Marked depletion of polar
lipid and non-essential fatty acids following settlement by post-larvae of
the spiny lobster Jasus verreauxi
A.G. Jeffs, Ch.F. Phleger, M.M. Nelson, B.D. Mooney,
P.D. Nichols-2002
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A:
Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 131(2): 305-311
Abstract:
The development from the non-feeding post-larva
(puerulus) to the first instar juvenile of spiny lobsters is highly
energetically demanding. These demands may greatly compromise the energy
reserves of the lobsters following settlement, leading to reduced growth and
survival in the wild, and also in aquaculture. Therefore, the lipid class
and fatty acid composition of wild caught pueruli and first instar juveniles
of the spiny lobster Jasus verreauxi (H. Milne Edwards, 1851) were
analysed by thin layer chromatography-flame ionisation detection and
capillary gas chromatography. Pueruli contained substantially more lipid
than first instar juveniles (mean difference =3.5 mg, or 41.9%) and most of
this difference was due to the presence of greater amounts of polar lipid
(mean difference =3.9 mg or 49.2%) in pueruli. First instar juveniles
contained significantly more triacylglycerol (mean =0.2 mg), consistent with
the polar lipid being converted to a more readily metabolised lipid class in
the hepatopancreas. These results indicate that polar lipid is the major
energy store during the non-feeding puerulus stage of spiny lobsters from
the genus Jasus. Overall, the essential, polyunsaturated linoleic,
docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids did not show a significant
decrease between the two developmental stages, despite the absence of
feeding. However, significant reductions in the abundance of both saturated
and monounsaturated fatty acids between the two stages were identified
(decrease of 811 and 783 µg per individual, respectively). This suggested
that selective depletion of non-essential fatty acids may be occurring, with
resultant sparing of the essential fatty acids. Supplying diets rich in
these depleted fatty acids, and in particular the essential fatty acids,
preferably in polar lipid, is likely to result in increased survival and
growth of J. verreauxi and other spiny lobsters from first instar
juveniles in aquaculture.