Annual cycle of plasma lipids in captive reared striped bass: effects of environmental conditions and reproductive cycle

Protein, lipid and fatty acid concentrations in plasma of eight male and eight female six year old captive striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were monitored monthly over the course of two reproductive cycles as part of an effort to investigate the time course of lipid class mobilization and subsequent deposition in gonads. Total protein levels (44.2 ± 0.67 mg ml^–1, range 20.6–86.4) showed seasonal fluctuation, but did not vary with sex. Total lipid concentrations in the plasma of both males (17.7 ± 0.61 mg ml^–1) and females (14.1 ± 0.64 mg ml^–1) showed seasonal fluctuations with the lowest levels in late Spring during spawning. Plasma lipids in females were significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than those of the males except during early ovarian secondary growth. Analysis of the lipid class composition revealed that the decrease in plasma lipid concentrations in females prior to spawning is primarily due to a decrease of up to 50% in the phospholipid content of the plasma relative to males. Striped bass vitellogenin was found to contain approximately 20% lipid by weight with nearly 80% of the lipid being phosphatidyl choline (PC). Vitellogenin levels previously measured in these individuals were highest during the winter months and decreased in the 2 months prior to spawning. Although mature striped bass oocytes are rich in wax esters, no wax esters or fatty alcohols were found in the plasma. Analysis of the fatty acyl composition of separated lipid classes suggests that PC is the primary carrier of the essential (n=3) fatty acids 22:6 (DHA) and 20:5 (EPA) to the gonads. Fatty acid analysis of the lipids associated with vitellogenin revealed that levels of essential fatty acids were low relative to vitellogenin-borne lipids from other teleosts. The lack of detectable wax esters in plasma lipids of female striped bass suggests that these abundant lipids in mature eggs are synthesized within the oocytes.     

Nutritional quality of Metamysidopsis insularis Brattegard (Crustacea: Mysidacea)

In natural conditions the mysid Metamysidopsis insularis is commonly found in the littoral lagoon of Margarita Island (Venezuela). It is used as live food in the marine fish culture. However, its nutritional quality is not well documented. In the present study we analysed the nutritional value (total protein, carbohydrate and lipids profile) of M. insularis. The mysids were collected in La Restinga lagoon (Margarita Island, Venezuela). Levels of total proteins, lipids and carbohydrates were 700 ± 28.5, 160 ± 13.9 and 20 ± 0.90 g kg^?1 respectively. The lipids classes were 427 ± 2, 106 ± 98, 287 ± 113 and 179 ± 87 for phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol and cholesterol esters respectively. The fatty acids profile, determined by gas chromatography, showed important concentration of fatty acids for the metabolism of marine organism, such as 16:0, 18:0, 18:2n‐6, 18:3n‐3, 18:4‐3, 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3; attaining levels of 27.49% in PUFA n‐3 and 2.92% in n‐6. The relation of eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid was 2.1 ± 0.15. The results support the use of M. insularis as food for species of fish and crustaceans under culture conditions.     

Influence of one selected Tisochrysis lutea strain rich in lipids on Crassostrea gigas larval development and biochemical composition

Effects of a remarkably high overall lipid Tisochrysis lutea strain (T+) upon gross biochemical composition, fatty acid (FA), sterol and lipid class composition of Crassostrea gigas larvae were evaluated and compared with a normal strain of Tisochrysis lutea (T) and the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile (Cg). In a first experiment, the influence of different single diets (T, T+ and Cg) and a bispecific diet (TCg) was studied, whereas, effects of monospecific diets (T and T+) and bispecific diets (TCg and T+Cg) were evaluated in a second experiment. The strain T+ was very rich in triglycerides (TAG: 93–95% of total neutral lipids), saturated FA (45%), monounsaturated FA (31–33%) and total fatty acids (4.0–4.7 pg cell^?1). Larval oyster survival and growth rate were positively correlated with 18:1n‐7 and 20:1n‐7, in storage lipids (SL), and negatively related to 14:0, 18:1n‐9, 20:1n‐9, 20:4n‐6 and trans‐22‐dehydrocholesterol in membrane lipids (ML). Surprisingly, only the essential fatty acid 20:5n‐3 in SL was correlated positively with larval survival. Correlations suggest that physiological disruption by overabundance of TAG, FFA and certain fatty acids in larvae fed T+ was largely responsible for the poor performance of these larvae. ‘High‐lipid’ strains of microalgae, without regard to qualitative lipid composition, do not always improve bivalve larval performance.     

