M. Uchida, K. Nakata, M. Maeda-1997
Aquaculture, 154 (2) : 125-137 (from Current Contents)
Abstract:
A technique to change Laminaria japonica, a macrophyte, thalli into single cell detrital forms, namely, single cell detritus (SCD), was developed utilizing the prominent degrading ability of a marine bacterium, Alteromonas espejiana AR06 (FERM BP 5024). The SCD particles were about 2 10 mu m in diameter and associated with many bacterial cells. The potential use of the SCD particles as a diet for suspension feeder animals was tested by feeding experiments with Artemia. The Laminaria thalli particles of 105-177 mu m in diameter, which were difficult for Artemia to ingest and contributed little to the growth of Artemia, were transformed into a substantial nutrient source after they were degraded to SCD particles by bacteria. Feeding experiments with Laminaria thalli particles of less than 44 mu m in diameter suggested that the axenically prepared SCD itself had a high potential as a hatchery diet and the colonization of the bacterial cells on the SCD would result in the catabolic loss of its total dietary values. This manuscript suggests a novel fish feeding regime based on algal detritus food webs by converting the macrophyte biomass into SCD hatchery diets for suspension feeder animals.
(Natl. Res. Inst. Fisheries Sci., Kanazawa KU, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Yokohama Kanagawa 236, Japan)