生长率显著提高,饵料系数显著降低.攻毒试验Ⅰ表明,各组48h内罗氏沼虾血清溶菌酶活性、肝胰腺溶菌酶含量、血清T-AOC均呈先升高后降低趋势,其中它们的最大值分别出现于0.4%组的12h、0.2%组24h、0.1%组12h;肝胰腺SOD活力呈上升趋势,而血清MDA则一直下降.攻毒试验Ⅱ表明,大黄蒽醌提取物能有效地降低试验组罗氏沼虾的死亡率,提高免疫保护率,其中0.4%组的保护效果为最佳.因此,在饲料中添加大黄蒽醌提取物降低罗氏沼虾对病原的敏感性,增强机体抗病力,促进生长.     

Influence of preservation techniques and freezing storage time on biochemical composition and spectrum of fatty acids of Isochrysis galbana clone T-ISO

Isochrysis galbana clone T-ISO was cultured in 5-L vessels with continuous light at 100 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ at temperature room (22 °C) and harvested at early exponential phase. Dry weight (dw), ash content, biochemical composition and fatty acid profile were determined in fresh biomass and after storage for 7 days and 3 months at −76 °C for both freeze-dried and frozen biomasses. Both freezing and freeze-drying caused significant losses in dry weight (range 13.67–19.74%) when compared with fresh microalgae (40.17 pg cell⁻¹), irrespective of storage time. Ash content increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 21.15% in the case of fresh T-ISO up to a range of 24.13–26.26% when different treatments were used. Both freezing and freeze-drying techniques caused a significant protein loss of a similar magnitude from 13.60 to 11.74 and 11.40 pg organic weight (OW) cell⁻¹, respectively, only when long-term storage was used (3 months). Carbohydrate content was only affected by the preservation technique (P < 0.01). Freeze-drying caused significant loss of the latter component after both 7 days (4.53 pg OW cell⁻¹) and 3 months (4.24 pg OW cell⁻¹) when compared with fresh T-ISO (6.15 pg OW cell⁻¹). Lipid content remained constant when subjected to either microalgal treatment or storage time (P > 0.05). However, the relative percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids underwent a significant loss after 3 months when T-ISO was freeze-dried. Our results suggest that freezing is a more appropriate long-term preservation technique (3 months) than freeze-drying. Both carbohydrate and polyunsaturated fatty acids contents, important components in the determination of the nutritional value of food in aquaculture (i.e. for bivalves), remain unchanged when frozen. The processes responsible for the observed loss of biochemical compounds when samples are freeze-dried is most probably as a result of a physical altering of the cell wall.     

Waste‐grown phototrophic bacterium supports culture of the rotifer,Brachionus rotundiformis

The present and commonly used batch culture system (BCS) as adopted by many small‐scale tropical hatcheries is beset by poor rotifer production and sudden crashes. This study aimed to produce nutritive rotifers and evaluate their performance based on the BCS by using phototrophic bacteria (PB) that can be easily and cheaply cultured from palm oil mill effluent (POME), an agro‐industrial byproduct usually discarded as waste. Brachionus rotundiformis given a sole diet of POME‐grown PB (Rhodovulum sulfidophilum) grew as well as on the commercially produced microalgae, Nannochloropsis. Production, growth rate and fecundity of rotifers fed condensed bacterial cells (bPB) and culture broth of bacteria grown in POME (cPB) were evaluated. The best performance in terms of the stated parameters was obtained for rotifers fed 200 mL of cPB in 3 L of culture water; this media sustained a mean rotifer density of 600–900 individuals mL^?1 after 3–6 days of culture. The biochemical composition of rotifers fed PB was comparable to those fed microalgae, except that the former contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

Rhodovulum sulfidophilum,a phototrophic bacterium,grown in palm oil mill effluent improves the larval survival of marble goby Oxyeleotris marmorata (Bleeker)

