Effects of stocking density on the growth performance, physiological response and intestinal microbiota of juvenile Echiura worms ( Urechis unicinctus )

Aquaculture of the Echiura worm Urechis unicinctus has developed rapidly in recent years. However, the artificial cultivation technology remains to be perfected. In this study, the effects of stocking density on the growth performance, physiological responses and intestinal microbiota of U. unicinctus juveniles were evaluated. Juvenile worms were randomly stocked at densities of 200 U ( U. unicinctus /m 3 ), 500 U, 1,000 U and 2,000 U, in aquariums. The results indicated that the contents of triglycerides, glucose, total cholesterol, lactic acid, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and aspartate transaminase in the coelomic fluid of U. unicinctus juveniles were significantly enhanced with increasing stocking density. The digestive enzyme activities increased with increasing stocking density from 200 U to 1,000 U, before exhibiting a significant decrease in the 2,000 U group. In contrast, the antioxidant capacity of U. unicinctus juveniles was suppressed under high stocking density conditions. In case of the intestinal microbiota of U. unicinctus juveniles, Actinobacteria were more abundant in the 200 U group; SJA15, Gluconobacter and OP81 were higher in the 1,000 U group; Burkholderiales and Limnohabitans were enriched in the 2,000 U group. The highest and lowest survival rates of the U. unicinctus juveniles were recorded in the 500 U and 200 U groups respectively, and high stocking densities negatively affected the individual growth performance. In summary, due to the highest survival rate and appropriate growth performance and physiological responses, 500 U was considered to be the optimal stocking density for the cultivation of U. unicinctus juveniles.