Growth, fatty acid and amino acid composition of Nannochloropsis sp. (D.J. Hibberd, 1981) used in the feeding trials of crab Callinectes sapidus larvae

Abstract

In aquaculture hatcheries, microalgae, including Nannochloropsis sp. (D.J. Hibberd, 1981), are utilized as live food sources, The development of algal cultures employed in inoculation can satisfy the need for Nannochloropsis. This process begins with stock cultures on a laboratory scale and advances to intensive algal cultures in higher volume structures set up in both indoor and outdoor environments. The aim of the study was (1) to determine the specific growth rate (μ) of Nannochloropsis sp. grown under labora-tory conditions as a live feed source to feed crab larvae of Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) (Brachyura: Portunidae), and (2) to determine the fatty acid and ami-no acid compositions of Nannochloropsis sp. According to the study's findings, Nan-nochloropsis sp. had a specific growth rate (μ) of 0.553 ± 0.004 when grown in Guil-lard F/2 culture medium with aeration, 25 ppt salinity, and 25 0C room temperature. Out of all the necessary fatty acids, DHA, at 22:6 (ω-3) made up 0.5 ± 0.07 percent, and EPA, at 20:5 (ω-3) made up 24.25 ± 3.45 percent. The total amino acid content of Nannochloropsis was observed to range from 0.00 ± 0.00% (taurine) to 16.35 ± 3.56% (proline).