Assimilation of different cyanobacteria as food and the consequences for internal energy stores of juvenile roach

Abstract

Juvenile roach Rutilus rutilus fed on the cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon were able to maintain liver glycogen and muscle protein concentrations. In contrast, internal energy stores of fish fed on the cyanobacterium Microcystis were degraded. Liver glycogen, however, was higher than in starved fish, suggesting that roach was able to obtain some nutrients (probably carbohydrates) from the mucus cover of Microcystis. Weak assimilation of radiolabeled Microcystis by roach was detectable, and assimilation rates increased with increasing proportion of Aphanizomenon in a mixture of both cyanobacteria. It is concluded that the incomplete digestion of Microcystis was the main reason for the negative growth rates of roach when fed on this cyanobacterium species.