Abstract
Several ecological services and functions are attributed to macrophytes, which may represent valuable resource for the ecological intensification of tropical fish farming. However, considering the multiple potential eco-services provided by macrophytes, the choice of the most appropriate species requires multiple criteria to assess these eco-services. Five floating macrophytes (Eichhornia crassipes, Lemna minor, Azolla filiculoides, Salvinia molesta and Salvinia spp.) were selected for this study. The six eco-services parameters compared among these macrophytes were: productivity (in % of seeded macrophytes), risk of non-productive cycles, nutritional value, impact on water quality, palatability (expressed as the percentage of plant ingested in 4 h) and ease of use. Experiments to determine these indicators were carried out in simple devices (net cages and plastic tanks) partially immerged in earthen ponds. The palatability of fresh macrophytes (whole or chopped) was studied in ponds using Osphronemus goramy juveniles. All indicators were scored from 1 to 5, and the highest score was assigned to the highest performer. These scores corresponded either to the evaluation of a single parameter (e.g. productivity) or to the average from scores of several parameters (e.g. nutritional score). Multiplier coefficients were applied for nutritional value and palatability. Azolla filiculoides showed the best scores for productivity; L. minor for nutritional value and palatability, and E. crassipes for the lowest risk of non-productive cycles and a positive impact on water quality. After integrating the scores in a multi-parameter matrix, A. filiculoides had the best overall score. The results of this approach to select macrophytes are discussed in light of the eco-services provided by macrophytes which may, in turn, promote the ecological intensification of tropical small-scale aquaculture.
Highlights
The aquaculture production, amounting about 110 million tons and worth 243 billion USD, has surpassed fishery production and contributes to more than half of the total human consumption of fishery products
Despite a relatively low level of individual production (1.4 tons per year per fish farmer in Indonesia), small-scale farming is, in Indonesia such elsewhere, considered as a “cash-crop” production (Kawarazuka and Béné, 2010) and fish and shellfish generally represent a significant part of consumer expenditures in lowincome countries (Tacon and Metian, 2018)
We developed a multi-factor screening method to help choose the most appropriate species amongst a panel of floating macrophytes and promote their rational use for ecological intensification in tropical small-scale fish farming
Summary
The aquaculture production, amounting about 110 million tons and worth 243 billion USD, has surpassed fishery production and contributes to more than half of the total human consumption of fishery products. Considering the stagnation of global wild-caught fish resources, this demand is. Small-scale fish farming, which represents a large part of the worldwide aquaculture production, must cope with increasing production costs, commercial competition and limited technical resources, all of which may reduce its sustainability. Despite a relatively low level of individual production (1.4 tons per year per fish farmer in Indonesia), small-scale farming is, in Indonesia such elsewhere, considered as a “cash-crop” production (Kawarazuka and Béné, 2010) and fish and shellfish generally represent a significant part of consumer expenditures in lowincome countries (Tacon and Metian, 2018). Derived directly from the principles of agroecology, ecological intensification involves either the limitation of anthropogenic inputs without impairing crop productivity or increased productivity without using supplementary exogenous inputs, through a better use of endogenous resources or functions of the ecosystem (Soto et al, 2008; Bommarco et al, 2013; Aubin et al, 2014, 2017)
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