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.     

Evaluation of macroalgal detritus as food source for juvenile Manila clam,Ruditapes philippinarum: Effects on growth,amino acid content and fatty acid composition

Sufficient high‐quality microalgae are required for indoor nursery of juvenile Ruditapes philippinarum. However, culturing numerous microalgae to support clam feeding is a heavy burden on many hatcheries. The effects of detritus from the macroalgae Ulva pertusa, Chondrus ocellatus and Undaria pinnatifida on the growth, amino acid content and fatty acid profile of R. philippinarum were assessed as potential substitute diets. The green microalga Tetraselmis cordiformis served as comparative diet. Results revealed that the clams ingesting distinct diets presented no significant differences in growth of soft tissues, but the nutritional component of these clams differed dramatically. The clams fed with Undaria + Tetraselmis had the highest content of essential amino acids and proteins. In addition, the clams fed with single macroalgal diets and mixed macroalgal detritus and Tetraselmis showed significantly higher or statistically equal levels in n‐3/n‐6 ratio and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio with respect to Tetraselmis diets. The relative percentages of EPA and DHA in clams fed with Undaria were 28% and 63% higher than those fed with Tetraselmis, and the arachidonic acid abundances in clams ingesting Undaria + Tetraselmis and Tetraselmis were significantly higher than those in clams ingesting other diets. Together, the diets containing single Undaria or mixed Undaria + Tetraselmis produced Manila clams with nutritional advantages in terms of essential amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thus, the detritus of macroalgae, especially Undaria, is an appropriate substitute diet, at least partially, for culture of nutrition‐improved R. philippinarum.     

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.     

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.     

The effect of fish and rapeseed oils on growth performance,egg fatty acid composition and offspring quality of sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term effects (7‐month experiment) of diets consisting of fish oil (Kilka fish) and vegetable oil (rapeseed) on the reproductive performance of sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) broodstock. Forty‐five broodstock (990.3 ± 20.05 g) were randomly allocated to three different diet treatments. Three experimental diets were formulated with graded levels of fish oil (100% FO), vegetable oil (100% VO), and a combination of fish and vegetable oil (50% FO + 50% VO). At the end of the 7‐month feeding trial period, the weight gain and final weight were changed significantly different between the treatments (p < 0.05). Broodstock fed the FO + VO diet had higher growth than those fed the only FO or VO diets (p < 0.05). The highest germinal vesicle migration percentage was observed in FO + VO treatment (p < 0.05). The DHA/EPA, DHA/ARA and EPA/ARA ratios in oocyte exhibited a significant difference in the different treatments (p < 0.05). This study indicates that nutrition of broodstock with diet including FO + VO (p < 0.05) can positively affect the growth performance of larvae compared with only FO or VO diets. Furthermore, the high levels of 18:1n‐9, AL and ALA contents in oocytes from broodstock fed VO and the lowest ALA content in oocytes from broodstock fed FO underlined the important role of broodstock diets in the reproductive process and embryonic and/or larval developments of sterlet.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effects of dietary DHA/EPA ratios on growth performance,survival and fatty acid composition of juvenile swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary docosahexaenoic to eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) ratios on growth performance, survival and fatty acid composition of juvenile swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus). Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets were formulated to contain different DHA/EPA ratios (0.70, 0.84, 1.06 and 1.25). There were three replicates (15 crabs per replicate) for each diet treatment. The crabs were fed (about 6–8% body weight) twice daily for 8 weeks. A good growth performance and feed utilization were observed in swimming crabs fed the diets with DHA/EPA ratios of 0.70 and 0.84. Crabs fed diet with 0.70 DHA/EPA ratio showed a significantly higher weight gain (WG) compared with the crabs fed the diet with DHA/EPA ratio of 1.25 (P < 0.05). The result of this study showed that the survival increased with decreasing the ratio of DHA/EPA. The DHA/EPA ratios in polar lipid from tissues were influenced by the dietary DHA/EPA ratios. Results of this study indicated that the growth performance and survival of juvenile swimming crab are correlated to the DHA/EPA ratio in the diets, and the best growth performance and survival were achieved with the ratios of 0.70–0.84.     

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.     

Differences in fatty acid composition of egg capsules from broodstock spotted babylon, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Babylonia areolata</Emphasis>, fed a local trash fish and formulated diet under hatchery conditions

This study is the first attempt to condition broodstock Babylonia areolata using formulated diets under hatchery conditions. Samples of spotted babylon egg capsules from broodstock fed either a formulated diet or a local trash fish, carangid fish (Seleroides leptolepis) for 120 days were analyzed for proximate composition and fatty acid composition. The formulated diet contained significantly higher levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n − 6; ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n − 3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n − 3; DHA) than those of the local trash fish. The formulated diet also had significantly higher ratios of DHA/EPA and (n − 3)/(n − 6) PUFA than those of local trash fish but not for the ARA/EPA ratio. The compositions of egg capsules produced from broodstock fed formulated diet contained significantly more ARA, EPA and DHA compared to broodstock fed the local trash fish. The ARA/EPA and DHA/EPA ratios in egg capsules were significantly higher in the trash fish—fed group compared to those fed the formulated diet. However, (n − 3)/(n − 6) PUFA ratios in egg capsules produced from broodstock fed the formulated diet did not differ significantly compared to those from broodstock fed the local trash fish. The relatively low DHA/EPA, ARA/EPA and (n − 3)/(n − 6) ratios in the egg capsules produced from the formulated diet—fed broodstock B. areolata suggested that this diet is inferior, when compared to the traditional food of trash fish.     

