Aurantiochytrium sp. meal as DHA source in Nile tilapia diet,part II: Body fatty acid retention and muscle fatty acid profile

Nile tilapia juveniles (8.35 ± 0.80 g) were fed on four levels (0.0%; 0.5%; 1.0%; 2.0%, 4.0%) of Aurantiochytrium sp. meal (ALL‐G‐RICH?), a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The 1% Aurantiochytrium sp. meal diet was compared to a control diet, which contained the same amount of DHA as cod liver oil (CLO) at 1.7% diet. Groups of 25 fish were stocked in 100 L tanks and fed twice daily until apparent satiation, for 57 days, at 28°C. Increasing dietary Aurantiochytrium sp. meal reduced the body retention of DHA and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) but increased the body retention of alpha‐linolenic (α‐LNA), linoleic (LOA) and n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐6 PUFA). Fatty acid profile in tilapia muscle was affected by increasing dietary inclusions of Aurantiochytrium sp. meal, with an increase in DHA, α‐LNA, n‐3 PUFA and n‐3 long chain‐polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 LC‐PUFA) but a decrease in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), n‐6 PUFA and n‐6 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐6 LC‐PUFA). There was a larger body retention of DHA, α‐LNA, LOA, n‐3 PUFA and n‐6 PUFA fatty acids and a higher percentage of DHA, n‐3 PUFA and n‐3 LC‐PUFA in muscle fatty acid profile in fish fed on CLO diets than in those fed on 1% Aurantiochytrium sp. Therefore, Aurantiochytrium sp. meal is an alternative source of DHA for Nile tilapia diets.     

Effects of dietary n‐3 PUFA supplements on composition of n‐3 PUFA and expression of fatty acid elongase 5 (AJELOVL5) in sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

This is the first comprehensive study on the effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels on the expression of fatty acid elongase 5 (AJELOVL5), PUFA composition, and growth in juvenile sea cucumbers. The specific growth rate (SGR_w) was improved in n‐3 PUFA‐rich diets compared to low n‐3 PUFA diets. AJELOVL5 expression was apparently upregulated in juveniles fed lower PUFA diets relative to higher PUFA diets, with higher expression in the body wall and respiratory tree of juveniles fed diets without ɑ‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n‐3) compared to juveniles fed higher ALA level diets; similar results were also detected in juveniles fed diets with lower eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3), and none of ALA, EPA, or DHA respectively. The concentrations of ALA, EPA, and DHA in tissues were positively related to the content of dietary corresponding PUFA, with higher ALA content in juveniles fed diet ALA_12.71 than in the ALA_7.46 and ALA₀ groups. Similar results were also obtained in sea cucumber fed diets enriched with either EPA or DHA. Interestingly, considerable levels of EPA and DHA were found in the tissues of juveniles fed diets of CK₀ and DHA₀, with no specific input of EPA or DHA, showing that the sea cucumber was capable of biosynthesizing EPA and DHA from their corresponding precursors as ALA and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n‐6).     

Planktivorous vendace (Coregonus albula) utilise algae‐derived fatty acids for biomass increase and lipid deposition

Spatial and seasonal variation in the abundance and composition of phytoplankton and other basal resources (bacteria, terrestrial detritus) influence the availability of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for upper trophic levels in lake food webs. We studied accumulation, composition and content of fatty acids in planktivorous vendace (Coregonus albula) muscle tissue during the summer feeding period (May to late September) in six boreal lakes. Vendace muscle fatty acid content increased from ~17.7 mg/g DW to ~28.1 mg/g DW from spring to summer, corresponding to a ~59% increase in total fatty acids. PUFA accounted for 45%–65% of all fatty acids, and the most abundant fatty acid was docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3). The DHA content remained relatively constant throughout the sampling period (~7–8 mg/g DW), but the proportion of DHA decreased from ~40% in spring to ~30% in summer and autumn. The decrease in DHA proportion was due to accumulation of other fatty acids, primarily C₁₈ PUFA (predominantly synthetised by algae) and monounsaturated fatty acids. A similar fatty acid accumulation pattern was observed in lipid storing copepods, an important prey for planktivorous vendace. The abundance of bacterial and terrestrial biomarker fatty acids in vendace muscle and prey items was low (<5% and <0.1% respectively). The increase in weight and the deposition of internal energy stores in vendace were achieved predominantly by algae‐based food chain. This has ecological implications, as vendace requires sufficient lipid stores for reproduction in autumn and survival over winter.     

