Effect of short-term rotifer enrichment with marine phospholipids on growth, survival, and composition of meager (Argyrosomus regius) larvae

Abstract

Larval rearing and ongrowing of meager have experienced a great advance during the last years and nowadays this species is considered as one of the most important new species in Mediterranean aquaculture. However, larval nutrition in meager still needs some improvements especially regarding live prey enrichment and fatty acid composition. In this study, a trial for larval rearing of meager (Argyrosomus regius) using different commercial products for rotifer enrichment (Multigain, Red Pepper and concentrated microalgae) with and without phospholipids (PL), and with a different fatty acid composition, especially regarding DHA, have been used to assess the growth and survival of the larvae and check the effect of PLs in larval growth. Lipid class composition was the same among the larvae whereas % DHA was always higher in larvae fed Multigain and Red Pepper enriched rotifers. The dominant fatty acids in the PL of the larvae and PL of the diets were well-correlated and the results suggested a close relationship between the composition of dominant PL fatty acids in the rotifer and in the larvae, especially in the case of DHA and 16:0 that show a high correlation.