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.     

Partial and total replacement of fish meal by marine microalga Spirulina platensis in the diet of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei: Growth,digestive enzyme activities,fatty acid composition and responses to ammonia and hypoxia stress

In the this study, we evaluated the effect of replacement of fish meal by a marine microalgae Spirulina platensis on growth, digestive enzyme activities, fatty acid composition and responses to ammonia and hypoxia stress in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (2.6 ± 0.2 g). Experimental diets contained S. platensis at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% replacement levels. After 8 weeks of feeding trial, growth parameters and proximate body composition were not significantly different among treatments (p > .05). Amylase and lipase activities did not show any significant differences between control group and other experimental diets (p > .05), while activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin were significantly higher in shrimp fed diet with 50% substitution of microalgae compared to control group. Fatty acid contents, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), were significantly higher in control diet compared to other experimental diets. On the contrary, the majority of fatty acids including the contents of PUFAs in the whole body of L. vannamei fed with different levels of S. platensis were significantly higher compared to those of control group. After 48‐h exposure to ammonia, survival per cent was not statistically different between all groups (p > .05), but in hypoxia challenge, the survival per cent of control group was significantly less than that of treatments fed diets contained S. platensis (p < .05). Altogether, o ur results demonstrated the effectiveness of S. platensis as a reliable protein source for substitution of fish meal in shrimp aquaculture.     

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.     

Assessment of the fecundity,population growth and fatty acid composition of Apocyclops royi (Cyclopoida,Copepoda) fed on different microalgal diets

The brackish cyclopoid copepod Apocyclops royi is used in Taiwanese aquaculture industry as a prey for fish larvae. This study investigated the effects of seven microalgal diets, namely single‐species diets of Isochrysis galbana (ISO), Nannochloropsis oculata (NAN), and Tetraselmis chui (TET), two‐species diets (ISO+NAN, ISO+TET and TET+NAN), and a three‐species diet (ISO+NAN+TET), on the population growth, female fecundity and fatty acid composition of A. royi. For reproductive traits, the combination ISO+NAN was found to be the most supportive diet for both population growth and female fecundity. For nutritional value, copepods fed ISO and ISO+NAN were detected to have the highest content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (18.99% and 10.73% total fatty acid, respectively) and, more importantly, a high DHA/EPA ratio (6.09 and 4.09, respectively). Additionally, a comparison of fatty acid composition between copepods and microalgae gives a tentative indication that A. royi may have the ability to synthesize long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from short‐chain PUFA. Our findings illustrate that ISO+NAN is the most suitable microalgal diet for mass culturing A. royi because it increases productivity and enhances the nutritional value of the copepods for use as fish larvae prey.     

Effects of dietary microalgae on fatty acids and digestive enzymes in copepod Cyclopina kasignete,a potential live food for fish larvae

The copepod Cyclopina kasignete is a potential live food in aquaculture and its fatty acid components and digestive enzymes were investigated. Three dry algal products (mixed algae, Melosira sp. and Nannochloropsis oculata) and two fresh microalgae (Tisochrysis lutea and N. oculata) were fed to the copepod for 30 days. The essential fatty acids (EFA) in copepods were altered by feeding different types of dry algae. The copepod fed dry Melosira sp. or fresh T. lutea contained higher eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), protease and trypsin than fed on other algae. The copepod contained a similar fatty acid profile and digestive enzymes by feeding either dry or fresh N. oculata. Between fresh algal species, the copepod fed T. lutea contained higher EPA, DHA and ARA than that fed fresh N. oculata. The amounts of EPA and DHA in copepods were more concentrated than those in the dietary algae, suggesting that the copepod has the ability to accumulate some EFA. This study indicates that dietary algae can modify the nutritional composition and in digestive enzymes copepods, which in turn may be able to transfer suitable nutrients and digestive enzymes to fish larvae in aquaculture.     

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).     

Fish oil replacement by different microalgal products in microdiets for early weaning of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata,L.)

The aim of this study was to determine if algal products rich in DHA or ARA are able to completely replace fish oil in microdiets for marine fish larvae, gilthead seabream and if extra supplementation with EPA may further enhance larval performance. For that purpose, 20 day‐old gilthead seabream larvae of 5.97 ± 0.4 mm mean total length and 0.12 ± 0.001 mg mean dry body weight were fed with five microdiets tested by triplicate: a control diet based on sardine oil; a diet containing AquaGrow^® DHA (diet DHA) to completely substitute the sardine oil; a diet containing AquaGrow^® ARA (diet ARA); a diet containing both products, AquaGrow^® DHA and AquaGrow^® ARA to completely substitute the fish oil; and, a diet containing both products, AquaGrow^® DHA and AquaGrow^® ARA, together with an EPA source. Temperature, air and salinity activity tests were also performed to detect larval resistance to stress. At the end of the experiment, final survivals did not differ among groups. The microorganism produced DHA was able to completely replace fish oil in weaning diets for gilthead seabream without affecting survival, growth or stress resistance, whereas the inclusion of microorganism produced ARA did not improve larval performance. Moreover, addition of EPA to diets with total replacement of fish oil by microorganism produced DHA and ARA, significantly improved growth in terms of body weight and total length. The results of this study denoted the good nutritional value of microorganisms produced DHA as a replacement of fish oil in weaning diets for gilthead seabream, without a complementary addition of ARA. However, dietary supplementation of EPA seems to be necessary to further promote larval performance.     

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.