Survival of marble goby larvae fed either Rhodovulum sulfidophilum, a phototrophic bacterium cultured from palm oil mill effluent (pPB), or microalgae ( Nannochloropsis sp.) was evaluated at two salinities. Larvae directly fed pPB had survival of 0–29% at 5 g L^?1 salinity and 0–19% at 10 g L^?1 salinity, whereas larvae directly fed microalgae suffered complete mortality after 20 days of culture at both salinities. However, larvae indirectly fed pPB or microalgae, i.e. via rotifers (Days 1–30) and Artemia nauplii (Days 21–30) cultured solely from pPB or microalgae, showed improved survival of 35–55% or 44–49% at 5 g L^?1 salinity respectively. In all experiments, fish larvae reared at 5 g L^?1 salinity showed significantly higher (P < 0.01) mean survival than those reared at 10 g L^?1 salinity. The survival of larvae fed the bacterial‐based diet was higher compared with microalgal diet used in previous studies. The pPB had higher total polyunsaturated fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than the microalgae, which had very high eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Larvae with very high ratios of DHA/EPA (>11) or/and ARA (arachidonic acid)/EPA (>5), attributable to their given diet, however suffered the highest mortality.     

Aurantiochytrium sp. meal can replace fish oil in practical diets for the juvenile Pacific white shrimp

This study evaluated the use of microalgae (Aurantiochytrium sp.) meal as a substitute for fish oil in the diet of juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) reared in a clear‐water system. Dietary treatments at five replacement levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) were performed in triplicate. After 46 days, only a slight difference in shrimp final weight was observed among treatments (0.61 g). An increase in final weight was observed with replacement of up to 50% fish oil for microalgae meal, while the optimal percentage of replacement estimated was 44.7%. Feed conversion rate (FCR) of animals fed a diet of Aurantiochytrium sp.meal to replace up to 50% fish oil decreased, and the optimal percentage of replacement estimated was 49.3%. The fatty acids profile in shrimp muscle tissue demonstrated an increase in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from 10.03% to 14.28% with increased replacement of fish oil by microalgae meal in the diet. Therefore, the partial replacement of fish oil by microalgae meal resulted in improved shrimp growth and FCR, and total replacement of dietary fish oil had no negative effects on these parameters. In addition, inclusion of microalgae meal raises the level of DHA in shrimp muscle.     

养殖博氏鱼芒肉营养成分的分析及评价

采用国家标准方法测定湖北英山博氏(鱼芒)肉一般营养成分、氨基酸、脂肪酸和矿物质元素含量.结果表明,博氏(鱼芒)肉中水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪和粗灰分的含量分别为75.36％±1.07％、17.90％±0.43％、5.13％±0.18％和0.98％±0.09％;18种氨基酸总量为(69.01±0.07) g/100 g(干重),其中5种鲜味氨基酸占氨基酸总量的41.70％,8种人体必需氨基酸占氨基酸总量的48.68％,必需氨基酸与非必需氨基酸比值为95.06％;粗脂肪中含24种脂肪酸,油酸含量38.41％±0.29％最高,单不饱和脂肪酸含量占脂肪酸总量的42.68％±0.10％,n-6多不饱和脂肪酸与n-3多不饱和脂肪酸的比值为1.48;矿物质元素中钾含量最高,为(1 118.51±30.67) mg/100 g(干重),微量元素中,铁、锌含量最高,分别为(1.19±0.10)和(1.18±0.05)mg/100 g(干重).与其它鱼类相比,博氏(鱼芒)肉蛋白质质量较高,氨基酸组成比例均衡,富含n-3多不饱和脂肪酸,矿物质元素含量丰富,有较高的营养价值.     

七种不同结构糖源对凡纳滨对虾三大营养物质代谢的影响

本实验研究了不同结构糖源饲料对初始体质量为(0.14±0.01)g的凡纳滨对虾生长、体组成及相关代谢的影响。实验共设7个处理,基础饲料中分别添加7种结构不同的糖源:葡萄糖、果糖、葡萄糖+果糖(1∶1)、蔗糖、麦芽糖、玉米淀粉和糊精,添加水平为20%。每处理设3个平行,每个平行放50尾虾,实验期56 d。结果表明,实验饲料对凡纳滨对虾的特定生长率和蛋白质效率有显著影响,呈现多糖蔗糖其他,其中葡萄糖组最低;实验饲料对凡纳滨对虾的全虾水分、灰分、蛋白质无显著影响,但对脂肪、肝糖原、肌糖原的影响显著。不同结构的糖源饲料对糖代谢相关酶及产物产生显著影响,对脂肪和蛋白代谢酶及产物影响不显著。     