Nutritional evaluation of fatty acids for the open thelycum shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei: II. Effect of dietary n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated and highly unsaturated fatty acids on juvenile shrimp growth, survival, and fatty acid composition

This study evaluated the nutritional value of dietary n‐3 and n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as linoleic (LOA) and linolenic (LNA) acids, and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) such as arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei, based on their effects on growth, survival, and fatty acid composition of hepatopancreas and muscle tissue. Diets contained 5% total lipid. A basal diet contained palmitic and stearic acids each at 2.5% of diet. Five diets contained 0.5% dry weight of LOA, LNA, AA, EPA, or DHA. An additional diet evaluated HUFA in combination by supplementing at 0.5% of diet, a mixture of n‐3 HUFA. All HUFA showed higher nutritional value than PUFA for shrimp and produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher final weight, weight gain, and total lipid in shrimp muscle. Fatty acid profiles of shrimp tissues reflected the composition of the dietary lipids. In general, saturated fatty acids were more abundant in the neutral factions, while PUFA and HUFA were more abundant in the polar fractions of tissues. Under these experimental conditions, HUFA had much greater nutritional value than PUFA for juvenile L. vannamei; moreover, dietary requirements for PUFA were not demonstrated.     

Effect of lipid levels on the reproductive performance of Snakehead murrel,Channa striatus

Present study aimed to determine the optimum dietary lipid level in snakehead murrel channa striatus broodstocks. Triplicate groups of fish were fed for 240 days with isonitrogenous experimental diets with increasing lipid levels (100, 140, and 180 g kg^?1), using fish oil and soybean oil as the lipid sources with the ratio of (1:1). Weight gain, GSI, fecundity, oocyte diameter and number of mature oocyte were found to be significantly higher in the group fed with diet containing 180 g kg^?1 lipid level. Muscle fatty acid profile showed a significant increase in LA (18:2n‐6), LNA (18:3n3), total PUFA, n‐6 and ArA (20:4n‐6) in fish fed with diet containing 180 g kg^?1 lipid. Increasing lipid level up to 180 g kg^?1 resulted in significant increase in PUFA (LA & LNA), lc‐PUFA (EPA, DHA, ArA), total PUFA, n‐3 and n‐6 series in ovary and liver of female C. striatus.     

Effect of diets containing laurel seed oil on growth and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of replacing fish oil (FO) with laurel seed oil (LSO), as an alternative plant lipid source in diets on the growth and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; 111.47 ± 0.2 g mean individual weight). At the end of the feeding trial, survival was 100% in all treatments. No significant differences were seen in growth between the dietary groups (P > 0.05). The protein, lipid and ash contents were not significantly different among the groups (P > 0.05); however, there was a significant difference in protein and ash content between the treatment groups and the initial, and between the 50LSO group and the initial group, respectively (P < 0.05). The viscerosomatic index (VSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) values were not affected by increasing LSO percentages in the diets. The n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentration increased with increasing LSO levels in the diets. In contrast, the n‐3 PUFA levels decreased with increasing LSO levels in the diets. The liver and muscle were used for the analysis of fatty acids. The highest level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations was recorded in fillet of fish fed the FO diet and the lowest in those fed the 50LSO diet. However, EPA and DHA ratios in the liver of fish fed the 75LSO diet were higher than those in fillet of fish fed the FO and 50LSO diets. No significant differences were seen in fatty acid composition between the dietary groups (P > 0.05). Based on the results of growth performance and fatty acid composition of the experimental fish in this study, it can be concluded that the 75% concentration of laurel seed oil performed best among the diets tested in the experiment.     

