Effect of dietary arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on survival, growth and pigmentation in larvae of common sole (Solea solea L.)

Evidence confirms that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA are involved in growth as well in pigmentation of marine fish larvae.In the present study we examined the performance of common sole larvae reared on Artemia enriched with 10 formulated emulsions, differing in inclusions of ARA, EPA, and DHA. The specific growth rate of the sole larvae until late metamorphosis, 21 days after hatching (dah) was 20 to 27% d^− 1. Even though the relative tissue essential fatty acid (EFA) concentrations significantly reflected dietary composition, neither standard growth nor larval survival were significantly related to the absolute concentrations of ARA, EPA and DHA or their ratios. This suggests low requirements for essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in common sole. Malpigmentation was significantly related to increased dietary ARA content. However, pigmentation was not affected by inclusion levels of EPA or DHA when ARA was high. This, and no relation between DHA: EPA or ARA: EPA ratios and pigmentation and only a weak relation to ARA: DHA ratio, advocate for that it is the absolute concentration of ARA in larval tissues, that is responsible for malpigmentation rather than the relative concentration to other PUFAs.Within malpigmentation, the trait “albinism” was characterised by an abnormal incomplete eye migration, but this trait is suggested not to be related to dietary ARA. Furthermore, albinism resulted in a lower growth rate, which suggests that visual aberrations affected prey capture.     

Arachidonic acid, arachidonic/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio, stearidonic acid and eicosanoids are involved in dietary-induced albinism in Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis)

Senegal sole larvae were fed live prey enriched with different amounts of arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n‐6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3) to re‐evaluate the effect of these two fatty acids on flatfish pigmentation. Echium oil, a plant‐derived oil rich in gamma‐linolenic acid (18:3n‐6) and stearidonic acid (18:4n‐3) was also used as a component of one of the enrichment emulsions. Although ARA content did not have any effect on growth there was a clear influence on pigmentation that correlated clearly with prostaglandin production. Inclusion of Echium oil, on the contrary, exerted a positive effect on pigmentation rate even though dietary ARA levels were as high as in the other emulsions. The relationships between dietary ARA levels and dietary ARA/EPA ratio, prostaglandin production and pigmentation are discussed.     

Effects of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3) and arachidonic acid (20:4n‐6) on the growth,survival, stress resistance and fatty acid composition in black sea bass Centropristis striata (Linnaeus 1758) larvae

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of the dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to arachidonic acid (ARA) ratio on the survival, growth, hypersaline stress resistance and tissue composition of black sea bass larvae raised from first feeding to metamorphic stages. Larvae were fed enriched rotifers Brachionus rotundiformis and Artemia nauplii containing two levels of DHA (0% and 10% total fatty acids=TFA) in conjunction with three levels of ARA (0%, 3% and 6% TFA). On d24ph, larvae fed the 10:6 (DHA:ARA) treatment showed significantly (P<0.05) higher survival (62.3%) than larvae fed 0:0 (DHA:ARA) (27.4%). Notochord length and dry weight were also significantly (P<0.05) greater in the 10:6 (DHA:ARA) treatment (8.65 mm, 2.14 mg) than in the 0:0 (DHA:ARA) (7.7 mm, 1.65 mg) treatment. During hypersaline (65 g L⁻¹) challenge, no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in the median survival time (ST50) between larvae fed 10% DHA (ST50=25.6 min) and larvae fed 0% DHA (ST50=18.2 min). The results suggested that black sea bass larvae fed prey containing 10% DHA with increasing ARA within the range of 0–6% showed improved growth and survival from first feeding through metamorphic stages.     

