螺旋藻添加量对凡纳对虾EPA和DHA含量的影响

在商品凡纳对虾饲料中添加不同水平(0％、0．2％、0．5％、0．8％、1．5％、3％、5％)的螺旋藻，投喂给凡纳对虾幼虾，饲养8周后测定虾体EPA、DHA含量。在0～1．5％螺旋藻添加范围内，虾体EPA的含量(Y)与螺旋藻添加量(X)呈现良好的线性关系(YEPA=2．4275X 4．5975 R^2=0．9611)，在0～0．8％的螺旋藻添加范围内，虾体中DHA的含量与螺旋藻添加量也呈显著线性相关(YDHA=4．668X 5．6545 R^2=0．9631)。结果表明：适量添加螺旋藻可以显著改善凡纳对虾EPA和DHA在总脂肪酸中含量。     

益生菌对凡纳滨对虾生长和全虾营养组成的影响

研究了芽孢杆菌制剂（Bacillus sp．，10^9CFU·g^-1）对凡纳滨对虾Litopenaeus vannamei（初始体重0．03g·尾^-1）生长性能、全虾营养成分和氨基酸的影响。7种试验饲料中芽孢杆菌制剂的添加量分别为0，0．5，1．0，1．5，2．0，2．5和3．0g·kg^-1饲料。芽孢杆菌制剂对凡纳滨对虾的成活率没有显著影响。摄食添加益生菌1．0和1．5g·kg^-1饲料的凡纳滨对虾的增重率高并且饲料系数低于对照组，特别是添加量为1．0g·kg^-1时，差异显著；然而，其它添加量并不存在显著性差异。添加益生菌对凡纳滨对虾全虾的水分、蛋白质和灰分含量的影响不显著；投喂添加益生菌1．0和1．5g·kg^-1饲料，脂肪含量高于对照组。饲料中添加益生菌可以改变凡纳滨对虾全虾中部分氨基酸的含量。     

饲喂乳酸菌对凡纳滨对虾幼虾肉质的影响

在凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)幼虾饲料中添加3株植物乳杆菌[Lactobacillus plantarum YRL45、Lactobacillus plantarum QL、Lactobacillus plantarumKTP(C-2)]和3株副干酪乳杆菌(Lactobacillus paracasei M5、Lactobacillus paracasei X12、Lactobacillus paracasei SB27),采用质构仪TPA模式和气相色谱法分析喂养后肌肉质构和脂肪酸含量变化,研究乳酸菌对凡纳滨对虾幼虾肌肉品质的影响。结果表明,添加乳酸菌能改善凡纳滨对虾幼虾肌肉的弹性和咀嚼性,其中植物乳杆菌[YRL45、QL、KTP(C-2)]的改善效果最好,将幼虾肌肉的弹性和咀嚼性分别提高了35.14%和85.71%(P0.05)。副干酪乳杆菌(M5、X12、SB27)能提高对虾肌肉持水性并且能显著降低对虾肌肉中饱和脂肪酸含量,提高多不饱和脂肪酸含量,其中棕榈酸、十七烷酸和硬脂酸含量显著降低,EPA与DHA的含量分别增加了23.22%和34.40%。综上所述,在饲料中添加植物乳杆菌[YRL45、QL、KTP(C-2)]对凡纳滨对虾幼虾肌肉弹性和咀嚼性有改善作用,副干酪乳杆菌(M5、X12、SB27)能显著改善凡纳滨对虾幼虾肌肉的脂肪酸组成。     

饲料中添加盐对低盐养殖凡纳滨对虾肌肉常规营养成分及质构的影响

以初始体重为2.70±0.16g的凡纳滨对虾Litopenaeus vannamei为研究对象,在基础饲料中分别添加0（对照组）、1%、2%和4%的食盐,配制成4种实验饲料,在低盐养殖水体中饲养40d,探讨饲料中添加盐对低盐养殖凡纳滨对虾肌肉营养成分及质构的影响。结果表明,随着食盐添加量的升高,凡纳滨对虾虾体蛋白质和灰分含量有增加的趋势,而虾体水分、脂肪有降低的趋势。其中,盐添加量为4%组的蛋白质含量增加极显著（P〈0.01）,而水分降低亦显著（P〈0.05）。在肌肉质构方面,随着饲料中盐添加量的增加,除粘性下降外,其他质构参数都逐渐升高。而且添加4%盐组对虾的硬度、弹性、胶粘性、耐咀性和回复性显著优于其他组（P〈0.05）,但各组的内聚性无显著差异（P〉0.05）。结果表明,饲料中添加盐可以改善低盐养殖凡纳滨对虾肌肉的质构,且当添加量为4%时效果最佳。     