The effects of dietary supplements of polyunsaturated fatty acid on pearl oyster,Pinctada margaritifera L., gonad composition and reproductive output

Black‐lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera broodstock was collected from the wild. Egg production, hatching rate and larval development were compared between oysters induced to spawn within 2 days after collection in the wild (T1), oysters fed a pure microalgae diet during 24 days before spawning (T2) and oysters fed the same microalgal diet in which 10% of the algae were replaced with 2 μm polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)‐rich microspheres (T3). Administration of lipid microspheres resulted in larger sized eggs, a higher percentage of D‐larvae and larger sized 48‐h‐old larvae (P<0.05). The total and neutral lipid contents of the gonad increased after oysters were fed with microalgae only or with supplementary diet. The major neutral and polar fractions of saturated fatty acid (SFA) were 16C and 18C fatty acids, and not influenced by the diet (P>0.05). The gonads of oysters fed supplementary PUFA contained more docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and less monounsaturated fatty acids. Higher level of DHA in gonads of T3 was associated with oogenesis and embryogenesis success. The n‐3/n‐6 ratio in the neutral lipid fraction provides a good indication of the spawning condition and predicting egg size and hatching rate.     

Long‐chain PUFA enrichment in microalgae and metabolic dynamics in Tapes philippinarum larvae

The possibility of increasing n‐3 and n‐6 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content in microalgal mixtures used to feed Tapes philippinarum larvae was explored by lowering culture temperature from 26 to 14 °C. Although fatty acid composition of different microalgal species has a genetic basis, the algal cultures grown at 14 °C significantly increased the content of long‐chain n‐3 PUFA in Isocrysis galbana and in Thalassiosira pseudonana, while in Tetraselmis tetrathelo, the PUFA increase only involved shorter chain PUFA, namely 16:4n‐3 and 18:4n‐3. However, larvae fed on the PUFA enriched microalgal mixture did not show improvements in growth and survival performances with respect to the control group fed the microalgal mixture grown at 26 °C. From a biochemical perspective, two key aspects emerged from the results: (i) clam larvae have adequate biotransformation and selection skills to adjust fatty acid profile to their requirements as they can even modulate the incorporation of essential long‐chain PUFA as 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 when the dietary supply exceeds the physiological requirements; (ii) bivalve can biosynthesize non‐methylene‐interrupted dienoic (NMID) fatty acids as confirmed by the constancy of relative proportion with larvae growth in spite of the NMID fatty acid absence in the diet.     

Effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on growth performance,fatty acid profile and lipogenesis of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

Six diets were designed to investigate the effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3; DHA) levels (0.5, 1.3, 2.3, 4.2, 8.1 and 15.9 g/kg diets) on growth performance, fatty acid profile and expression of some lipogenesis‐related genes of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Fish (average weight: 26.40 ± 0.11 g) were randomly fed one of six diets for 8 weeks. Results indicated that the final body weight (FBW) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed 1.3 g/kg DHA were significantly higher than other groups except for the 2.3 g/kg DHA (p < .05). Compared with other groups, the number of lipid droplet clusters of the liver stained with oil red O in the 2.3 g/kg DHA group was the highest, which was consistent with the lipid contents of whole body and liver. The DHA proportion in liver and muscle significantly increased with the increasing dietary DHA levels (p < .05), which reflected fatty acid profiles of diets. The highest mRNA expressions of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase α (ACCα), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1 (SREBP‐1) occurred in the 1.3 g/kg DHA group, followed by 2.3 g/kg DHA. In summary, the supplementation of 1.3–2.3 g/kg DHA could improve growth performance and lipogenesis, and the dietary DHA could improve DHA and PUFA proportion in liver and muscle.     

Effects of Dietary DHA/EPA Ratios on Fatty Acid Composition,Lipid Metabolism‐related Enzyme Activity,and Gene Expression of Juvenile Grass Carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellus

To determine the effects of docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) ratios on grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, a 38‐d feeding trial was conducted using six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic semi‐purified diets containing constant n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC‐PUFA) (0.5% of dry matter), but varying ratios of DHA to EPA and a control diet (no n‐3 LC‐PUFA was included). The results revealed higher final weight and specific growth rate in the DHA/EPA 0.21 group. The n‐3 LC‐PUFA content increased in the CK (control) groups compared with that in the control diet. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity increased in the treatment groups. Malate dehydrogenase showed lower activity in the DHA/EPA 1.08 group, as well as to the change in the level of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). The gene expressions of LPL increased in the treatment groups and that of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α gene showed higher expressions in DHA/EPA 1.08, 0.49, and 0.21 groups. However, no remarkable differences were found among the six groups in the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ gene expression. Our findings indicated that dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFA affected fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism of grass carp. Further, fish achieved the best effect in decreasing the lipid accumulation when dietary DHA/EPA ratio was not greater than 1.     

Effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid sources,microalgae meal and oil,on growth,fatty acid composition and docosahexaenoic acid retention of orange‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus coioides

This study evaluated the effects of Aurantiochytrium spp. microalgae meal and oil as dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) sources on the growth, fatty acid composition and DHA retention of orange‐spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Dietary fish oil was replaced with microalgae meal or oil to provide an equal amount of DHA as a fish oil‐containing basal diet. In total, three experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of fish (initial wt: 8.48 ± 0.06 g) in a recirculating system for 8 weeks. The weight gain and feed efficiency of the fish did not differ significantly among the experimental diets. The fatty acid composition of the whole body of the fish generally reflected the composition of their diet. The concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid in the whole body was higher in the fish fed the fish meal control diet than in those fed the two experimental diets The fish fed the control diet and those fed the diet containing microalgae oil exhibited higher DHA concentrations than did the fish fed the diet containing microalgae meal. The whole‐body DHA retention was the highest in the fish fed the diet with microalgae oil, followed by the fish fed the control diet. The lowest whole‐body DHA retention was observed in the fish fed the diet containing microalgae meal. The results suggested that the oil from Aurantiochytrium spp. microalgae can be used as DHA source for the grouper. DHA utilization by the fish was higher when the diet was supplemented with microalgae oil than with dry microalgae meal.     

Assessing the feasibility of using pomegranate (Punica granatum) seed oil,rich in conjugated linolenic acid,as a lipid source in the diet of common carp,Cyprinus carpio,juveniles

In this study, the feasibility of using pomegranate seed oil, rich in conjugated linolenic acid and its partial replacement for fish oil in fish diet were investigated. Common carp, Cyprinus carpio, juveniles (1.8 ± 0.1 g) were fed four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets with similar basal composition but different oil mixture containing 100% fish oil (A), 50% fish oil +50% sunflower oil (B), 50% fish oil +25% sunflower oil +25% pomegranate seed oil (C) and 50% fish oil +50% pomegranate seed oil (D) for 8 weeks. The highest weight gain was observed in fish fed diet D (p < 0.05). Test diets had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid contents of fish muscle. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3; DHA) was significantly lower in the muscle of fish fed diet B (p < 0.05) compared to those fed diet A. However, there was no significant difference in the muscle DHA content of fish fed diets A, C, or D. No specific hepatocyte damage associated to dietary pomegranate seed oil was found in this study. This study showed a 50‐50 combination of fish oil and pomegranate seed oil could be used as dietary lipid source for common carp without any adverse effect on growth performance or muscle n‐3 content while accumulated punicic acid in the muscle could be considered as added value for the final human consumer.     

Experiential legacies of early-life dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid content on juvenile Walleye: Potential impacts from climate change

Climate-induced shifts in plankton blooms may alter fish recruitment by affecting the fatty acid composition of early-life diets and corresponding performance. Early-life nutrition may immediately affect survival but may also have a lingering influence on size and growth via experiential legacies. We explored the short- and longer-term performance consequences of different concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for juvenile Walleye (Sander vitreus, Mitchill 1818). For the first 10 days of feeding, juveniles were provided Artemia enriched with: oleic acid (low PUFA), high docosahexaenoic acid and high eicosapentaenoic acid (high PUFA), or high PUFA and a form of vitamin E (high PUFA + E). After 10 days, all fish were fed a high-quality diet and reared for an additional 27 days. Juveniles fed either high PUFA diet were 1.15-fold larger (PUFA mean ± SD = 20.0 ± 3.3 mg; PUFA + E = 19.8 ± 3.3 mg) than those fed the low PUFA (17.3 ± 2.8 mg) diet after 10 days of feeding. After 27 days, juveniles initially fed the high PUFA diet were still 1.10- to 1.20-fold larger (PUFA = 407.0 ± 61.6 mg; PUFA + E = 422.7 ± 58.7 mg) than those initially fed the low PUFA diet (356.5.0 ± 39.5 mg). Our findings demonstrate that fatty acid composition of juvenile Walleye diets has immediate and lingering size effects. As changes in climate continue to alter lower trophic levels, fish management and conservation may need to consider short- and long-term effects of temporal or spatial differences in early-life diet quality.     

