Biology of aquaculture animals - learning from nature to manage culture

Understanding of aquatic ecosystems and the fundamental aspects of the biology of aquatic animals is vitally important in managing aquaculture on a sustainable basis. The paradigm shift that is taking place in twenty-first century aquaculture is borne out of the compulsion of integrating environmental perspectives and biological attributes of target species in farming systems. There is an overwhelming amount of data highlighting the practical ways that several aspects of research on ecology can be applied to improve aquaculture production. Basic information on the biology of fish or shellfish has helped in designing rearing conditions and with more comprehensive information it is possible to optimize growth of captive animals and efficiency of production per unit area without adverse environmental implications. Aquaculture faces many challenges and at every stage a thorough understanding of the processes that regulate the biological systems of the cultured animals is required for an informed interpretation and for improving rearing methods. Since species selected for aquaculture and their farming systems are diverse, our knowledge should also be comprehensive enough to address the issues that arise in the planning and operation stages of aquaculture

Comparison of two edible mushroom extract as aquaculture feed additives to enhance immune response of Asian seabass

Limitation of antibiotic practice in aquaculture has created attention to uses of organic immuno-stimulant for growth and survival of juveniles with the development of immune system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two edible mushroom extracts, Pleurotus sajor-caju and Schizophyllum commune as feed additive in the diets of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) juvenile on serum antibody production. Three experimental diets were formulated with 1% inclusion of P. sajor caju (D1), S. commune (D2) and commercial diet without inclusion of mushroom additive was used as a control (D0). Asian seabass juveniles with average weight of 3±1 g were fed for 30 days. Each juveniles were challenged with 0.1ml bacteria suspension consisted of 108 cfu/ml of Vibrio harveyi. Mortality was observed for 10 days after fishes being challenged. Blood was collected before and on third day of challenged, and serum was used to determine antibody titre. Survival rate of D0, D1 and D2 was 60%, 55% and 80%, respectively. Serum agglutinating antibody titer of D2 significantly showed the highest antibody production followed by D1 and D0. Considering the good performance of S. commune in the present study, this mushroom can be considered as potential feed additive in the diets for enhancing immune response in Asian seabass juveniles challenged with V.harveyi

Effects of dietary supplementation of lysine and methionine in tempeh-based diet on growth performance and feed utilization of tiger grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus juveniles

The potential of tempeh (TMP) with supplementation of methionine (Met) and lysine (Lys) as a substitute of fishmeal (FM) was evaluated based on the growth performance and feed utilization for tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) juveniles. Three diets were formulated to replace FM with TMP at 0% (D1, control diet), 40% without essential amino acids (EAAs) supplementation (D2) and 40% with EAAs supplementation (D3, 0.5% of Met and 0.5% of Lys) and fed to triplicate groups of fish (22.90±0.48g) twice a day for 8 weeks. Weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed intake (FI) of D1 group (114.31%, 1.59%, and 45.51 g fish-1 , respectively) were significantly higher than those fed with TMP-based diets (P<0.05). On the other hand, supplementation of EAAs in D3 was able to significantly improve the protein efficiency ratio (PER) and net protein utilization (NPU) (1.17% and 23.13%, respectively) compared to other diets (P<0.05). Supplementation of EAAs reduced whole-body lipid (P0.05) of the fish. In the present study, results indicated that supplementation of EAAs was only able to improve feed utilization (PER and NPU) but not in growth performance (WG and SGR) of E. fuscoguttatus fed on TMP-based diets

Effects of dietary supplementation of lysine and methionine in tempeh-based diet on growth performance and feed utilization of E. fuscoguttatus, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus juveniles

The potential of tempeh (TMP) with supplementation of methionine (Met) and lysine (Lys) as a substitute of fishmeal (FM) was evaluated based on the growth performance and feed utilization for tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) juveniles. Three diets were formulated to replace FM with TMP at 0% (D1, control diet), 40% without essential amino acids (EAAs) supplementation (D2) and 40% with EAAs supplementation (D3, 0.5% of Met and 0.5% of Lys) and fed to triplicate groups of fish (22.90±0.48g) twice a day for 8 weeks. Weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed intake (FI) of D1 group (114.31%, 1.59%, and 45.51 g fish-1, respectively) were significantly higher than those fed with TMP-based diets (P0.05) of the fish. In the present study, results indicated that supplementation of EAAs was only able to improve feed utilization (PER and NPU) but not in growth performance (WG and SGR) of E. fuscoguttatus fed on TMP-based diets

Effects of dietary inclusion of Spirulina meal on growth and hematological parameters of cultured Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of Spirulina platensis on growth performance and hematological parameters of juvenile Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) reared in a freshwater culture system. Five experimental diets were prepared by replacing fish meal protein with the microalga at replacement levels of 5% (SP5), 10% (SP10), 20% (SP20) and 30% (SP30), and the substitution effect was compared with a control diet (Con) in which fish meal was the sole protein. Fish were stocked in net cages placed in a 150-ton tank with a stocking density of 20 fish per cage. After 8 weeks of feeding trial, the fish did not show any significant differences in growth performance but numerically higher weight gain and specific growth rate were achieved in the fish stock fed diet SP10 compared to other treatments. Feed conversion ratio and survival rate of fish were significantly affected by the inclusion of Spirulina in the diets. Except for crude ash content, wholebody proximate composition of the experimental fish was also significantly influenced by the diets. Regarding the effects of diets on blood parameters, only hematocrit, hemaglobin, HDL-c and AST were significantly affected by the inclusion of Spirulina in the diets. This study demonstrated that Spirulina could replace up to 10% of FM protein in practical diets of juvenile Asian sea bass without negative effects on growth performance. However, replacement of fish meal with Spirulina meal at 5% might be considered for commercial use considering a significant decrease in survival above this value