Growth, filtration and ingestion rate of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis fed with large (Asteromonas gracilis) and small (Chlorella sp.) celled algal species

The rotifer Brachionus plicatilis was fed in experimental conditions with a small celled (2–5 μm) Chlorella sp. and a large celled (16–22 μm) Asteromonas gracilis algae. The specific growth rate (SGR) of rotifers fed Asteromonas (maximum 0.79) was statistically higher than that for rotifers fed Chlorella (maximium 0.61). The filtration and ingestion rates using different rotifer and algal densities exhibited certain maxima depending on the species, the cell density and the condition of the rotifers. The filtration rate was higher with Asteromonas and, although ingestion rate was lower than with Chlorella, the ingestion in terms of cell volume was 10‐fold higher. It seems that B. plicatilis ingests the larger cell diameter algal species more efficiently than the smaller species that is usually used for its mass culture.     

Dietary supplementation of lysine and/or methionine on performance, nitrogen retention and excretion in pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus reared in cages

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of lysine and/or methionine on growth performance, nitrogen retention and excretion in pacu juveniles reared in cages. Five diets were prepared; four diets based on plant ingredients containing 23% digestible protein (DP), basal: Lys- and Met-deficient, 23L: basal supplemented with lysine only, 23M: basal supplemented with methionine only, and 23LM: basal supplemented with both amino acids and a protein-bound AAs diet based on fish and soybean meal, containing 30% DP. Survival, specific growth rate, protein efficiency rate and feeding cost were not influenced by the dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Fish fed basal diet showed the lowest mean of N retention. Fish fed 30DP diet showed the best results of weight gain (WG) and apparent food conversion rate (FCR) among the dietary treatments. On the other hand, WG in the 23LM group and FCR in the 23LM and 23M groups were not significantly different from the group fed 30DP diet, and showed the highest mean of N retention. There was higher N excretion (P < 0.05) when the fish were fed 30DP and 23L diets than the other dietary treatments. Fish fed plant protein-based diets containing 23% DP supplemented with both amino acids or methionine alone showed satisfactory growth and N retention results when compared with fish fed 30DP diet, with the advantage of lower N emissions into water. The results also evidence the pacu's great potential to be reared in cages.     

大口黑鲈幼鱼对饲料中锌的需求量

为确定大口黑鲈幼鱼对饲料锌的适宜需求量,以酪蛋白、明胶和鱼粉为主要蛋白质源,以ZnSO_4·H_2O为锌源制作半精制基础饲料,分别向基础饲料中添加0、25、50、100和200 mg/kg锌,制成5种含不同锌水平饲料(24.8、48.8、78.9、126.1和223.6 mg/kg干物质)(命名为Zn-25、Zn-49、Zn-79、Zn-126和Zn-224),投喂初始体质量为(10.99±0.07) g的大口黑鲈幼鱼8周。结果显示,饲料中补充25 mg/kg锌(Zn-49)显著提高了大口黑鲈增重率,降低了饲料系数,进一步提高锌的添加量后,各组增重率和饲料系数趋于稳定。当饲料锌含量为25～49 mg/kg时,T-SOD和CuZn-SOD活性增加,锌含量达到49 mg/kg后,其活性保持基本稳定,而AKP活性在Zn-79组最高。大口黑鲈全鱼和脊椎骨中的锌含量随饲料中锌含量的增加而上升,当饲料锌含量达到126 mg/kg (Zn-126)后,全鱼和脊椎骨中的锌含量不再显著增加,而全鱼铁、骨铁、骨锰含量和全鱼铁、锌沉积率则随饲料锌含量的增加而下降。研究表明,在半精制饲料中补充锌可以显著改善大口黑鲈的生长和饲料利用,提高血清免疫能力、全鱼锌和骨锌的沉积,以增重率、饲料系数、全鱼锌和骨锌为指标,基于折线模型确定大口黑鲈幼鱼对饲料中锌的需求量分别为45.5、44.6、121.8和130.5 mg/kg干物质。     