Importance of dietary arachidonic acid for the growth,survival and stress resistance of larval European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed high dietary docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids

Together with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (ARA) is being considered to be an essential fatty acid in marine fish larval diets. The objective of the present study was to determine the importance of dietary ARA levels for larval European sea bass performance, when EPA and DHA are also present in the diet. Eighteen‐day‐old larvae were fed, for 14 days, gelatine‐based microdiets containing the following ARA levels: 0.3%, 0.6% or 1.2%. Elevation of dietary ARA up to 1.2% showed a positive correlation with larval survival and a significant improvement in the specific growth rates, body weight and total length. Arachidonic acid was efficiently incorporated into larval lipids, even at a higher proportion than that in the diets. Increased accumulation of ARA did not affect the incorporation of DHA or EPA from the diet into larval total lipids. A significant positive correlation was found between dietary ARA levels and survival after handling stress, indicating the importance of this fatty acid in sea bass larvae response to acute stressors. The results show the importance of ARA for sea bass larvae, but higher dietary levels should be tested to determine whether there is a negative effect of ARA in sea bass as reported for other species.     

Dietary Arachidonic Acid Alters Tissue Fatty Acid Profile, Whole Body Eicosanoid Production and Resistance to Hypersaline Challenge in Larvae of the Temperate Marine Fish, Striped Trumpeter (Latris lineata)

We determined the effect of dietary arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, ARA) on tissue ratios of ARA/eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) and subsequent whole body production of the eicosanoids, prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and E₂ (PGE₂) in the marine larvae of striped trumpeter, Latris lineata. Larvae were also subjected to a hypersaline challenge (55 ppt) with an aim to determine possible relationships between tissue fatty acid profiles, prostanoid production, and their tolerance to osmotic challenge. From 5 to 23 days post-hatch (dph) larvae were fed live food, rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis), that had been enriched with one of five experimental emulsions containing increasing concentrations of ARA and constant EPA and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). Final ARA concentrations in the rotifers were 1.33, 3.57, 6.21, 8.21 and 11.22 mg g⁻¹ DM. Larval growth and survival was unaffected by dietary ARA. Tissue fatty acid concentrations generally corresponded with dietary fatty acids and final tissue ratios of ARA/EPA ranged from 0.9 to 4.9. At 18 and 23 dph whole body concentrations of PGF_2α and PGE₂ generally increased as more dietary ARA was provided in a dose-response manner, and a significant elevation in both PGF_2α and PGE₂ in larvae fed the highest dietary ARA concentration was recorded at 23 dph compared to larvae receiving the lowest concentration. At 18 dph, the highest cumulative inactivity following a hypersaline challenge occurred in larvae fed 8.21 or 11.22 mg ARA g⁻¹ DM, which was significantly greater than those receiving 3.57 mg ARA g⁻¹ DM. At 23 dph no relationship between inactivity of larvae subjected to a hypersaline challenge to dietary ARA was evident. In summary, dietary ARA altered tissue ARA/EPA ratios, prostanoid production and resistance to a hypersaline challenge in larval striped trumpeter. While increasing dietary ARA generally resulted in elevation of prostanoids as well as increasing the number of inactive larvae following a hypersaline challenge at 18 dph, similar trends between prostanoids and larval inactivity were not evident at 23 dph, suggesting the exact mechanisms and relationships between eicosanoids and larval osmoregulation warrants further investigation. Nevertheless the study provides preliminary data on the effect of dietary ARA on the prostaglandin production in marine fish larvae.     

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) ratio influenced growth performance,immune response,stress resistance and tissue fatty acid composition of juvenile Japanese seabass,Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier)

A 10‐week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary DHA/EPA ratio on juvenile Japanese seabass reared in sea floating cages. Six practical diets were formulated differing only in DHA/EPA ratio: 0.55 (Diet D/E0.55), 1.04 (D/E1.04), 1.53 (D/E1.53), 2.08 (D/E2.08), 2.44 (D/E2.44) and 2.93 (D/E2.93). All diets had the same contents of total n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC‐PUFA) and arachidonic acid (ARA). The results showed that the final weight and specific growth rate significantly increased with increasing dietary DHA/EPA ratio from 0.55 to 2.08 and thereafter declined. Activities of lysozyme and superoxide dismutase in serum in groups with DHA/EPA of 1.53–2.93 was significantly higher compared to group D/E0.55 while the activity of serum alternative complement pathway in group D/E2.93 was significantly lower compared with group D/E1.53. However, no difference was observed in activities of both respiratory burst of head kidney macrophage and serum catalase among dietary treatments. The per cent survival after air exposure in group D/E1.53, D/E2.08 and D/E2.93 was significantly higher compared with group D/E0.55. The fatty acid composition of whole body and tissues reflected closely those of diets, while fish accumulated more DHA than EPA in fish tissues, especially in muscle. These results suggested that at the same dietary contents of n‐3 LC‐PUFA (appr. 18% of TFA) and ARA (appr. 0.7% of TFA), moderate dietary DHA/EPA ratios of 1.53–2.08 significantly enhanced growth performances, certain innate immune responses, and the stress tolerance of Japanese seabass, in accordance with the preferential incorporation of DHA into fish tissues.     