Effects of varying dietary docosahexaenoic acid levels on growth,proximate composition and tissue fatty acid profile of juvenile silver pomfrets,Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen, 1788)

This study investigated the effects of varying dietary levels of decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on growth performance, proximate composition and whole body fatty acid profiles of juvenile silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus. Triplicate groups of fish (30.55 ± 0.08 g) were fed diets containing 5.2%, 9.31% and 13.38% DHA (% of total fatty acids) or 0.85%, 1.52% and 2.18% DHA on dry diet weight for diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Survival was not affected by dietary DHA levels. The growth performance and feed utilization parameters of fish fed diets 2 and 3 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those fed diet 1, although these parameters in diets 2 and 3 did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Whole body lipid and fatty acid profiles were influenced by dietary DHA levels. Significantly higher n‐3 fatty acids particularly DHA, DHA:EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) ratios and n‐3:n‐6 ratios were observed in fish fed diets 2 and 3 compared to those fed diet 1. Better growth performance and higher whole body DHA:EPA (2.31, 2.29) ratios and n‐3:n‐6 ratios (2.17, 2.12) observed in fish fed diets 2 and 3, respectively, suggests that silver pomfret juveniles have a higher requirement for n‐3 fatty acids, notably DHA for optimum growth and survival.     

Effect of algal species and concentration on development and fatty acid composition of two harpacticoid copepods,Tisbe sp. and Tachidius discipes,and a discussion about their suitability for marine fish larvae

We compared the development and fatty acid content of the harpacticoid copepods Tachidius discipes and Tisbe sp. fed with different microalgal species (Dunaliella tertiolecta, Rhodomonas sp., Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis galbana and a concentrate of Pavlova sp.), which differed in cell size and fatty acid composition. Tisbe could develop in 11 days with every alga to the same average stage, whereas Tachidius developed poorly when fed with Isochrysis and Dunaliella. Feeding with Phaeodactylum resulted in a fast development of both copepods at low algal concentrations. However, reproduction was higher with Rhodomonas as food than with the other algae. Fatty acid compositions of copepods were influenced by their food source, but both were able to convert docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from precursors. Tachidius fed with Rhodomonas or Phaeodactylum was closest to the DHA/EPA/arachidonic acid (ARA) ratio of 10 : 5 : 1 considered optimal for some marine fish larvae. Tachidius showed similar development and reproduction capacity as Tisbe, but requested higher absolute fatty acid contents in the diet. Tisbe was superior in the utilization of bacteria as additional food source and the bioconversion of precursor fatty acids. Phaeodactylum and Rhodomonas are recommendable food sources for both copepod species, but Phaeodactylum is more easily cultured.     

Effects of replacement of dietary fish oil with soybean oil on growth performance and tissue fatty acid composition in marine herbivorous teleost Siganus canaliculatus

Fish oil (FO) substitution has been studied in many marine carnivorous fish, but seldom in marine herbivorous or omnivorous species. To evaluate the feasibility of using soybean oil (SO) as a dietary lipid and confirm its capability of converting C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) into long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC‐PUFA) in the marine herbivorous teleost Siganus canaliculatus, juvenile fish were fed with four formulated diets differing in lipid composition, with SO accounting for 0.76% (SO0), 23% (SO23), 45% (SO45) and 67% (SO67) of total dietary lipid respectively. After feeding for 8 weeks, growth performance including weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency rate were better in the SO23 and, especially, SO45 groups than in the SO0 and SO67 groups (P < 0.05). Tissue fatty acid compositions were affected by diet, with the liver contents of eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA), docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids and total n‐3 PUFA displaying parallel changes with the corresponding dietary fatty acids. While the muscle contents of EPA, DPA and total n‐3 PUFA between SO0 and SO23 groups, and the liver contents of arachidonic acid (ARA) and 20:4n‐3, as well as the muscle content of 20:3n‐6 between SO0 and SO45 groups showed no difference, confirming the biosynthesis of LC‐PUFA from C₁₈ precursors in vivo as the contents of corresponding fatty acids in diets SO23/SO45 were much lower than those in diet SO0 (P < 0.05). The results indicate that SO may be a suitable dietary lipid source for S. canaliculatus, and can replace up to 67% or 45% of total dietary FO without negatively compromising growth performance or nutritional quality of fish respectively. Moreover, the study increases our knowledge of FO substitution in marine herbivorous fish.     