Influence of microalga lipid composition on the sexual maturation of Mytilus galloprovincialis: a hatchery study

The effect of microalga lipid composition on the reproduction of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis has been assessed to determine the best feeding strategy for producing large quantities of mussel seed. Three diets based on two microalgae Isochrysis galbana (clon T‐iso) and Chaetoceros gracilis were tested. Besides, hatchery groups were compared with mussels from natural populations. Lipid content and fatty acid profile of digestive gland and mantle of both sexes, eggs and microalgae were analysed and related to sexual maturation. Hatchery groups, specifically the one fed on T‐iso, showed better results in reproduction success, and these differences were reflected on tissue and egg lipid composition. Microalga fatty acid profile influenced tissues and sexes, and higher levels of 18:1n‐9, 22:6n‐3 (DHA) and 18:2n‐6 were detected in groups fed on T‐iso while higher level of 20:5n‐3 (EPA) and 16:1n‐7 in groups fed on C. gracilis. Evidence of synthesis capacity of EPA from 18:4n‐3 and DHA from EPA is detected comparing their levels and the mobilization between tissues. Egg fatty acid profile was influenced by the female diet, and differences among groups were detected and confirmed by PCAs.     

Proximate and fatty acid composition of the gonads of wild versus hatchery‐conditioned Pinctada margaritifera broodstock

The composition of protein, carbohydrate, lipid and fatty acids of the gonad of wild female broodstock of black‐lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, was compared with oysters fed on a ternary combination of microalgae in hatchery. Artificial feeding was found to be as good as natural feeding in terms of number and size of released eggs. Lipid, protein and carbohydrate reserves of unfed oysters were found to be insufficient to complete oogenesis. The proportions of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the neutral and polar lipids extracted from female gonads were not influenced by variations in the fatty acid composition of the natural food and ternary combination of microalgae in hatchery. T‐Iso, Chaetoceros calcitrans and Chaetoceros muelleri were able to provide sufficient 22:6n‐3 (DHA) and 20:5n‐3 (EPA), two of the most important essential fatty acids required for gametogenesis. The n‐3/n‐6 and 22:5n‐3/20:4n‐3 ratios were consistently higher in the neutral lipids than in the polar lipids. Conversely, the ratio of 20:4n‐3/20:5n‐3, 22:6n‐3/20:5n‐3 and PUFA/SFA was higher in the polar lipids.     

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 starvation and feeding on the fatty acid profiles of Stage I phyllosoma of the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii

Fatty acid analyses were conducted on newly hatched and 8‐day‐old‐starved and fed Stage I phyllosoma larvae of the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii. Fed animals were offered excess 1.5 mm juvenile Artemia (enriched using the alga Isochrysis galbana, Tahitian isolate, T. iso.). After 8 days, there were significant increases in larval dry weight and the proportion of lipid in fed phyllosoma, whereas these parameters decreased in starved phyllosoma. The abundance of the saturated fatty acids 16 : 0 and 18 : 0 increased in both starved and fed phyllosoma, whereas the main monounsaturated fatty acids 16 : 1n‐7, 18 : 1n‐9 and 18 : 1n‐7 increased with feeding but decreased with starvation. There were no significant differences in the relative proportions of the highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) arachidonic (AA, 20 : 4n‐6), eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20 : 5n‐3) and docosahexanoic (DHA, 22 : 6n‐3) acids between newly hatched and starved animals, whereas quantitatively DHA decreased with starvation and feeding. The DHA/EPA ratio was significantly lower in the starved and fed phyllosoma (0.5) compared with that found in the newly hatched phyllosoma (0.9). The lipid profiles of the newly hatched, starved and fed phyllosoma contained large amounts of n‐6 fatty acids resulting in low n‐3 : n‐6 ratios (2.8, 2.7 and 1.6 respectively). The importance of these results and the ability of enriched Artemia to provide a suitable fatty acid profile for this species are discussed.     

Egg quality determinants in cod (Gadus morhua L.): egg performance and lipids in eggs from farmed and wild broodstock