凡纳滨对虾捕食藻钩虾能力探究

研究了体长为4～7em的凡纳滨对虾对体长为2～17mm的藻钩虾的捕食能力,结果表明：凡纳滨对虾捕食藻钩虾的能力随着对虾体长的增长而增加。体长4cm的凡纳滨对虾不能捕食13—17mm的藻钩虾,而主要捕食2～7mm的藻钩虾,其在凡纳滨对虾日摄食量（干重）中所占比例达80％以上。5~7cm的凡纳滨对虾可捕食2～17mm的藻钩虾。随凡纳滨对虾体长增加,捕食大规格藻钩虾的比例也增加。     

酵母水解物对低盐胁迫凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫及抗氧化能力的影响

本实验旨在研究饲料中添加酵母水解物对凡纳滨对虾在低盐度胁迫条件下非特异性免疫和抗氧化能力的影响。选取凡纳滨对虾[初始体质量（15.82±0.08）g],平均分为2组,对照组投喂基础饲料（Y0）,实验组投喂添加了3%酵母水解物的实验饲料（Y3）,在室内养殖15d后分别放入盐度为4‰（S4）和28‰（S28）的水体中进行盐度胁迫实验,每组6个重复,每个重复30尾虾（根据饲料和盐度不同组合,分组命名为Y0S4、Y0S28、Y0S3、Y0S28）。结果表明：饲料中添加3%酵母水解物对凡纳滨对虾血清酚氧化酶（PO）、总一氧化氮合成酶（TNOS）活性没有显著影响,但低盐度胁迫1h时,Y3S4组PO、TNOS活性显著高于Y0S4组;盐度因素对PO、TNOS活性产生显著影响,低盐度胁迫1h时,S28组PO、TNOS活性显著高于S4;饲料中添加3%酵母水解物显著提高了凡纳滨对虾肝胰腺超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性;盐度因素对酸性磷酸酶（ACP）活性产生了显著影响,S28组ACP活性显著高于S4。由此可见,在饲料中添加酵母水解物能够提高凡纳滨对虾肝胰腺SOD活性,提高对虾的抗氧化能力;在遭遇低盐度胁迫时,对虾能迅速恢复PO、TNOS活性至正常水平,从而提高凡纳滨对虾的抵抗不良环境的能力。     

饲料中花生四烯酸水平对凡纳滨对虾免疫相关基因表达及抗菌能力的影响

为了评估饲料中花生四烯酸(arachidonic acid,ARA)水平对凡纳滨对虾免疫相关基因表达及抗菌能力的影响,分别以鱼油和混合植物油为脂肪源,设计了2个系列共9组不同ARA含量的等氮等能,且具备相同饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)、多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)和n-3/n-6比例的实验饲料,投喂对虾6周后,检测各组对虾在急性感染溶藻弧菌0、24、36和42 h时鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD(immune deficiency)和溶菌酶m RNA表达量,并统计感染后96 h内对虾的死亡情况。结果表明:1对虾摄食以鱼油为脂肪源的饲料[饲料DHA(22:6n-3)和EPA(20:5n-3)含量分别为5.85和3.83 mg/g饲料],其鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量均随饲料中ARA含量的升高呈现先升高后下降的变化;0.56(B组)和0.87 mg ARA/g饲料组(C组)对虾溶菌酶m RNA表达量显著高于0.44(A组)、1.02(D组)和0.28 mg ARA/g饲料组(E组)(P0.05);对虾摄食以植物混合油为脂肪源的饲料(DHA和EPA含量分别为3.28和1.87 mg/g饲料),其鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量随饲料中ARA含量的升高而升高;1.44 mg ARA/g饲料组(I组)对虾Toll受体m RNA表达量显著高于0.19 mg ARA/g饲料组(F组)(P0.05)。2人工急性感染溶藻弧菌后,各组对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA的表达量随感染进程均出现显著变化。摄食以鱼油为脂肪源的饲料时,对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量峰值均出现在0.56 mg ARA/g饲料组(B组),且峰值分别出现在感染后24、42和24 h。摄食以混合植物油为脂肪源的饲料时,对虾鳃组织中Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶m RNA表达量峰值均出现在1.44 mg ARA/g饲料组(I组),且峰值分别出现在感染后24、42和36 h。3各实验组对虾急性感染溶藻弧菌后96 h累积死亡率无显著差异。本研究表明,饲料ARA水平影响凡纳滨对虾免疫相关基因(Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶)的表达,且ARA调控免疫基因表达的效果受饲料EPA和DHA水平的影响。     

