Nutritional analysis of freshwater and marine amphipods from the Strait of Gibraltar and potential aquaculture applications

Peer Review #2 of "Crustacean amphipods from marsh ponds: a nutritious feed resource with potential for application in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (v0.1)"

“…In general terms, the studied amphipods from marsh ponds were characterised by high levels of protein and ash and low levels of carbohydrates and lipids. Protein values were similar to those found in copepods and mysids by other authors (Wang et al, 2014), but lower than those reported for other amphipods from the Bay of Algeciras (Baeza-Rojano et al, 2014). However, amphipods present a higher percentage of carbohydrates than other studied groups (e.g.…”

“…Additionally, amphipods are abundant throughout the year in marsh zones, reach high densities (ca. 60.000 ind/m 2 ), and show adequate protein content and fatty acid profiles, with high levels of beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA and EPA) (Kolanowski, Stolyhwo & Grabowski, 2007;Hyne et al, 2009;Baeza-Rojano, Hachero-Cruzado & Guerra-García, 2014). Previous studies have explored amphipods as alternative protein sources in experimental diets for farmed fish (Moren et al, 2006;Opstad et al, 2006;Suontama et al, 2007) and cephalopods (Baeza-Rojano et al, 2010;González, Pérez-Schultheiss & López, 2011;Baeza-Rojano et al 2013a) obtaining promising results.…”

Dietary analysis of caprellids Caprella penantis and Caprella grandimana (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in southern Spain

“…They represent the most diverse group of crustaceans with respect to lifestyle, habitat, and size (De Broyer and Jazdzewski 1996). The trophic diversity of amphipods at the interspecific level indicates that they have species-specific functional roles as mediators in trophic pathways (Jeong et al 2012); hence, they play 1 3 a wide variety of organisms, such as copepods, gammarids, hydroids, sponges, polychaetes, macroalgae, and diatoms (see Guerra-García and Tierno de Figueroa 2009;Alarcón-Ortega et al 2012;Baeza-Rojano et al 2014). Moreover, it has been concluded that these amphipods are detritivores (see Guerra-García et al 2014), but it remains controversial whether they should be considered omnivores.…”

“…This species is mainly associated with the algae C. elongata and J. rubens in the intertidal zones of the Strait of Gibraltar, and it reproduces year around. This species grows and reproduces in captivity on a diet of diatoms alone , and it is a potential aquaculture resource because of its higher omega-3 fatty acid and polar lipid contents compared with gammarids (Baeza-Rojano et al 2014).…”

“…Knowledge of amphipod feeding ecology has recently expanded owing to the use of biomarkers, such as fatty acid biochemical profiles (Jaschinski et al 2011;McLeod et al 2013;Baeza-Rojano et al 2014) and stable nitrogen (δ 15 N) and carbon (δ 13 C) isotopes (Olabarria et al 2009;Mancinelli 2012;Jeong et al 2012). However, these techniques are indirect indicators, requiring fresh material and preventing the use of specimens fixed in ethanol or formalin.…”