Green water meal as protein and carotenoid sources in grow-out diets for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential of green water meal (GWM) as an alternative dietary ingredient for juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Five isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated with 0% (GWM0, control diet), 10% (GWM10), 20% (GWM20), 30% (GWM30) and 40% (GWM40) of GWM replacing fishmeal protein and fed five times daily to triplicate groups of shrimp with an average initial weight of 6.42±0.02 g. In general, growth performance and feed utilization of shrimp fed with GWM10 did not show any significant differences with the control diet. Survival rate was above 88% and not affected by the dietary treatments. The whole-body protein and lipid of the shrimps decreased with the increasing GWM level in the diets. The shrimps fed with the GWM-based diets (GWM10, GWM20, GWM30 and GWM40) presented more intense red/orange colour and contained higher total carotenoid concentration compare with the control diet. The present findings suggested that GWM is an excellent source of carotenoid for shrimp pigmentation and able to replace fishmeal protein at up to 10% replacement level

Terrestrial animal- and plant-based ingredients as alternative protein and lipid sources in the diets for juvenile groupers: Current status and future perspectives

The Epinephelinae groupers are strict carnivorous species. They are widely cultured in the Asia Pacific region as a result of high demand and market price especially in the live reed food fish trade. Groupers are commonly raised in net cages and fed with the unsustainable low value fish. Although this feeding practice has been gradually improved by using formulated diets, the production cost of these diets is high due to the increasing prices of fish meal and fish oil. In order to find sustainable replacements for these expensive commodities, research has been conducted to evaluate alternative ingredients effects on fish growth performances and immune function. This review covers different types of alternative ingredients tested on several species of juvenile grouper. In general, animal protein sources were able to replace fish meal at higher inclusion levels than plant protein sources. Lowered digestibility, deficiency in essential nutrients, and reduced palatability are major challenges in using alternative ingredients in grouper feeds

GREEN MUSSELS CULTURE (Perna viridis L.) IN THE MANGROVE AREA POTENTIALLY IMPACTED BY HEAVY METAL

The purposes of this study are: 1) to investigate the types of different collectors and their most effective height of installation in the green mussels cultination (Perna viridie L.) impacted by heavy metal pollution in mangrove and non-mangrove waters; 2) to determine the content of heavy metals, especially Plumbum (Pb), Cuprum (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), and Hydragyrum (Hg) in green mussels cultivation. This research was conducted for 6 months from April to September 2018 in the coastal area of Karangdempel, Losari Sub District, Brebes Regency. The method used in this research was experimental. The results showed that: 1) the growth of green mussels after 6 months period of maintenance reached 7-9 cm long, weighing 10-13 grams per head and yielded 23-30 heads per collector. The most effective mussel collector was made from net sacks installed at a height of 30 cm from the bottom of the water. The number of green mussels per collector was more in mangrove location compared to those in the non-mangrove location, whi8their growth in length and weight were relatively the same in both locations; 2) in general, the heavy metal content in seawater and in the green mussel meat are still within the permissible limits of the Indonesian National Standard, except for the Cu content in the green mussel meat exceeding the allowable limit; but it was relatively still safe acconng to the Decree of the Director General of Drug Control and Food, Indonesian Ministry of Health, No. 03725 /B/SK/1989. Pb content in sediments in both location of green mussels cultivation and the Cisanggarung River basin is still within the safe limits. The content of Cd, Cu, and Hg in sediments tends to be high at the maximum permissible limit, even the Cu content m the Cisanggarung RiveOached twice the maximum allowable value. The heavy metal content in the research areas, both in mangrove and non-mangrove areas, was relatively not different as a result of mangrove reforestation dominated br seedlings and saplings with little influence on the quality of the water ecologically and economically

Comparison of Nannochloropsis oculata Productions Cultivated in Two Different Systems: Outdoor Red Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) Culture Tank and Indoor Pure Culture

Production of Nannochloropsis oculata or a marine eukaryotic unicellular phytoplankton was the focus of this study. The cultivation of outdoor red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in the tank and indoor was compared in producing phytoplankton. Initial density of N. oculata for both culture systems was 0.5 × 106 cell/ml. Findings showed the highest density of N. oculata was attained from tilapia culture system at 9.6x106 cell/ml harvested at day 7 while in pure culture system was 8.5 x106 cell/ml harvested at day 4. Contamination was dominated by protozoa (Gymnodinium sp.), range of 4.80-36.67 × 103 individual cells/ml and 0.00- 41.10 × 103 individual cell/ml at both tilapia culture and pure culture systems respectively. Levels of ammonium, nitrite and nitrate in tilapia culture systems had significantly lower (P 0.05) for vibrio green colonies in both systems. This study concluded Tilapia culture system is as effective as pure culture system to produce N. oculata based on production and quality