中草药对凡纳滨对虾生长、免疫功能的影响

以凡纳滨对虾（Litopenaeus vannamei）为实验对象，基础饵料中分别添加不同水平的中草药（0％、1．0％、2．0％）,结果表明，添加不同剂量的中草药能显著提高凡纳滨对虾的增重率和增长率，显著地降低对虾的饵料系数，对凡纳滨对虾的成活率有极显著提高．能极显著提高对虾血清中溶菌酶和SOD活性，能显著提高ACP活性，极显著提高对虾对溶藻弧菌的免疫保护率。     

凡纳滨对虾的脂肪营养需求

脂肪在凡纳滨对虾的生命活动中有着重要的作用,主要用于能量代谢和生长发育。虾类的脂肪来源一部分来自于体内的三大营养物质转化,另外主要的来源还是来自于饲料的供给。凡纳滨虾饲料中脂肪和脂肪酸的种类以及含量的不同,直接影响凡纳滨对虾的机体的生长和养殖效益。研究发现凡纳滨对虾幼虾饲料C18:3n-3/C18:2n-6比值为0.44,凡纳滨对虾饲料中脂肪添加量在8.5%~9%之间的效果最好。     

β-1,3-葡聚糖对凡纳滨对虾生长性能的影响

以不添加β,3-葡聚糖的半纯化饲料为基础饲料,分别在其基础上添加0、100、200、400、600和800 mg·kg-1(分别记做G0、G100、G200、G400、G600、组)的β-1,3-葡聚糖,对平均体重为(0.55±0.01)g的凡纳滨对虾幼虾进行5周的饲养试验,研究β-1,3-葡聚糖对凡纳滨对虾幼虾存活率、特定生长率和饲料效率的影响.试验结果表明,随着饲料中β.1,3-葡聚糖添加量的增加,凡纳滨对虾的特定生长率呈现先升高后降低的趋势,在400 mg·k-1组达到最高值,但各试验组间没有显著差异;除800mg·kg-1组外,添加β-1,3-葡聚糖试验组的饲料效率均高对照组,在400 mg·kg-1组饲料效率最高,显著高于对照组和(P<0.05);各组凡纳滨对虾的存活率没有显著差异.通过二次回归分析,得到特定生长率y(%)与β-1,3-匍聚糖添加量x(mg·kg-1)的关系为y=-2E-06x2 0.0014x+3.2905,R2=0.9385,凡纳滨对虾饲料中β-1,3-葡聚糖的最适添加量为336.5mg·kg-1.     

Growth and fatty acid composition of juvenile Cerastoderma edule (L.) fed live microalgae diets with different fatty acid profiles