Lipids and essential fatty acids, particularly the highly unsaturated fatty acids, 20:5n‐3 (eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA), 22:6n‐3 (docosahexaenoic acid; DHA) and 20:4n‐6 (arachidonic acid, AA) have been shown to be crucial determinants of marine fish reproduction directly affecting fecundity, egg quality, hatching success, larval malformation and pigmentation. In Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) culture, eggs from farmed broodstock can have much lower fertilization and hatching rates than eggs from wild broodstock. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that potential quality and performance differences between eggs from different cod broodstock would be reflected in differences in lipid and fatty acid composition. Thus eggs were obtained from three broodstock, farmed, wild/fed and wild/unfed, and lipid content, lipid class composition, fatty acid composition and pigment content were determined and related to performance parameters including fertilization rate, symmetry of cell division and survival to hatching. Eggs from farmed broodstock showed significantly lower fertilization rates, cell symmetry and survival to hatching rates than eggs from wild broodstock. There were no differences in total lipid content or the proportions of the major lipid classes between eggs from the different broodstock. However, eggs from farmed broodstock were characterized by having significantly lower levels of some quantitatively minor phospholipid classes, particularly phosphatidylinositol. There were no differences between eggs from farmed and wild broodstock in the proportions of saturated, monounsaturated and total polyunsaturated fatty acids. The DHA content was also similar. However, eggs from farmed broodstock had significantly lower levels of AA, and consequently significantly higher EPA/AA ratios than eggs from wild broodstock. Total pigment and astaxanthin levels were significantly higher in eggs from wild broodstock. Therefore, the levels of AA and phosphatidylinositol, the predominant AA‐containing lipid class, and egg pigment content were positively related to egg quality or performance parameters such as fertilization and hatching success rates, and cell symmetry.     

Sex-based differences in fatty acid composition of adult walleye

Differences in reproductive strategies of male and female fishes are presumably accompanied by differences in nutrient allocation and predicted to lead to divergence in body composition between the sexes. We compared patterns of variation in fatty acid profiles of lipids extracted from ova, liver, muscle and visceral fat between mature male and female walleye (Sander vitreus) sampled from two wild spawning stocks. Fatty acid profiles differed significantly among body tissues in both males and females, with the strongest contrast between muscle and visceral fat. Significant differences in fatty acid composition between the sexes were found in liver, muscle and visceral fat tissues. Variation among sexes and populations was greater in liver than in the other tissues. Female livers had lower relative abundances of palmitic acid (PA, 16:0) and oleic acid (OA, 18:1(n-9)), and higher relative abundances of arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4(n-6)), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5(n-3)) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6(n-3)) compared to male livers. In addition, female muscle had higher relative abundance of OA and lower relative abundance of DHA compared to male muscle. Our results illustrate the differential effects of reproductive demands on the biochemical composition of males and females and have implications for the analysis of fatty acid profiles in studies of wild fish populations.     

Lipids and fatty acids in wild and pond-reared mud crab Scylla serrata (Forsskål) during ovarian maturation and spawning

Wild‐caught and pond‐reared female mud crab Scylla serrata at different stages of ovarian maturation were collected from Samar and Capiz, Philippines. Crabs were categorized into five stages according to the external morphological and microscopic appearance of the most advanced oocytes. The ovaries, hepatopancreas, muscle and newly spawned eggs (NSE) were analysed for lipid class components and fatty acids. Total lipid was higher in pond‐reared than in wild‐caught crabs but increased with ovarian maturation in both groups. Ovarian lipid peaked at the fully mature stage, coinciding with a decline in hepatopancreatic and muscle lipids. Lipid levels declined significantly in spent females. The tissues contained elevated highly unsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic (20:4n‐6), eicosapentaenoic (20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n‐3) acids, but at higher levels in late maturing and fully mature ovaries and in NSE. The type of lipid class and fatty acid components in mature ovaries as well as in NSE are generally considered to be indicative of their importance in reproductive physiology and embryonic and larval development.     

Biochemical changes during vitellogenesis in the red claw crayfish,Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens)

Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) females at different stages of vitellogenesis were sampled to investigate variations in soluble protein, lipid and water content and in the amino acid and fatty acid composition of the hepatopancreas and ovaries. During vitellogenesis, the changes in the content of soluble proteins and lipids in the hepatopancreas and ovaries were dependent on both diet and the reserves from the hepatopancreas. However, in comparison to the ovary, the fluctuation of the amino acid composition in the hepatopancreas suggested that the protein resources mobilized from this organ was compensating for those gained from feeding. Changes in the fatty acid composition of the hepatopancreas showed limited compensatory function as for the quick accumulation of lipids in the ovaries. The proportional amounts of saturated fatty acids/mono‐unsaturated fatty acids/poly‐unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and the predominant fatty acids in both tissues indicated that the mobilization and utilization of fatty acids in freshwater species are different from that in marine species. Based on the redclaw's feeding habits, the commercial pellets used in this study may not be optimal, and a diet with less PUFA may suffice for its vitellogenesis and reduce the feeding costs.     

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.     

