Digestive Enzyme Activity during Larval Development of Black Snook,Centropomus nigrescens |
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| Authors: | Carlos Yanes‐Roca Mayra E. Toledo‐Cuevas Lizbeth J. Sánchez Ana Born‐Torrijos Nicole Rhody Kevan L. Main |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Marine and Freshwater Aquaculture, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida 34236, USA;2. Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic;3. Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Research, Michoacana University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), San Juanito Itzícuaro, Morelia, Michoacán 58330, Mexico;4. Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice 37005, Czech Republic |
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| Abstract: | Black snook, Centropomus nigrescens, have been identified as a promising candidate for aquaculture although, like many of the Centropomid species, high mortality associated with early larval stages presents a significant bottleneck to their commercialization. The digestive capacity of black snook larvae throughout the first 37 d after hatch (d.a.h.) was evaluated by quantifying digestive enzyme activities using biochemical techniques. Results showed that black snook larvae have alkaline proteases at hatching, which are known to be important during the first days of feeding for digestion. Toward the end of the study, acid proteases concentration increased (37 d.a.h.). Enzymes for lipid digestion, pancreatic lipase and bile salt‐activated lipase, were already present in the larvae before exogenous feeding commenced, and their activity increased with age and growth (length). Intracellular digestion, measured as the activity of leucine‐alanine peptidase, was high early on (5 d.a.h.) and decreased as development progressed (next 32 d). In contrast, alkaline phosphatase activity was lowest at first feeding and subsequently increased with age. Overall patterns in enzyme activity suggest the possibility of live feed weaning before 32 d.a.h. if artificial diets can be properly balanced. |
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| Keywords: | black snook digestive enzymes larvae |
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