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This research evaluated the effect of the simultaneous substitution of fish meal and fish oil at 0, 30, 50, 70 and 100% (termed SS0, SS30, SS50, SS70 and SS100, respectively) with both Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and linseed oil. The effect on growth, colour, fatty acid (FA) profile, and liver and muscle antioxidant response in mullets (Mugil liza) were evaluated. A full substitution was not possible due to a final body weight reduction (p 0.05). The colorimetric analyses showed an improvement in fillet colouration (p 0.05). Also, we found a saturation of carotenoids in muscle at 30% substitution. The content of highly unsaturated fatty acids - HUFA (DHA, EPA and ARA) in muscle diminished as the substitution level increased and, at the same time, the level of these FAs in the diet diminished. We found interesting evidence of elongation from 18:3n-3 to 20:3n-3 when substitution with linseed oil levels was above 50% but no desaturation to 20:4 or 20:5n-3 was found, which could insinuate a certain n-3 HUFA requirement under the experimental conditions. Moreover, we noted an increase in the antioxidant capacity up to the treatment SS70; the SS100 treatment showed a diminution in the antioxidant capacity. It is concluded that a partial inclusion of Spirulina and linseed oil (50%) is possible, and that this replacement can increase antioxidant responses, improve its growth performance and can modulate the mullets fillet quality without affecting negatively fillet fatty acid content.

The addition of pure carotenoids is a common practice in some aquaculture species production since its use in fish feed is known to improve carcass and antioxidant capacity. Spirulina (Arthrospira) cyanobacteria are a rich source of carotenoids that has proven health benefits for fish welfare. In the current experiment, four isonitrogenous (38%) isolipidic (9%) diets were made, including a control diet (free of β-carotene and Spirulina, SP0), β-carotene diet (50 mg kg−1, β0), and two Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) diets with 2% (SP2) and 4% (SP4) of total feed inclusion. The experimental diets were given to juvenile mullets in a controlled recirculation system. The parameters evaluated were growth, colour, total carotene content of muscle, and antioxidant capacity of the liver and muscle. Significant differences were found (p

The objective of this work was to evaluate the fatty acid and lipid composition of oocytes, newly hatched larvae (NHL), first feeding larvae (FFL) and muscle tissue of female Brycon orthotaenia broodstock. Total and polar lipid was significantly (P0.05) abundant in oocytes and larvae in different stages of development. The lowest content (P0.05) of total lipids was found in the muscles, whereas total lipid content of oocytes, NHL and FFL did not show any significant difference. Polar lipid content was different (P0.05) between NHL and FFL. For the neutral the lowest values of C18:2n 6 occurred during the initial feeding period, whilst C20:4n 6 (AA) exhibited the highest percentage in FFL (P0.05). C22:6n 3 (DHA) was highest (P0.05) in FFL. The neutral lipid n-9 and n-6 was highest in muscle of females. The n-3HUFA was highest in NHL and in FFL, n-6HUFA was highest in FFL (P0.05). The ratios of DHA/EPA were higher (P0.05) in oocytes and FFL. In fatty acids of polar lipids, C20:5n 3 (EPA) did not show differences (P0.05) between stages. C18:3n 3 was highest (P0.05) in NHL and FFL. C20:4n 6 (AA) and C22:6n 3 (DHA) showed the highest percentages during the larval stages. The fatty acids n-3 series was significantly higher (P0.05) in FFL. The n-6HUFA was highest during development larval (P0.05). The increases DHA reflects the ability of the species to elongate and desaturate to obtain n-3HUFA from 18:3n 3, shows the importance of this fatty acid during early development.

Many species of reptiles maintain their body temperature behaviorally in a narrow range, even in the presence of considerable environmental temperature variation, by choosing microhabitats with different temperatures. In freshwater turtles, thermoregulation is generally achieved by aerial basking, even though they perform all other vital activities such as food consumption and reproduction in the water. Therefore, time budgets related to basking should be constrained and individuals should maximize the energy per unit time during basking, potentially by increasing basking frequency at noon during colder months and increasing use of basking when water temperature decreases. We analyzed basking behavior during the austral summer to study the effects of season, water temperature, and time of day in 2 South American freshwater turtles: Trachemys dorbigni (black-bellied slider) and Phrynops hilarii (Hilaire's side-necked turtle). We found that water temperature negatively affected basking frequency in...

