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The development of a formulated feed containing U lva ( C hlorophyta) to promote rapid growth and enhanced production of high quality roe in the sea urchin T ripneustes gratilla ( L innaeus)
Author(s) -
Cyrus Mark D,
Bolton John J,
Wet Lourens,
Macey Brett M
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2012.03219.x
Subject(s) - biology , sea urchin , gonad , zoology , chlorophyta , development of the gonads , algae , mussel , botany , food science , ecology , anatomy
This study investigated growth and gonad production of T ripneustes gratilla fed four protein‐rich artificial diets supplemented with varying amounts (0%, 5%, 15% and 20% weight/weight (w/w); designated 0, 5, 15 and 20U, respectively) of the macroalga U lva over a 12‐week period. Gonad size, texture, colour and a number of production performance parameters were quantified and compared with urchins fed fresh U lva ( FU ) and a combination of FU and artificial feed ( FB ). All artificial diets significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) increased gonad somatic indices ( GSI ) compared with the FU treatment. The 20U treatment increased GSI by 205% by week 9, compared with a 57% increase in the GSI of urchins fed FU . Gonad colour was calculated using three colour parameters, namely L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness). Whereas L* and a* values did not differ significantly between treatments, b* values for all treatments, with the exception of the 20U and FB treatments, were significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) lower or less yellow than the FU treatment by week 12. These results show that we have successfully formulated a feed (20U) which can produce commercially acceptable gonads in terms of both size and colour, indicating the potential for this artificial feed to support commercial echinoculture.