The Effect of Astaxanthin in Feed and Environmental Temperature on Carotenoid Concentration in the Gonads of the Green Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis Müller

The aim of this study was to investigate the long term development of carotenoid concentration in gonads and gonad development of green sea urchins reared at different temperatures and fed formulated feed containing dwerent levels of astaxanthin. Urchins, sampled from a natural population, were reared under two different temperature regimes (7 C and 12 C) and fed formulated feed containing 0, 100 and 500 mg astaxanthin/kg feed, respectively. The study lasted 112 d. Astaxanthin was detected in the groups fed feed containing astaxanthm, but in low quantities. No effect of temperature was observed on the retention of astaxanthin. Echinenone values declined throughout the study, probably due to the lack of suitable metabolic precursor for production of echinenone. Water and lipid concentration in the gonads increased throughout the study indicating the progressions of gametogenesis and the generally improved nutritional status of the animals. No significant difference in gonad index (GI) due to treatment was observed but GI varied between the sexes with male GI increasing significantly faster compared to females.