Lipids and fatty acids in wild and pond-reared mud crab <i>Scylla serrata</i> (Forsskål) during ovarian maturation and spawning

Wild-caught and pond-reared female mud crab Scylla serrata at different stages of ovarian maturation were collected from Samar and Capiz, Philippines. Crabs were categorized into five stages according to the external morphological and microscopic appearance of the most advanced oocytes. The ovaries, hepatopancreas, muscle and newly spawned eggs (NSE) were analysed for lipid class components and fatty acids. Total lipid was higher in pond-reared than in wild-caught crabs but increased with ovarian maturation in both groups. Ovarian lipid peaked at the fully mature stage, coinciding with a decline in hepatopancreatic and muscle lipids. Lipid levels declined significantly in spent females. The tissues contained elevated highly unsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic (20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acids, but at higher levels in late maturing and fully mature ovaries and in NSE. The type of lipid class and fatty acid components in mature ovaries as well as in NSE are generally considered to be indicative of their importance in reproductive physiology and embryonic and larval development

Lipids and essential fatty acids in the nutrition of Penaeus monodon larvae

Abstract only.Total lipid levels and fatty acid distribution during larval development of Penaeus monodon were determined. Larvae were cultured utilizing standard rearing procedures and feeding schemes adopted by the Crustacean Hatchery of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. At each developmental stage (spawned egg, nauplius, protozoea, mysis, postlarva), samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Lipid content decreased with developmental stage (from egg to postlarva), indicating utilization of lipids as energy source during larval development and metamorphosis. The major fatty acids in the egg lipid were 16:0 (palmitic), 16:1 (palmitoleic), 18:0 (stearic), 18:1 (oleic), 18:3 (linolenic), 20:4 (arachidonic), 20:5 (eicosapentaenoic), and 22:6 (docosahexa-enoic acids. As the larvae developed, levels of 16:1 and 18:1 fatty acids decreased with a corresponding increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3. These indicate the importance of PUFA as dietary components. Comparison was made between fatty acid changes during larval development and the fatty acid constituents of commonly used larval feeds (algae, rotifer, brine shrimp, egg yolk) for P. monodon. The algae and zooplankton were found to contain 20:5ω3, while egg yolk was high in total lipids but low in polyunsaturates. Most larval diets were deficient in 22:6ω3 fatty acid. Crustaceans have been shown to have a limited capacity to biosynthesize long-chain PUFA; these have to be provided in their diet. These essential fatty acids must be available in appropriate amounts to ensure successful larval development and survival

Formalin as an alternative to trifluralin as prophylaxis against fungal infection in mud crab Scylla serrata (Forsskål) larvae

The toxicity of formalin and trifluralin to the larval stages of the mud crab Scylla serrata was compared in a static bioassay. Prophylactic doses of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 formalin and 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 trifluralin were used. Toxicity was assessed on the basis of survival of larvae after 24, 48, 72 and 96&nbsp;h exposure to the test chemicals and metamorphosis to the next larval stage. Result shows that larval survival in all stages was significantly reduced at concentrations of 20 and 25&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 formalin whereas larvae were able to tolerate all trifluralin treatments. However, larvae became more tolerant to high formalin concentrations as the larval stage progressed. Survival was better at 5, 10 and 15&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 formalin and in all trifluralin treatments than the control in almost all the larval stages. Faster metamorphosis was observed at 5 and 10&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 formalin and 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 trifluralin concentrations. Doses of formalin and trifluralin obtained from the toxicity experiments were applied as prophylaxis to newly hatched larvae in white plastic basins. Prophylactic doses of 5 and 10&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 formalin and 0.05 and 0.1&nbsp;μg&nbsp;L−1 trifluralin applied every other day were found to be effective in enhancing survival and larval development to megalopa compared with control. However, no megalopae survived to crab instar in all formalin treatments. Although the use of fungicides in rearing systems resulted in higher survival compared with controls, other strategies (i.e. maintenance of good water quality and hygienic practices in the hatchery) should be further investigated as an alternative to the use of chemicals in hatcheries

Ontogeny of feeding apparatus and foregut of mud crab Scylla serrata Forsskål larvae

The development of the feeding apparatus of the mud crab Scylla serrata larvae was studied using electron microscopy for mandibles and light microscopy for other paired mouthparts and the foregut. The six paired mouthparts, which consisted of the mandibles, maxillules, maxillae, first maxillipeds, second maxillipeds and third maxillipeds, were dissected from specimens representing each larval stage. The first five paired appendages were already present in newly hatched larvae while third maxillipeds appeared only at the megalopa stage. Mandibles displayed complex incisor and molar processes at early zoeal stages, which became simple in morphology at megalopa. Mandibular palp buds were observed at the zoea 5 stage and these became fully developed as three-segmented mandibular palps at the megalopa stage. Endopods of other paired mouthparts exhibited increased number of setae and size as the individual metamorphosed from zoeal stages to megalopa and crab instar. The foregut appeared as a continuous cavity at zoea 1 where the cardiopyloric valve was indistinct while the filter gland was clearly identifiable. Zoea 2 and succeeding zoeal stages exhibited a setose foregut; the gastric mill and its lateral and median teeth were prominent at zoea 3 stage. The significance of these morphological changes is discussed in terms of its implication in larval feeding management

Reproductive performance, lipids and fatty acids of mud crab Scylla serrata (Forsskål) fed dietary lipid levels

Natural food (NF, control), artificial diets (AD) containing total lipid levels of 10%, 12% and 14% (AD10, AD12 and AD14) and their combinations (AD10+NF, AD12+NF and AD14+NF) were fed for 112 days to pond-sourced eyestalk-ablated mud crab Scylla serrata (625±6.4 g) in tanks in order to determine their effects on reproduction and lipid profiles in broodstock tissues and zoeae. Crabs fed NF had the highest number of spawning followed by crabs fed AD10+NF and AD14+NF. Higher offspring production (number of zoeae) was obtained from crabs fed NF and AD+NF than from AD. As dietary total lipid levels increased, total lipid of broodstock ovaries, hepatopancreas, muscle and zoeae correspondingly increased in which AD+NF promoted higher levels than AD. Increased dietary total lipid levels enhanced lipid classes such as triacylglycerols and phosphatidyl choline levels in zoeae, all higher in crabs fed AD+NF than in AD. The major fatty acids in zoeae, particularly 16:0, 18:0, 18:1n-9 and 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, were higher in crabs fed AD+NF than in AD, the contents corresponding to broodstock dietary total lipid levels. A 10% total lipid in AD in combination with NF was sufficient to provide the essential lipids in crabs in the improvement of larval production and quality.This study was supported by the European Commission (INCO-DC) through Project (ICA4-CT-2001-10022) ‘Culture and Management of Scylla spp.’ The skilled technical assistance of the staff of Crustacean Hatchery, Centralized Analytical Laboratory and Feed Mill of SEAFDECAQD is highly appreciated