Amino Acids in the Food Web of a Wastewater Aquaculture System for Rearing Juvenile Salmon

Abstract

Abstract We analyzed and compared the amino acid content of (1) water from oxidation and aeration ponds in a domestic sewage treatment system, (2) a mixture of Humboldt Bay estuarine water and sewage treatment wastewater supplying fish ponds, and (3) selected invertebrates living in those waters. We identified 17 amino acids in water samples and 20 amino acids in crustaceans. Levels of amino acid in the water samples were highest in the aeration pond, much lower in the oxidation pond, and then only slightly lower in watewater-seawater mixtures from the fish ponds. The amino acid values for the water flea (Daphnia magna) from the oxidation pond were higher than those of a tube-dwelling amphipod (Corophium spinicorne) and a gammarid amphipod (Anisogammarus confervicolus) from fish ponds. The amino acid value of isopods (Rocilina) from fish ponds was relatively low.