Growth, survival, lipid composition and pigmentation of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) larvae fed live-prey enriched in Arachidonic and Eicosapentaenoic acids

Turbot larvae were fed live-prey enriched with different levels of arachidonic (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids to study the effects of these fatty acids on body composition and pigmentation success. Significantly reduced pigmentation was obtained in those fish fed medium and high ARA diets for 43 days. Growth and survival were the same for all groups. The incorporation of ARA and EPA in fish eyes, brains, livers and carcasses reflected the percentage of these fatty acids in the diets. ARA accumulation was similar in all tissues, but brain accumulated EPA was less efficient than the other tissues examined. A highly significant, negative correlation was found between the %ARA in turbot juvenile brain total lipids and pigmentation success. A weaker, positive correlation was found between brain EPA and pigmentation. Increasing dietary ARA affected the fatty acid composition of turbot brain phosphoglycerides more than increasing dietary EPA, especially in phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). A negative relationship was found between percentage normal pigmentation and ARA levels in brain phosphatidylcholine (PC), PE and phosphatidylserine (PS). Elevated levels of ARA in PI also resulted in malpigmented juveniles, but EPA:ARA ratios ≥1 in PI were associated with normal pigmentation. We conclude that, given a sufficiency of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the optimum dietary level of EPA is not a function of DHA, but of dietary ARA.     

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.     

The effect of dietary n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids on growth,survival and biochemical composition of the coral reef damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus

Larvae of the coral reef damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus (Bleeker) were fed either unenriched Artemia nauplii or nauplii which had been enriched by pre-feeding with microcapsules containing either squid oil (SQO) or cod liver oil (CLO). Enriched nauplii contained elevated levels of the n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) which made up 5.22 ± 0.34 and 2.62 ± 0.28 %, respectively, of total fatty acids in nauplii enriched with CLO, and 10.48 ± 0.36 and 3.43 ± 0.33 %, respectively, in nauplii enriched with SQO. In contrast, unenriched nauplii contained EPA (5.03 ± 1.04 %) but did not contain DHA. Survival differed significantly between treatments over the 18-d study; larvae receiving CLO enriched nauplii showed 100 % survival and those receiving SQO enriched nauplii showed 93.3 ± 6.6 % survival. In contrast, only 46 ± 6.7 % of larvae receiving unenriched nauplii survived to the end of the 18-d study. Wet weight, dry weight and proximate biochemical composition did not differ significantly between treatments at the end of the study. Mean standard length of larvae fed CLO enriched nauplii was significantly smaller than that of larvae fed SQO enriched nauplii; however, neither differed significantly from larvae fed unenriched nauplii. The fatty acid composition of A. polyacanthus larvae was significantly influenced by the fatty acid composition of the diet. The results indicate that A. polyacanthus larvae are unable to synthesise DHA from available dietary precursors and, as such, dietary DHA is required to maximise survival. Development of appropriate culture techniques for the larvae of coral reef fishes will allow controlled laboratory studies with these species and may eventually reduce pressure on wild populations exploited for the aquarium trade.     