Changes in lipid class and fatty acid composition of adult male Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in response to culture temperature and food deprivation

The effects of culture temperature and food deprivation on lipid class and fatty acid composition of adult male Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) were investigated. Shrimp were maintained in recirculating seawater systems at temperatures of 26 and 32°C and fed 75% dry commercial feed and 25% fresh‐frozen squid for 42 days. Additionally, groups of fed and non‐fed shrimp were maintained at 26°C for 17 days. In shrimp fed at either 26 or 32°C, polar lipids were the main constituents of total identified lipid classes in muscle tissue (66–71%), while neutral lipids were more abundant in hepatopancreas (82–88%). Higher levels of triglycerides were observed in lipids of shrimp hepatopancreas kept at 32°C, but no other lipid class was affected by temperature. A significantly higher proportion of 22:6n‐3 was consistent in muscle and hepatopancreas polar and neutral lipids of shrimp maintained at 26°C. In response to food deprivation, the amount of polar lipids, but not neutral lipids, was reduced by approximately 28% in muscle tissue, whereas all lipid reserves were almost depleted in the hepatopancreas. The variable consumption of some individual fatty acids was observed in polar and neutral lipids of both tissues.     

Optimizing the essential fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid, in the diet of the prawn, Penaeus monodon

The dietary requirements of Penaeus monodon for eicosapentaenoic (20:5n‐3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n‐3; DHA) acids were examined. These requirements were examined when dietary levels of linoleic (18:2n‐6; LOA) and linolenic acids (18:3n‐3; LNA) were also provided at previously established optimal levels of 14 and 21% respectively of the total lipid fatty acids. A 5 × 5 factorial design was used with incremental amounts (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% of total fatty acids) of EPA and/or DHA. An additional diet containing cod‐liver oil was provided as a reference diet. The total lipid content of all of the 25 treatments and reference diets was maintained at the same level of 75 g kg^?1. Growth of prawns fed with the reference diet after 50 days was 244 ± 21%. The greatest response to singular additions of EPA or DHA was with a 12% inclusion of either fatty acid, resulting in 287 ± 21 and 293 ± 18% weight gain, respectively. Growth was generally better when combinations of EPA and DHA were used, the optimal combination being EPA 4% and DHA 4%, resulting in 335 ± 25% weight gain. Addition of high levels of either of the highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in the diet had a negative effect on growth. Digestibilities of the total neutral lipid and specific fatty acids were examined during the growth trials. The digestibility of total neutral lipid was usually higher when either or both HUFA were present, however there were few significant differences between treatments that contained either or both HUFA. Following the growth trials, digestive glands (DG) of prawns fed with the various diets were analysed to determine the total lipid content and fatty acid composition. Total lipid in the digestive gland increased with the inclusion of DHA, but was not significantly affected by the addition of EPA. The fatty acid composition of the digestive gland lipid generally reflected that of the diet. However, the maximum retention of EPA (11.1% of total DG fatty acids) and DHA (10.7% of total DG fatty acids), was not directly proportional to the amount of either fatty acid present in the diet. These results demonstrate that both EPA and DHA have considerable growth promoting capacity. This growth promoting capacity is enhanced when an optimal balance of both fatty acids are incorporated into the diet.     

A quantitative comparison between diet and body fatty acid composition in wild northern pike (Esox lucius L.)

The fatty acid compositions of wild female northern pike (Esox lucius L.) and their principle prey species were compared to assess the extent to which pike modify the relative abundance of dietary fatty acids during assimilation and to indicate the optimum dietary content of essential fatty acids (EFAs) for pike. Only minor differences existed between the estimated whole body fatty acid composition of pike and diet fatty acid composition as calculated from the contribution of each prey species to the pike's diet. Saturated fatty acids comprised a slightly higher percentage of diet lipids (25% wt) than of pike lipids (21% wt) whereas monounsaturated fatty acids were less abundant in diet lipids (26% wt) than in pike (29% wt). Percentages of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n - 3 fatty acids, and n - 6 fatty acids were approximately 43, 30, and 13% wt respectively and differed by less than 1% wt between pike and diet lipids. Among individual PUFAs, the largest differences occurred in 20:5 (n-3) and 22:6(n-3) which comprised, on average, 9.6 and 14.7% wt respectively of diet lipids and 5.9 and 18.3% wt respectively of pike lipids. The close similarity in fatty acid composition between pike and their diet suggests that pike may have limited abilities to elongate and desaturate 18 carbon PUFAs and may require specific long chain PUFAs in the diet. The n-3 PUFA content of the pike's natural diet may exceed the minimum EFA requirements of better studied species such as rainbow trout and turbot.     

