Embryonic and larval development and fatty‐acid profile of Epinephelus marginatus spawned in captivity: tools applied to captive rearing

Abstract

Development, ontogeny of the digestive system and the fatty-acid (FA) profile, were analysed during development of Epinephelus marginatus. Larvae were analysed 7 and 17 days post fertilization (dpf) to evaluate fatty-acid profile and morphological variables, respectively. Epinephelus marginatus larvae have relatively slow development of digestive structures, but were able to capture, ingest and digest prey by 5 dpf. Eggs were composed of high percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in phospholipids. The percentage of n3 PUFAs was higher than n6, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which exhibited higher levels compared with other marine species during the first 3 days of development, both in terms of phospholipids and triglycerides. The larvae present a high content of docosahexaenoic acid-eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA-EPA) and, during this phase, live food of small size was required (copepods or SS-strain Brachionus rotundiformes), enriched with DHA-EPA. These results may guide future studies on the contribution of FAs required during this stage of the life cycle of E. marginatus, to advance knowledge of the use of these FAs throughout ontogeny and contribute to the culture of this species commercial production or restocking.

Temperature influences growth, digestive system ontogeny and lipids deposition in the liver in gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ) larvae and juveniles

“…The seabream's pharyngeal teeth appeared later compared with meagre ( Argyrosomus regius ), for example, when it was observed at 6 dah (Papadakis et al, 2013), in common dentex ( Dentex dentex ) at 7 dah (Santamaría et al, 2004) and yellowtail kingfish ( Seriola lalandi ) at 8 dah (Chen et al, 2006). In dusky grouper ( Epinephelus marginatus ), which is considered a very slow‐growing species, this structure appeared only at 17 dah (Mello et al, 2018), such as happened in the 16°C group for seabream.…”

“…Regarding the taste buds, which provide the fish with the sense of taste, temperature affects prey selection. Compared with other produced marine fish, such as meagre ( Argyrosomus regius ), this structure appeared at 3 dah (Papadakis et al, 2013), at 8 dah in shi drum ( Umbrina cirrosa ) (Zaiss et al, 2006), at 11 dah in sharpsnout seabream ( Diplodus puntazzo ) (Micale et al, 2008; Micale & Muglia, 2011), at 11 dah in common pandora ( Pagellus erythrinus ), at 14 dah in common dentex ( Dentex dentex ), and at 14 dah dusky grouper ( Epinephelus marginatus ) (Mello et al, 2018).…”

Spawning induction and embryonic development of Salminus hilarii (Characiformes: Characidae)

“…Gastrula phase is initially characterized by the first cellular movements in an event called epiboly, and is finished by closure of the blastopore, resulting in blastoderm rearrangement in relation to yolk mass (Honji et al, 2012;Buzollo et al, 2011;Nakagui et al, 2006;Mello et al, 2018). Gastrula stage in S. hilarii was initiated at 3 h 56 min to 9 h 1 min, this time was considered late and no longer compared with other species such as P. maculatus (2 h 15 min to 5 h 0 min at 29ºC; Buzollo et al, Table 3.…”

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“…The use of MT in juveniles of Epinephelus marginatus provides a permanent inversion, but without the production of semen, but the fertilization capacity of these spermatozoa was not tested in this protocol [5]. Using AI, the fertilization capacity of Epinephelus marginatus spermatozoa was demonstrated [7] as well as larvae production [9], but the authors did not test if sex change was permanent. Sex inversion in E. coiodes with MT can be divided into an early and an advanced phase, and that the characteristic of this inversion being permanent or not, depends on the moment at which the MT administration is interrupted [10].…”