Lipids and
nutrition of the southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, from hatch to
puerulus
C.F. Phleger, M.M. Nelson, B.D. Mooney, P.D. Nichols,
A.J. Ritar, G.G. Smith, P.R. Hart, A.G. Jeffs-2001
Marine and Freshwater Research, 52(8): 1475-1486
(from Current Contents)
Abstract :
We examined the lipid class and fatty-acid
composition of the southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, phyllosoma larvae
and puerulus stage to improve understanding of their nutrition in relation
to aquaculture. Lipid is critical in the nutrition of larval crustaceans,
including lobsters. Specimens were from Tasmanian waters, Australia, and
North Island, New Zealand, waters. Analyses were by TLC-FID and capillary GC
and GC-MS. Phyllosoma larvae and nektonic pueruli were low in storage lipid
(triacylglycerol), and phospholipid was the major lipid class. Sterol,
mainly cholesterol, was the next most abundant class. The ratio of the
essential omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to the omega-6
fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) was lower in newly hatched phyllosomas
(1.2-1.3) than in other phyllosomas (stages III-XI; 2.8-6.7) and pueruli
(3.8). Ratios of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid) to EPA were also lower in
newly hatched phyllosomas (0.5) than in later-stage phyllosomas (1.5-2.1)
and pueruli (1.2). We have followed up these compositional data by
successfully enriching the live diet (Artemia) of early phyllosomas with AA,
EPA and DHA. This dietary manipulation has achieved ratios of these key
polyunsaturated fatty acids similar to those of wild phyllosomas. These
findings will be of significance to the future of rock-lobster aquaculture.
(San Diego State Univ, Dept Biol, San Diego, CA
92182, USA, e-mail of C.F. Phleger: phleger@sunstroke.sdsu.edu)