Samples of eggs, newly hatched larvae (NHL), and larvae at the end of the lecithotrophic period (eight days after hatching) (LPL) of Lophiosilurus alexandri were collected to determine the amino acid and fatty acid profiles. Crude protein did not change throughout initial development and the concentration of lipids was highest in NHL. The content of the indispensable amino acids (IAA) isoleucine, leucine, and valine decreased in LPL, while in eggs and NHL they remained high and similar in value. The dispensable amino acids (DAA), such as aspartic acid, tyrosine, and glycine, increased in LPL, while alanine decreased. The percentage of neutral lipids increased in LPL. The saturated fatty acid content decreased during ontogeny, while monounsaturated fatty acids decreased only in LPL. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content was highest in LP. Polar fatty acids were found in higher percentages in eggs and NHL, but lower in LPL. Saturated fatty acid content decreased during ontogenetic development, while that of monounsaturated fatty acids decreased only in LPL. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content was highest in LPL. Protein content was maintained during ontogenetic development, while amino acid classes experienced changes. Lophiosilurus alexandri preferentially uses saturated and monosaturated fatty acids as an energy source during its early development. RESUMO Amostras de ovos, larvas recém-eclodidas (NHL) e larvas no final do período lecitotrófico (oito dias após a incubação) (LPL) de Lophiosilurus alexandri foram coletadas para determinar os perfis de aminoácidos e ácidos graxos. A proteína bruta não alterou durante o desenvolvimento inicial e a concentração de lipídios foi maior na NHL. O conteúdo dos aminoácidos indispensáveis (IAA) isoleucina, leucina e valina diminuíram em LPL, enquanto nos ovos e NHL eles permaneceram com valores elevados e semelhantes entre si. Os aminoácidos dispensáveis (DAA), como ácido aspártico, tirosina e glicina, aumentaram em LPL, enquanto a alanina diminuiu. A porcentagem de lipídios neutros aumentou em LPL. O teor de ácidos graxos saturados diminuiu durante a ontogenia, enquanto os ácidos graxos monoinsaturados diminuíram apenas em LPL. O teor de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados foi maior em LPL. Os ácidos graxos polares foram encontrados em porcentagens mais altas em ovos e NHL, e menores em LPL. O teor de ácidos graxos saturados reduziu durante o desenvolvimento ontogenético, enquanto que os ácidos graxos monoinsaturados diminuíram apenas em LPL. O teor de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados foi maior em LPL. O conteúdo de proteínas foi mantido durante o desenvolvimento ontogenético, enquanto as classes de aminoácidos sofreram mudanças. Lophiosilurus alexandri usa preferencialmente ácidos graxos saturados e monossaturados como fonte de energia durante o desenvolvimento inicial.

In order to better understand the functioning of aquatic environments, it is necessary to obtain accurate diet estimations in food webs. Their description should incorporate information about energy flow and the relative importance of trophic pathways. Fatty acids have been extensively used in qualitative studies on trophic relationships in food webs. Recently a new method to estimate quantitatively single predator diet has been developed. In this study, a model of aquatic food web through quantitative fatty acid signature analysis was generated to identify the trophic interactions among the species in the Rocha Lagoon. The biological sampling over two consecutive annual periods was comprehensive enough to identify all functional groups in the aquatic food web (except birds and mammals). Heleobia australis seemed to play a central role in this estuarine ecosystem. As both, a grazer and a prey to several other species, probably H . australis is transferring a great amount of energy to upper trophic levels. Most of the species at Rocha Lagoon have a wide range of prey items in their diet reflecting a complex food web, which is characteristic of extremely dynamic environment as estuarine ecosystems. QFASA is a model in tracing and quantitative estimate trophic pathways among species in an estuarine food web. The results obtained in the present work are a valuable contribution in the understanding of trophic relationships in Rocha Lagoon.

Quantitative fatty acid analysis (QFASA) is a statistical model designed to quantitatively estimate predator diets using fatty acid (FA) signatures among the predator and its potential prey. QFASA estimated the diet of a migratory flatfish Paralichthys orbignyanus over its fattening stage in the Rocha lagoon (a semi-closed estuary) where all prey available to this top predator species are well known. A 20-week controlled feeding trial obtained calibration coefficients (CC) for P. orbignyanus fed two types of prey (silverside and menhaden). Several subsets of FA were tested in order to elucidate which is the most suitable for applying QFASA to this species. QFASA was applied to all CC and FA subsets to validate the model. The model predicts better the consumed diet with silverside CC than with menhaden CC. The subset which best adjusts the diet over the validation process, includes approximately 34% of total FA, containing mainly dietary FA. The diet estimation in nature for P. orbignyanus varied according to whether the model is applied with or without CC. When the diet was estimated without CC, results were similar to those based on stomach content analysis (reported in previous studies); it fed mainly on silverside (~ 88%), but also some minor soft-body species that are only evident using this kind of methodology (QFASA). When the diet was estimated with silverside CC, a higher presence of silverside (~ 97%) was observed. These results seem to indicate a tendency to overestimate the presence of the item used as prey for CC calculations.