Free amino acid and protein contents of start-feeding larvae of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) at three temperatures

10 páginas, 5 figuras, 3 tablas The contents of free amino acids (FAA) and total protein, together with growth and gut-content, of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) larvae reared at 14, 18 and 22 °C were studied from first-feeding to approximately 140 effective day-degrees post hatch (Deff ∘). Artemi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine Biology
Main Authors: Weltzien, F. A., Planas, Miguel, Cunha, Isabel, Evjen, M., Fyhn, H. J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Springer 1999
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/57736
https://doi.org/10.1007/s002270050471
Description
Summary:10 páginas, 5 figuras, 3 tablas The contents of free amino acids (FAA) and total protein, together with growth and gut-content, of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) larvae reared at 14, 18 and 22 °C were studied from first-feeding to approximately 140 effective day-degrees post hatch (Deff ∘). Artemia franciscana nauplii and two species of rotifers were used as prey. Protein content accounted for about 42 and 26% of dry body mass in the A. franciscana nauplii and the rotifers, respectively. The FAA pool constituted 5.6 and 4.8% of the total amino acids in the same animals. The dry body mass of turbot larvae was exponentially related to Deff ∘. Protein and FAA contents were linearly related to dry body mass, and were independent of rearing temperature between 14 and 18 °C. At the end of the experiment, however, turbot larvae at 22 °C had lower gut content values, retarded growth rates, and decreased FAA contents and concentrations. Thus, at this high temperature, turbot larvae seem unable to catch and ingest sufficient prey, or to sustain an amino acid assimilation rate from the intestine sufficient to meet metabolic demands The study was financially supported by the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT, Spain) (Project AGF92±0185). Peer reviewed