Growth of Artemia
franciscana fed Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros muelleri
during its early life stages
M.C. Lora-Vilchis, B. Cordero-Esquivel, D.
Voltolina-204
Aquaculture
Research, 35(11):
1086
Abstract:
Survival, growth (length and weight),
development, proximate composition, and energy content of Artemia
franciscana fed for 7 days with Isochrysis sp. (TISO) or with Chaetoceros
muelleri (CHGRA) were compared to evaluate the food value of these
microalgae. Mean daily survival was not significantly different, and ranged
from 86% to 93%. Diet-related differences in growth were noted from the
third day, and mean final dry weights (DWs) were 171 and 327 µg ind
-1
for Artemia fed TISO and CHGRA respectively. Rates of development
were different between diets, with a higher developmental index for Artemia
fed TISO before day 3, and a higher index for Artemia fed CHGRA for
the rest of the experiment. Chemical analysis showed that carbohydrates
decreased to approximately 35% of the initial value in Artemia during
the first 24 h, after which they remained approximately stable and
similar with both diets. In percentage of total DW, lipids and proteins
remained close to their respective initial values, but A. franciscana
fed TISO had a higher ash content. A major difference between the two
microalgae was the higher protein content of TISO, but this did not result
in better growth. Of the two, TISO was richer in docosahexaenoic acid, which
might explain the initial faster development, but CHGRA was a better source
of eicosapentaenoic acid, which is the most probable explanation of the
higher food conversion index, specific growth rate, and energy gain of A.
franciscana fed this algae.
(Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del
Noroeste, Laboratorio UAS-CIBNOR, PO Box 1132, Mazatlán, Sinaloa 82000, México.
E-mail of D. Voltolina: voltolin@cibnor.mx;
microalgas@mzt.megared.net.mx)