Effect of storage on the fatty acid content of foods for post-larvae of the crustacean decapod Hippolyte inermis

Abstract

Decapods are important in aquaculture practice and as models for marine biology research, due to peculiar endocrine and physiologic adaptations to various environments. For these reasons, decapods are cultivated. To promote their correct development and sexual maturation, the preparation of balanced diets is crucial. Several diets, both experimental and for aquaculture purposes, have been established, but the set of essential fatty acids is still unknown for most species. Furthermore, fatty acids contained in formulated feeds are differentially sensitive to decay over the storage time. Here we compare growth, maturation and mortality of post-larvae fed on a formulated diet containing Artemia sp., Spirulina sp. and a fatty acid integrator, as administered immediately after its production and after 12 months of storage. The same foods were analysed for their fatty acid contents using gas chromatography. The sets of fatty acids present in differently aged foods corresponded to differences in the growth rates and survival of the model organism Hippolyte inermis cultured in the laboratory. The differences were mainly due to seven fatty acids, whose abundance decreased during the storage, the most important of which were arachidonic and linolenic acid, that are known to be essential for other species of decapods.