The Consumption of DHA during Embryogenesis as an Indicative of the Need to Supply DHA during Early Larval Development: A Review

Abstract

The establishment of an adequate larval diet for crustacean and fish often involves a series of time-consuming and expensive trial and errors. Despite being nutritionally poor, rotifers and Artemia are the most commonly used preys in larviculture. Whether (and to what extent) the prey needs to be enriched with essential fatty acids differs from species to species. We hypothesized that the DHA content of a newly spawned eggs and its consumption through embryogenesis can be a good indicator of the need to enrich the prey with DHA. In order to assess this hypothesis, we performed a search in the scientific literature and compared DHA consumption through embryogenesis with larval culture success with unenriched and DHA-enriched Artemia nauplii, respectively a prey poor and rich in DHA of fish and crustacean. Data available from previously published studies suggests that, higher the consumption of DHA during embryonic development, greater the requirement of a diet rich in DHA during early larval development; and when, although present, DHA is not consumed during embryogenesis, larvae seem to be able to successfully develop with diet poor in DHA (i.e. using solely their reserves). Further studies will be necessary to better validate this hypothesis, but if confirmed, it may allow a reduction of time and costs associated with the establishment of an adequate larval diet.

Rearing European brown shrimp (Crangon crangon, Linnaeus 1758): a review on the current status and perspectives for aquaculture

“…This confirms the fact that larvae of C. crangon can be reared successfully on Artemia nauplii (poor in DHA and EPA). A similar finding was demonstrated for the rearing of wharf crab (Armases cinareum, Bosc 1802) (Figueiredo et al 2012).…”

Greenwater, Marine Bacillus subtilis HS1 Probiotic and Synbiotic Enriched Artemia and Rotifers Improved European Seabass Dicentrarchus labrax Larvae Early Weaning Length Growth, Survival, Water and Bacteriology quality

“…European sea bass newly hatched larvae results, under high intial stocking densities of 50 fertilized egg per ml, putting in considerations recent industerial larvae rearing protocols in the developed marine hatcheries had significant survival rates of using G+S and G+MP compared to G treatment in agreement with (19) whom reviewed that the development of an aquaculture industry relies on the profitability of its culture protocols. The methods utilized to raise a species not only have to be reliable and highly productive, as they have to be relatively inexpensive (19).…”

“…The methods utilized to raise a species not only have to be reliable and highly productive, as they have to be relatively inexpensive (19). This imposes several challenges to producers since a culture protocol that guaranties higher survival is not necessarily the most productive or profitable (19).…”

“…This imposes several challenges to producers since a culture protocol that guaranties higher survival is not necessarily the most productive or profitable (19). For instance, higher stocking densities may generate lower survival, but be more productive than lower stocking densities (19). One of the greatest expenses for an aquaculture facility is the feeds, particularly the ones destined to the larvae (19).…”

“…For instance, higher stocking densities may generate lower survival, but be more productive than lower stocking densities (19). One of the greatest expenses for an aquaculture facility is the feeds, particularly the ones destined to the larvae (19).…”