Comparison of the lipid profiles from wild caught eggs and unfed larvae of two scombroid fish: northern bluefin tuna (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus thynnus</Emphasis> L., 1758) and Atlantic bonito (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sarda sarda</Emphasis> Bloch, 1793)

Lipids and essential fatty acids are determinants of the reproductive process in marine fish, affecting fecundity, egg quality, hatching performance, pigmentation and larval malformation. We have analyzed and characterized the lipids of eggs and unfed larvae of two wild caught scombroid fish, the Atlantic northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda). Dry matter and total lipid contents, polar and neutral lipid classes and total lipid fatty acid contents were determined in the eggs of bluefin tuna and eggs and unfed larvae during the development of Atlantic bonito. Bluefin tuna eggs had slightly but significantly more dry mass than bonito eggs but very similar lipid content. However, bluefin tuna eggs presented a higher polar lipid content due to increased proportions of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). Bonito eggs and larvae showed increasing dry mass and decreasing lipid content with development. The proportion of polar lipids increased due to increased PE, PS and PI, whereas choline-containing polar lipids (phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) remained relatively constant. Free cholesterol also increased, whereas the levels of other neutral lipids, especially triacylglycerol and steryl ester fractions, decreased, presumably due to utilization for energy to drive development. Bluefin tuna eggs had higher levels of n − 3 and n − 6 highly unsaturated fatty acids due to higher docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid contents, respectively, than bonito eggs. The results are discussed in relation to the lipid and fatty acid requirements of larval scombroid fish in comparison to those of other larval marine finfish species under culture conditions.     

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.     

Liver lipids of female Carcharias taurus (spotted raggedtooth) sharks: a comparison between seasons

Female raggedtooth sharks (Carcharias taurus) migrate from the waters off the eastern Cape past KwaZulu-Natal and up to southern Mozambique and then back on an annual basis. They mate off the KwaZulu-Natal coast, gestate the pups off Mozambique, then deliver same off the eastern Cape. Prior to mating, they hypertrophise their livers and store large amounts of lipid, then towards the end of gestation subsist on this stored lipid as well as using it to feed their pups in utero. Raggedtooth sharks are aplacental, and hepatic lipids provide nutrients to the pups via continued ovulation throughout pregnancy. The fact of the liver hypertrophy was well documented, but whether the nature of the stored lipid or the amount of lipid per Kg of liver changed with season was unknown. Samples from raggedtooth females caught throughout the year were analysed for their lipid and fatty acid contents and significant differences noted between lipid, but not fatty acid, concentration with certain seasons. Liver mass decreased from spring to winter (16.3–9.9 kg) as did lipid concentration (572–326 mg/g). Within the fatty acids, 22:6n3 was ±17%, 20:5n3 ±7%, total n3 ±30% and total n6 ±7%. Also, both total polyunsaturates (±36%) and total monounsaturates (±33%) were greater than the total saturates (±28%).     

Growth and kinetics of lipids and fatty acids of the clam Venerupis pullastra during larval development and postlarvae

This study examines the larval development, metamorphosis and postlarval stage of Venerupis pullastra in relation to growth, lipids content and fatty acid composition, specifically those believed to be essential for most bivalves (i.e. 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3). Clam larvae were fed with two species of microalgae supplied individually or mixed –Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis suecica–species normally used in bivalve hatcheries. Larvae fed with T. suecica showed a progressive accumulation of lipids and fatty acids but did not survive to metamorphosis. Contrarily, larvae fed with I. galbana or mixed diet showed a progressive decline in lipids and essential fatty acids (20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3) from the pediveliger stage onwards, and a survival rate of 95% until the start of metamorphosis. The lower content in n‐6 and the absence of 22:6n‐3 in T. suecica diet might contribute to the massive mortality observed for larvae fed with this diet. That diet seems to fail in the supply of some particular nutrient that allows energetic transformation of reserves for growth and metamorphosis. Nevertheless, larvae fed on mixture diet showed higher weight growth values at postlarval stage than those larvae fed on I. galbana diet.     

Effect of broodstock diets on lipid classes and their fatty acid composition in eggs of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

Total lipid content, total lipid fatty acids, lipid classes and their fatty acid compositions were studied in eggs of gilthead sea bream from two different broodstocks. The two broodstock diets used had the same total lipid content, but differed with respect to their fatty acid levels. The lipid class composition of eggs from different origins was not significantly different. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin, and the main neutral lipid classes were cholesterol esters and triacylglycerols. The fatty acid composition of total lipids and main lipid classes in the two groups of eggs showed marked differences, reflecting the influence of fatty acid levels in the broodstock diets.