Fatty acids and starvation in larval striped bass (Morone saxatilis)

Abstract

1. 1. Growth of 4-day-old striped bass larvae was followed for 14 days under various starvation/feeding regimes. Fully fed larvae were supplied with 1000 Artemia nauplii per liter every day, although in experimental animals feeding was delayed for up to 10 days. All starved control larvae were dead by day 11. 2. 2. Major constituent fatty acids were measured throughout the experimental period in fully fed, fully starved and feeding-delayed animals. Tre following fatty acids were found to be the principal constituents of lipids of both fed and starved larvae: 14:0, 16:0, 16:1, 18:1, 20:1, 22:1, 18:2, 18:3, 20:5, 22:5 and 22:6. 3. 3. Two days of starvation caused a dramatic fall in total known fatty acid levels by comparison with fed larvae. Fed controls steadily increased in fatty acid content throughout the experimental period reaching a level of 202 μg per larva on day 14. 4. 4. Starved controls showed an increase in fatty acid levels for the first six days, with a rapid decrease after day 6. Treatments having 4 and 5 days of delay in feeding also showed peak concentrations of total fatty acids on day 6, a fall in these levels on day 8, followed by a later recovery. Most component fatty acids were seen to vary with basically the same patterns. 5. 5. Growth rates, as measured by notochord length or dry weight, were significantly inhibited by 5 days delay in feeding, but were apparently able to recover on resumption of feeding. 6. 6. Longer periods of starvation resulted in irreversible growth inhibition.