The importance of dietary 20:5n‐3 (EPA), 22:6n‐3 (DHA) and 20:4n‐6 (ARA) for growth, survival and fatty acid composition of juvenile cockles (Cerastoderma edule) was investigated. Cockles of 6.24 ± 0.04 mm and 66.14 ± 0.34 mg (live weight) were distributed into three treatments where live microalgae diets were fed constantly below the pseudofaeces production threshold, for three weeks. Diets had distinct fatty acid profiles: high EPA (53% Chaetoceros muelleri + 47% Pyramimonas parkeae), no DHA (47% Brachiomonas submarina + 53% Tetraselmis suecica) and low ARA concentrations (73% P. parkeae + 27% Phaeodactylum tricornutum). Growth was positively affected by high EPA and low ARA diets, whereas no significant growth was observed for the no DHA diet. High mortality of cockles fed no DHA diet raises questions about its suitability for cockles. In balanced diets with EPA and DHA, lower concentrations of ARA do not limit growth. The impact of dietary fatty acids was evident in the fatty acids of neutral and polar lipids of cockles. In polar lipids of all cockles, there was a decrease in EPA, in contrast to an increase in DHA. The combination of EPA and DHA in a live microalgae diet was beneficial for the growth and survival of juvenile cockles.     

Growth, survival, lipid composition and pigmentation of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) larvae fed live-prey enriched in Arachidonic and Eicosapentaenoic acids

Turbot larvae were fed live-prey enriched with different levels of arachidonic (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids to study the effects of these fatty acids on body composition and pigmentation success. Significantly reduced pigmentation was obtained in those fish fed medium and high ARA diets for 43 days. Growth and survival were the same for all groups. The incorporation of ARA and EPA in fish eyes, brains, livers and carcasses reflected the percentage of these fatty acids in the diets. ARA accumulation was similar in all tissues, but brain accumulated EPA was less efficient than the other tissues examined. A highly significant, negative correlation was found between the %ARA in turbot juvenile brain total lipids and pigmentation success. A weaker, positive correlation was found between brain EPA and pigmentation. Increasing dietary ARA affected the fatty acid composition of turbot brain phosphoglycerides more than increasing dietary EPA, especially in phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). A negative relationship was found between percentage normal pigmentation and ARA levels in brain phosphatidylcholine (PC), PE and phosphatidylserine (PS). Elevated levels of ARA in PI also resulted in malpigmented juveniles, but EPA:ARA ratios ≥1 in PI were associated with normal pigmentation. We conclude that, given a sufficiency of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the optimum dietary level of EPA is not a function of DHA, but of dietary ARA.     

Interactions between dietary docosahexaenoic acid and other long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on performance and fatty acid retention in post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

A study with varying dietary inclusion levels (1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g kg^?1) of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) was conducted with post-smolt (111 ± 2.6 g; mean ± S.) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) over a 9-week period. In addition to the series of DHA inclusion levels, the study included further diets that had DHA at 10 g kg^?1 in combination with either eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) or arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n-6), both also included at 10 g kg^?1. An additional treatment with both EPA and DHA included at 5 g kg^?1 (total of 10 g kg^?1 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, LC-PUFA) was also included. After a 9-week feeding period, fish were weighed, and carcass, blood and tissue samples collected. A minor improvement in growth was seen with increasing inclusion of DHA. However, the addition of EPA further improved growth response while addition of ARA had no effect on growth. As with most lipid studies, the fatty acid composition of the whole body lipids generally reflected that of the diets. However, there were notable exceptions to this, and these implicate some interactions among the different LC-PUFA in terms of the fatty acid biochemistry in this species. At very low inclusion levels, DHA retention was substantially higher (~250 %) than that at all other inclusion levels (31–58 %). The inclusion of EPA in the diet also had a positive effect on the retention efficiency of DHA. However, EPA retention was highly variable and at low DHA inclusion levels there was a net loss of EPA as this fatty acid was most likely elongated to produce DHA, consistent with increased DHA retention with additional EPA in the diet. Retention of DPA (22:5n-3) was high at low levels of DHA, but diminished with increasing DHA inclusion, similar to that seen with DHA retention. The addition of EPA to the diet resulted in a substantial increase in the efficiency of DPA retention; the inclusion of ARA had the opposite effect. Retention of ARA was unaffected by DHA inclusion, but the addition of either EPA or ARA to the diet resulted in a substantial reduction in the efficiency of ARA retention. No effects of dietary treatment were noted on the retention of either linolenic (18:3n-3) or linoleic (18:2n-6) acids. When the total n-3 LC-PUFA content of the diet was the same but consisted of either DHA alone or as a combination of EPA plus DHA, the performance effects were similar.     

