Effects of supplementation of decapods zoea to Artemia basal diet on fatty acid composition and digestive gland histology in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) paralarvae

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of different crab zoeas to enriched Artemia basal diet for O. vulgaris paralarvae during the first month of life. Paralarvae were fed using: enriched Artemia nauplii alone and Artemia co-fed with either first zoea stages of Grapsus adscensionis or Plagusia depressa. The experiment was carried out over a period of 28 days, in 0.12 m3 tanks with a flow-through rearing system. Growth in dry weight as well as mantle length and width were assessed weekly. Additionally, prey and paralarvae fatty acid composition and digestive gland (DG) histology were evaluated. Addition of low amounts of crab zoeas (approx.100 indv. L-1 day-1) provided during critical life stages of O.vulgaris proved to be good enough to improve paralarvae growth and survival in comparison to those fed exclusively on enriched Artemia. These results were supported by the finding of a higher number of glycoprotein absorption vacuoles in the DG from paralarvae co-fed with crab zoeas, suggesting a higher feeding activity. In addition, the fatty acid analysis of crab zoea showed that these are good sources of dietary arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids during the octopus planktonic life stage, whereas the low docosahexaenoic (DHA) content, suggests the use of additional DHA sources or higher zoeas densities to meet paralarvae nutritional demand to carry out a successful metamorphosis to benthic life.