Importance of the relative levels of dietary arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid for culture performance of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae

The effect of different arachidonic acid (ARA) dietary contents at several dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels on the growth, survival and biochemical composition of gilthead seabream larvae was studied to better define the importance of this fatty acid as a function of EPA. Larvae of 18 days were fed one of the five isonitrogenous and isolipidic microdiets with three different EPA (0.3%, 2% and 4%) and ARA amounts (0.1%, 0.6% and 1.2%). Although a dietary increase in either ARA or EPA alone did not improve survival significantly, the increase in both fatty acids significantly enhanced growth and survival, suggesting an optimum dietary value of EPA:ARA close to 4:1.2. Dietary ARA was more efficiently incorporated into larval tissues than EPA. Increased dietary EPA or ARA contents reduced the incorporation of ARA or EPA into larval lipids, indicating their competition as substrates for different enzymes. The possible negative effect of further elevation of dietary ARA and its competition with EPA for phospholipids synthesis deserves further studies in marine fish larvae.     

Survival and Growth Improvement of Palm Ruff,Seriolella violacea,Larvae Fed Artemia Nauplii Enriched with an Experimental Emulsion

The palm ruff, Seriolella violacea (Cojinoba), is a potential new species for Chilean aquaculture. To approach Cojinoba larviculture, an experimental Artemia enrichment emulsion, containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) = 2.5, supplemented with vitamin E, astaxanthin, and β‐glucan, was evaluated in both Artemia and Cojinoba larvae, 30–50 d.a.h. This study tested an experimental enrichment emulsion versus a commercial emulsion, with an integral approach of multicompound emulsions. After 23 h enrichment, experimental emulsion (EE)‐enriched nauplii reached DHA and EPA concentrations of 23.8 and 18.7 mg/g dry weight (dwt), respectively, while in Cojinoba larvae they were 18.4 and 19.7 mg/g dwt. Control emulsion (CE)‐enriched nauplii exhibited lower DHA and EPA (6.1 and 7.7 mg/g dwt), while only DHA decreased in the control larvae (12.6 mg/g dwt). Vitamin E was higher in EE‐enriched nauplii (29.2 mg/100 g dwt) than in the control (8.4 mg/100 g dwt). Larvae fed EE‐enriched Artemia exhibited 8% increase in survival and 19% in growth compared with the control. Astaxanthin was detected only in larvae fed EE‐enriched nauplii. The tumor necrosis factor‐α concentration was not significantly different between larvae fed EE‐ and CE‐enriched nauplii. EE looks promising as an Artemia enrichment and experimental diet to assess palm ruff larval requirements, and has a positive impact on fish larvae performance.     

The effect of vitamins C and E in (n-3) highly unsaturated fatty acids-enriched Artemia nauplii on growth, survival, and stress resistance of fresh water walleye Stizostedion vitreum larvae

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of enriching Artemia nauplii with vitamin C (ascorbyl-6 palmitate) or vitamin E (α-tocopherol acetate), 20% w/w, together with a mixture of concentrated eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) on the growth, survival, and stress resistance of fresh water walleye Stizostedion vitreum larvae. Either cod liver oil (CLO) or EPA/DHA ethyl esters concentrate was used as lipid sources in the Artemia enrichment. Walleye larvae were fed ad libitum for 40 days. At day 40, submersion in salt water (25 g L⁻¹) was performed to evaluate larvae resistance to stress. EPA and DHA levels in walleye juveniles fed EPA/DHA-enriched Artemia increased significantly, by an average of 650% compared with fish fed non-enriched Artemia . A significant increase was found for vitamins C (71.8 ± 1.0 and 42.7 ± 1.2 μg g⁻¹ wet weight (WW)) and E (17.0 ± 3.7 and 6.5 ± 0.9 μg g⁻¹WW) concentrations in fish fed enriched and unenriched Artemia , respectively. Growth was comparable throughout treatments, whereas survival was significantly higher in fish fed CLO-enriched Artemia nauplii compared with fish fed Artemia nauplii enriched with EPA/DHA concentrate. The addition of vitamin C increased fish survival by 1.4-fold compared with fish fed Artemia enriched with only EPA/DHA concentrate. The survival of the latter was similar to control fish ( Artemia without enrichment). The supplementation of vitamin E did not affect fish survival significantly. Stress tests revealed that the resistance of walleye larvae to salinity changes increased when Artemia enrichment was supplemented with vitamin C. However, walleye larvae fed CLO-enriched Artemia had the best performances in the stress test.     