A study of the arachidonic acid requirements of the giant tiger prawn, Penaues monodon

This study examined the dietary requirement of arachidonic acid (ARA) when that of linoleic acid (LOA), the natural precursor to ARA, was also satisfied with linolenic acid (LNA) and also with and without the other key dietary highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). Growth by prawns fed diets supplemented with ARA was poorer than in diets where it was not present. Supplementation of ARA to diets with either optimized HUFA or just optimised poly unsaurated fatty acids (PUFA) (i.e. LOA, LNA) resulted in poorer growth. Growth was poorest by prawns (215 ± 13%) fed diets with ARA supplemented at 20% of the total fatty acids but including 7% LOA, 21% LNA and 4% of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Growth was best in prawns fed diets devoid of ARA but with 7% LOA and 21% LNA (350 ± 19%). Prawns fed the reference diet (348 ± 21%) and the other diet devoid of ARA but containing about 7% LOA, 21% LNA and 4% of both EPA and DHA (345 ± 18%) had similar growth. The growth responses were not effects of altered lipid or fatty acid digestibilities. Indeed supplementation of ARA to the diet marginally improved the digestibility of the total neutral lipid in the diet and the digestibilities of some other dietary fatty acids. The amount of lipid in the digestive glands of prawns fed with the diets was reduced by the inclusion of ARA in the dietary lipids. Composition of the lipids in the digestive gland (DG) of the prawns was almost directly related to the composition of their dietary lipids. The proportion of ARA in the total fatty acids increased with level of supplementation of dietary ARA. An increased level of dietary ARA reduced the proportion of EPA, DHA in the DG lipid and also the total n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids in the DG lipid. The results of this study support that addition of ARA to the diet of Penaues monodon when the other key essential fatty acids (EFA) have been optimized, does not improve their growth performance. It is suggested that key cause for this response may lie in the importance of the balance of the n‐3 to n‐6 fatty acids in the diet of these animals.     

Lipid enrichment for Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) larvae: effect on larval growth, survival and fatty acid profile

Results from three larval Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) feeding trials using non-enriched Artemia and Artemia enriched with Super HUFA®, Arasco®, sunflower oil and microalgae are presented and the effects on larval survival, growth and fatty acid (FA) composition are reported. The FA profile of Senegalese sole eggs was analysed to gather information about the nutritional requirements of the early larval stages and a quite high DHA/EPA ratio (4.3) was found. However, there was no evidence of a high dietary demand for DHA or EPA, given that no relationship was found between dietary HUFA concentration and larval growth and survival. When larvae were fed non-enriched Artemia a significantly better growth and comparable survival were obtained than with Artemia enriched with Super HUFA® (containing the highest HUFA level and DHA/EPA ratio). The FA profiles of the larvae generally reflected those of their diets. DHA was an exception, as it was present in high proportions, even in larvae fed DHA-deficient prey. Total FAME concentration decreased during larval development, with SFA, MUFA and PUFA being equally consumed; HUFA appeared to be less used, with its relative concentration being either kept constant (particularly EPA and ARA) or increased (DHA). A specific requirement for ARA in the first larval stages could not be confirmed but it was always present in considerable amounts, even in larvae fed an ARA poor diet.     

Importance of dietary arachidonic acid for the growth,survival and stress resistance of larval European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed high dietary docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids

Together with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (ARA) is being considered to be an essential fatty acid in marine fish larval diets. The objective of the present study was to determine the importance of dietary ARA levels for larval European sea bass performance, when EPA and DHA are also present in the diet. Eighteen‐day‐old larvae were fed, for 14 days, gelatine‐based microdiets containing the following ARA levels: 0.3%, 0.6% or 1.2%. Elevation of dietary ARA up to 1.2% showed a positive correlation with larval survival and a significant improvement in the specific growth rates, body weight and total length. Arachidonic acid was efficiently incorporated into larval lipids, even at a higher proportion than that in the diets. Increased accumulation of ARA did not affect the incorporation of DHA or EPA from the diet into larval total lipids. A significant positive correlation was found between dietary ARA levels and survival after handling stress, indicating the importance of this fatty acid in sea bass larvae response to acute stressors. The results show the importance of ARA for sea bass larvae, but higher dietary levels should be tested to determine whether there is a negative effect of ARA in sea bass as reported for other species.     

