Comparison of the lipid profiles from wild caught eggs and unfed larvae of two scombroid fish: northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L., 1758) and Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda Bloch, 1793)

Abstract

Lipids and essential fatty acids are determinants of the reproductive process in marine fish, affecting fecundity, egg quality, hatching performance, pigmentation and larval malformation. We have analyzed and characterized the lipids of eggs and unfed larvae of two wild caught scombroid fish, the Atlantic northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda). Dry matter and total lipid contents, polar and neutral lipid classes and total lipid fatty acid contents were determined in the eggs of bluefin tuna and eggs and unfed larvae during the development of Atlantic bonito. Bluefin tuna eggs had slightly but significantly more dry mass than bonito eggs but very similar lipid content. However, bluefin tuna eggs presented a higher polar lipid content due to increased proportions of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). Bonito eggs and larvae showed increasing dry mass and decreasing lipid content with development. The proportion of polar lipids increased due to increased PE, PS and PI, whereas choline-containing polar lipids (phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) remained relatively constant. Free cholesterol also increased, whereas the levels of other neutral lipids, especially triacylglycerol and steryl ester fractions, decreased, presumably due to utilization for energy to drive development. Bluefin tuna eggs had higher levels of n - 3 and n - 6 highly unsaturated fatty acids due to higher docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid contents, respectively, than bonito eggs. The results are discussed in relation to the lipid and fatty acid requirements of larval scombroid fish in comparison to those of other larval marine finfish species under culture conditions.

Characterizing egg quality and larval performance from captive mahi-mahiCoryphaena hippurus(Linnaeus, 1758) spawns over time

“…In assessing egg quality in the broodstock of any marine finfish, comparing eggs and related tissues from wild and captive broodstock can identify any nutritional deficiencies that may be present in the diet which could be implemented into ameliorating limitations in egg production (Hauville et al., ; Migaud et al., ). This has been well demonstrated in previous literature with Atlantic cod Gadus morhua (Linnaeus, 1758; Kjørsvik, ), striped bass Morone saxatilis (Walbaum, 1792; Harrell & Woods, ), striped trumpeter Latris lineata (Bloch and Schneider, 1801; Morehead, Hart, Dunstan, Brown & Pankhurst, ), white seabream Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758; Cejas et al., , ), common sole Solea solea (Linnaeus, 1758; Lund, Steenfeldt, Suhr & Hansen, ), Senegalese sole Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858; Norambuena, Estevez, Bell, Carazo & Duncan, ) and common snook Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1792; Hauville et al., ) yet the literature is very limited on identifying these deficiencies in high‐performance pelagic species with notable exceptions including studies on Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793; Ortega & Mourente, ), Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758; Ortega & Mourente, ; Pousis et al., ), lesser amberjack Seriola rivoliana (Valenciennes, 1833; Saito, ) and greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (A. Risso, 1810; Rodríguez‐Barreto et al., ; Saito, ).…”

Energy allocation strategy of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis during their reproductive cycle

“…The increase in PL in gonads, from the developing phase to spawning‐capable phase, accumulating as yolk in the oocyte, has previously been described in teleosts (Wiegand, ; Patiño & Sullivan, ; Lubzens et al ., ). Overall, the dominance of neutral lipids over polar lipids in K. pelamis ovaries is similar to other temperate scombrids, such as S. sarda and T. thynnus (Mourente et al ., ; Ortega & Mourente, ) and in tropical T. albacares (Zudaire et al ., ).…”

The Consumption of DHA during Embryogenesis as an Indicative of the Need to Supply DHA during Early Larval Development: A Review

“…Homarus gammarus [87] 29.9 [87] 20.4 Table 3: Newly spawned egg's DHA content and DHA consumed during embryogenesis (µg.mg dw -1 ) (NS -no significant consumption; Figueiredo et al [49]; Torres et al [50]; Penha-Lopes et al [51]; Penha-Lopes et al [82]; Rosa et al [43]; Guerao and Abello [83]; Morais et al [42]; Ortega and Mourente [84]; Faleiro and Narciso [85]; Mourente et al [86]; Rosa et al [87]). …”