Effects of dietary n‐3 to n‐6 fatty acid ratios on spawning performance and larval quality in tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis

This study investigated the effect of n‐3 to n‐6 fatty acid ratios in broodstock diets on reproduction performance, fatty acid composition of eggs and gonads of tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. Broodstock were fed five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets for 60 days. The supplemented lipids were prepared by a combination of fish oil and soybean oil inclusion FO (fish oil); FSO1 (fish oil: soybean oil = 7:1); FSO2 (fish oil: soybean oil = 2.2:1); FSO3 (fish oil: soybean oil = 1:1); FSO4 (fish oil: soybean oil = 1:4.3) as lipid sources with different n‐3 to n‐6 fatty acid ratios 10.40, 5.21, 2.81, 1.71 and 0.87. Results showed that relative fecundity, fertilization rate and survival rate of larvae at 7 days posthatching were all higher in broodstock fed FSO1 and FSO2 diet and significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in groups fed FSO3 and FSO4 diets. The best result in starvation tolerance test was obtained in FSO2 diet. The present study suggests that n‐3 and n‐6 PUFA ratio in broodstock diet has a considerable effect on spawning performance, egg and larval quality for C. semilaevis.     

Changes in oil content,lipid class and fatty acid composition of the microalga Chaetoceros calcitrans over different phases of batch culture

The diatom Chaetoceros calcitrans is a microalgal species used as food for larva in aquaculture for many species worldwide. Chaetoceros calcitrans is an important source of omega 3 long chain (C ≥ 20) polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 LC PUFA), chiefly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3). This article reports lipid content, lipid class composition and fatty acid profiles of each lipid class during the growth cycle of batch cultures of C. calcitrans. Total lipid content and the concentration of neutral lipid were highest in the late stationary growth phase (day 12). However, the amount of EPA was highest during the logarithmic growth phase (1.24 pg/cell on day 4). EPA was initially concentrated in the glycolipid fraction, but this fraction decreased during logarithmic growth, coinciding with the increase in neutral lipid. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3, DHA) (0.91 pg/cell) was reported as a major fatty acid (>10 mg/100 g) in all lipid classes on day 1. DHA was depleted quickly from the neutral lipid and glycolipid classes, but at a slower rate from the polar lipid fraction. This work confirms that C. calcitrans is a good source of lipid, in particular EPA, for larval and adult filter feeders in aquaculture.     

Effects of dietary fish oil replacement by microalgae raw materials on growth performance,body composition and fatty acid profile of juvenile olive flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus

Replacing dietary fish oil with DHA‐rich microalgae Schizochytrium sp. and EPA‐rich microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) was examined. Three experimental isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets with lipid source provided by 50% fish oil (F50S50), 50% (M50F25S25) and 100% microalgae raw material (M100) respectively were compared with a soybean oil (S100) diet as control. Triplicate groups of olive flounder juveniles (16.5 ± 0.91 g) were fed the experimental diets, and a group was fed the control diets for 8 weeks in a recirculation system. Results showed feed efficiency and growth performance were not significantly changed when fish oil (FO) was totally substituted by soybean oil (SO) or microalgae raw material (MRM). The whole‐body composition, lipid content of liver and muscle, and lipid composition of plasma were not significantly influenced by the total substitution of FO by MRM. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content of muscle and liver declined in fish fed S100 diet, whereas it was not significantly reduced in fish fed M50F25S25 and M100 diets. The total substitution of FO by MRM not only maintained the levels of arachidonic acid, EPA or DHA but also increased n‐3/n‐6 ratio. In conclusion, MRM as the sole lipid source is sufficient to obtain good feed efficiency, growth performance and human health value in olive flounder juveniles.