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.     

营养强化的轮虫、卤虫对牙鲆仔鱼的成活、生长及体脂肪酸组成的影响

用3种营养强化剂强化的轮虫和卤虫无节幼体投喂牙鲆仔鱼,研究牙鲆仔鱼的生长、成活、体脂肪酸的组成。结果表明:用强化的轮虫和卤虫无节幼体投喂牙鲆仔鱼,成活率、增重均显著高于对照组(p<0 01),其中V号强化剂的效果最好,成活率为29 34%,比对照组提高100%;增重倍数为217 90,比对照组提高68 61%;这是由于V号强化剂强化的卤虫无节幼体体内含有较多的AA的缘故,饵料中AA含量的提高,可以提高牙鲆仔鱼的成活率、促进其生长。牙鲆摄食强化过的轮虫、卤虫无节幼体后,其EPA、DHA、n-3HUFA、PUFA的含量随着饵料中含量的升高而升高,这也是牙鲆仔鱼生长速度和成活率提高的重要因素之一。     

A Comparison of Growth,Survival, and Fatty Acid Composition of the Lined Seahorse,Hippocampus erectus,Juveniles Fed Enriched Artemia and a Calanoid Copepod,Schmackeria dubia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying dietary levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in live prey (Artemia nauplii and a calanoid copepod, Schmackeria dubia) on the growth performance, survival, and fatty acid composition of the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, juveniles. Artemia nauplii were enriched with a commercial product (SS^? 50DE‐microcapsule as HUFA source, 2/3 DHA, 1/3 EPA. Shengsuo Fishery Feed Research Center of Shandong Province, Qingdao, China) at four concentrations of 0.0, 14.0, 28.0, and 56.0. Newly hatched juveniles were cultured for 35 days. The content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and n‐3 HUFAs in the Artemia nauplii was positively related to the enrichment concentration. At the end of the trials, growth performance of the juveniles was positively related to the enrichment concentration as well. However, the juveniles fed prey enriched with the highest concentration of enrichment (56.0 μL/L) had the significantly lower (P < 0.05) survival rate. The juveniles fed the copepod had the best growth performance and the highest survival rate, suggesting that the copepod, S. dubia, is suitable for feeding the seahorse juveniles. The comparisons between the growth, survival, and fatty acid profiles of the juveniles fed Artemia and copepods indicate that the seahorse juveniles require dietary levels of DHA beyond those achieved by enriching prey with the HUFA enrichment. Surplus EPA resulted from an imbalance between DHA and EPA in the enriched Artemia nauplii probably caused an adverse effect on the seahorse juveniles. This study suggests that DHA and EPA requirement of the lined seahorse juveniles is roughly 32% of total fatty acid, and the optimal DHA/EPA ratio for the species is circa 4:1. To avoid an adverse effect resulting from excessive EPA, maximum proportion of EPA in enriched Artemia nauplii should not exceed 13% of total fatty acid, and a recommended minimum DHA/EPA ratio in the enriched Artemia nauplii is 1.46. Arachidonic acid (20:4n‐6) might not be an essential fatty acid for the seahorse juveniles.     

Advanced broodstock diets for the mangrove red snapper and a potential importance of arachidonic acid in eggs and fry

Mangrove red snapper fed advanced broodstock diets containing squid meal and squid oil exhibited higher hatching rates, cumulative survival and survival activity index than those fed a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with mixture of antioxidants. On the other hand, fatty acid analyses of ovaries and fry of wild fish and eggs and larvae of broodstock fed raw fish revealed high arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and relatively lower eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels consequently showing high ARA/EPA and DHA/EPA ratios compared to cold water species. This suggests that ARA may be nutritionally more important for egg and larval development and survival in tropical marine fish and its supplementation in broodstock diets may enhance reproductive performance of mangrove red snapper.     