Effects of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid on growth, survival, pigmentation and fatty acid composition in Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) larvae during the Artemia feeding period

We examined the effect of dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3) on growth, survival, pigmentation and fatty acid composition of Senegal sole larvae. From 3 to 40 days post‐hatch (dph), larvae were fed live food that had been enriched using one of four experimental emulsions containing graduated concentrations of EPA and constant docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) and arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n‐6). Final proportions of EPA in the enriched Artemia nauplii were described as ‘nil’ (EPA‐N, 0.5% total fatty acids, TFA), ‘low’ (EPA‐L, 10.7% TFA), ‘medium’ (EPA‐M, 20.3% TFA) or ‘high’ (EPA‐H, 29.5% TFA). Significant differences among dietary treatments in larval length were observed at 25, 30 and 40 dph, and in dry weight at 30 and 40 dph, although no significant correlation could be found between dietary EPA content and growth. Eye migration at 17 and 25 dph was affected by dietary levels of EPA. Significantly lower survival was observed in fish fed EPA‐H diet. Lower percentage of fish fed EPA‐N (82.7%) and EPA‐L (82.9%) diets were normally pigmented compared with the fish fed EPA‐M (98.1%) and EPA‐H (99.4%) enriched nauplii. Tissue fatty acid concentrations reflected the corresponding dietary composition. ARA and DHA levels in all the tissues examined were inversely related to dietary EPA. This work concluded that Senegal sole larvae have a very low EPA requirement during the live feeding period.     

Lipid classes and fatty acids during embryogenesis of captive and wild silverside (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chirostoma estor estor</Emphasis>) from Pátzcuaro Lake

Lipid classes and fatty acid levels were analyzed in freshly fertilized eggs, early and late embryo development, and freshly hatched larvae obtained from wild and captive silverside Chirostoma estor estor broodstock, as well as in plankton, Artemia, and pelleted feed. The concentration of triglycerides (TGs) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in neutral lipid fraction significantly decreased during early development and especially after hatching, whereas phospholipids and HUFA in polar lipid fraction remained constant. These results indicate that TGs rather than PLs are used as energy sources and that all HUFAs [20:4n-6/arachidonic acid (ARA), 20:5n-3/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and 22:6n-3/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] of polar lipids are selectively conserved during early development. High levels of DHA (30%, on average, of total fatty acids) and low levels of EPA (4%) were observed in eggs, embryos, and larvae and did not reflect the proportions of these fatty acids in food. Preferential accumulation of DHA from food consumed by broodstock, and then transference to eggs, was probably occurring. The main difference between eggs from both origins was a low level of ARA in eggs from captive fish (4% of total fatty acids) compared to wild fish (9%). This could be associated with a deficiency in the diet that is not compensated for by desaturation/elongation of 18:2n-6 and, possibly, with greater stress in captive fish. In any case, particular requirements of ARA should be determined to optimize the culture of C. estor.     

Importance of the relative levels of dietary arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid for culture performance of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae

The effect of different arachidonic acid (ARA) dietary contents at several dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels on the growth, survival and biochemical composition of gilthead seabream larvae was studied to better define the importance of this fatty acid as a function of EPA. Larvae of 18 days were fed one of the five isonitrogenous and isolipidic microdiets with three different EPA (0.3%, 2% and 4%) and ARA amounts (0.1%, 0.6% and 1.2%). Although a dietary increase in either ARA or EPA alone did not improve survival significantly, the increase in both fatty acids significantly enhanced growth and survival, suggesting an optimum dietary value of EPA:ARA close to 4:1.2. Dietary ARA was more efficiently incorporated into larval tissues than EPA. Increased dietary EPA or ARA contents reduced the incorporation of ARA or EPA into larval lipids, indicating their competition as substrates for different enzymes. The possible negative effect of further elevation of dietary ARA and its competition with EPA for phospholipids synthesis deserves further studies in marine fish larvae.