Effect of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance of juvenile spotted Babylon (Babylonia areolata Link 1807)

A growth trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance, feed utilization and metabolism of juvenile spotted babylon. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets (48% crude protein and 15 MJ kg^− 1 diet) using wheat starch as the carbohydrate source, were formulated to contain six carbohydrate levels. Triplicate groups of 45 animals (initial average weight, 168.39 ± 0.69 mg) were stocked in 120-l tanks and fed to apparent satiation twice daily for 10 weeks. Growth performance and feed utilization were significantly affected by dietary carbohydrate level. Maximum weight gain and specific growth rate occurred at 20% dietary starch inclusion, survival and soft body to shell ratios were not significantly different among diets. There were significant differences in protein, lipid, moisture and glycogen content in soft body. Glycogen content in soft body was positively correlated with dietary starch level. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were significantly affected by dietary starch level, with both peaking in the 20% treatment; however, there were no significant differences in 6-phosphofructokinase activity in any treatment. Quadratic regression analysis of weight gain against dietary starch level indicated that the optimal dietary carbohydrate level for maximum weight gain of juvenile spotted babylon is 27.1% of dry diet.     

Aspects of the feeding biology of the copepod Pseudodiaptomus hessei (Copepoda: Calanoida) under culture conditions

This study aimed to investigate the feeding behaviour (particularly gut fullness and evacuation, preying on rotifers and feeding preference in the water column) of the calanoid copepod, Pseudodiaptomus hessei, as a potential live feed species for aquaculture. Fed and starved, male and female P. hessei were fed rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) in the presence and absence of microalgae for 24 hr. Starved copepods consumed more rotifers (11.31 ± 1.01, individual rotifers) than fed (8.06 ± 1.01, individual rotifers) while the number of rotifers consumed in the presence of microalgae was similar when fed or starved. Gut fullness and evacuation was determined by feeding copepods two different cell size microalgae species (Tetraselmis suecica and Isochrysis galbana). Gut fullness and evacuation percentage were observed under the dissecting microscope (as 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). Copepods fed on T. suecica (large cell) filled their guts more rapidly, while those fed on I. galbana (small cell) evacuated their guts faster. Feeding preference was determined using a multifactorial experiment where copepods were fed two microalgae species, T. suecica and I. galbana, each presented as benthic and planktonic food sources. P. hessei preferred to feed on planktonic microalgae first regardless of microalgae choice species for ±80 min, before shifting to benthic food source. This information can be used as baseline information for aquaculturists to rear the species as live feed for marine fish larvae.     

Evaluation of microalgae diets for Litopenaeus vannamei larvae using a simple protocol

We evaluated native marine microalgae isolated from NortheasternVenezuela, as food for Litopenaeus vannamei larvae,compared to six microalgae commonly used in aquaculture. We evaluated themicroalgal ingestability calculating the biomass consumed by larvae, later weevaluated three monoalgal diets on protozoea stages of L.vannamei over 72 hr based on the larval biomass,RNA/DNAindex and the proportion of stage retarded larvae. The presence of everymicroalgae species in the protozoea's digestive tract indicated theirconsumption. Chaetoceros spp. showed high ingestabilityandTetraselmis spp. and Skeletonema sp.Ch1 showed low ingestability. The native microalgaeChaetoceros sp. A1 and Chaetocerossp.G1 were evaluated as monoalgal diets compared to Chaetocerosgracilis. Ch. gracilis demonstrated the bestresults when the evaluation was performed with the RNA/DNA index. However, thesurvival rate, larval biomass and percentage of stage retarded larvae fed withChaetoceros sp. G1 were not statistically different fromthose fed with Ch. gracilis. Taking into account thatnative microalgae produced higher biomass in shorter times when they werecultured in field conditions, the results suggest that native microalgae areadequate for large-scale culture conditions, thus reducing costs. Thedetermination of microalgal size and the larval consumption, dry and organiclarvae biomass and specially the RNA/DNA index, were valuable features of thisevaluation. The protocol developed in this study could be used to evaluatemicroalgae quality under different environmental conditions and productionregimes.