Effect of dietary 22:6n-3 on growth,survival and tissue fatty acid profile of striped trumpeter (Latris lineata) larvae fed enriched Artemia

The effect of dietary 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) on growth and survival was determined in striped trumpeter during metamorphosis and the Artemia-feeding period (16–36 days posthatch, dph). Artemia were enriched on one of five experimental emulsions that contained graduated concentrations of DHA and constant 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid, ARA). We also compared larval performance using a commercial enrichment product high in n-3 PUFA. Final DHA concentrations in Artemia enriched on the experimental emulsions ranged from 0.1–20.8 mg/g DM, while Artemia fed the commercial product had 18.2 mg DHA/g DM. Each of the six diets was fed to larvae in four replicate 300-l tanks. Standard length (range 10.0–11.2 mm) and dry weight (range 1.6–2.5 mg) of larvae at the end of the experiment were directly related to dietary DHA, with the highest growth recorded in the experimental diet with the greatest concentration of DHA (20.8 mg/g DM). Survival at 36 dph was not influenced by dietary DHA and ranged from 20–44%. Mortality increased noticeably, regardless of dietary treatment, when larvae attained a standard length of approximately 9.5 mm. Mortality was related to a nocturnal behaviour where larvae would migrate to the tank bottom during the dark phase. Fatty acid profiles of the larvae were generally correlated to dietary fatty acids. Dietary DHA was found to be important in larval striped trumpeter growth, where enhanced growth probably shortened the critical period of metamorphosis and the window where nocturnal downward migration and mortality occurred.     

The effects of dietary long‐chain essential fatty acids on growth and stress tolerance in pikeperch larvae (Sander lucioperca L.)

The nutritional requirements of pikeperch larvae have been sparsely examined. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may affect growth and physiological stress response in marine fish larvae, but these mechanisms have not received as much attention in freshwater fish. Pikeperch larvae were reared on Artemia from day 3 until 21 days posthatch. Artemia were enriched with six formulated emulsions, with inclusion of either fish oil, pure olive oil (POO) or olive oil supplemented with various combinations of ARA, EPA and DHA. Larval tissue FA was significantly related to the content in the diets, but larval growth was similar for all treatments. When exposed to stress by confinement in small tanks with culture tank water or saline water (15 g L^?1.), mortality in larvae treated with POO was significantly higher than in the remaining treatments while tissue cortisol contents in these fish seemed lower. The findings of a lower stress response in larvae fed POO may be related to the lower tissue content in these larvae of essential fatty acids especially DHA but also EPA and ARA.     

Rhodovulum sulfidophilum,a phototrophic bacterium,grown in palm oil mill effluent improves the larval survival of marble goby Oxyeleotris marmorata (Bleeker)

Survival of marble goby larvae fed either Rhodovulum sulfidophilum, a phototrophic bacterium cultured from palm oil mill effluent (pPB), or microalgae ( Nannochloropsis sp.) was evaluated at two salinities. Larvae directly fed pPB had survival of 0–29% at 5 g L^?1 salinity and 0–19% at 10 g L^?1 salinity, whereas larvae directly fed microalgae suffered complete mortality after 20 days of culture at both salinities. However, larvae indirectly fed pPB or microalgae, i.e. via rotifers (Days 1–30) and Artemia nauplii (Days 21–30) cultured solely from pPB or microalgae, showed improved survival of 35–55% or 44–49% at 5 g L^?1 salinity respectively. In all experiments, fish larvae reared at 5 g L^?1 salinity showed significantly higher (P < 0.01) mean survival than those reared at 10 g L^?1 salinity. The survival of larvae fed the bacterial‐based diet was higher compared with microalgal diet used in previous studies. The pPB had higher total polyunsaturated fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than the microalgae, which had very high eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Larvae with very high ratios of DHA/EPA (>11) or/and ARA (arachidonic acid)/EPA (>5), attributable to their given diet, however suffered the highest mortality.