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Ontogeny of the digestive capacity of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), with respect to digestion, absorption and metabolism of amino acids from Artemia

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Abstract

Ontogenetic changes in the capacity of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858) larvae to digest and metabolise Artemia protein and amino acids (AA) were studied using 12, 22 and 35 days after hatching (DAH) larvae that were fed Artemia metanauplii radiolabelled with a [U-14C] protein hydrolysate. About 82% and 18% of the label was incorporated into the Artemia trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitate (mostly protein) and soluble (mainly free AA) fractions, respectively. The digestibility of Artemia was high at all tested ages, with label absorption varying between 77% and 83% at 24 h after feeding (HAF). A rapid digestion, absorption and catabolism of Artemia AA were noted, with most of the absorption into the body occurring during the first 3 HAF. Traces of label were already found in the metabolic-CO2 trap at 1 HAF. Furthermore, label was largely and almost immediately incorporated into the TCA precipitate fraction (mostly protein) of gut and body tissues. Slight differences were noted in diet utilization between larvae at different ages. At 12 DAH larvae had a lower catabolism and evacuation of the label, as well as the highest accumulation in the gut. However, except for the amount of catabolised label, the results were not significantly different from those for 35 DAH larvae. Moreover, no significant differences were found in the amount of label incorporated into the body, although it seemed to be higher in 12 DAH larvae. Taken together, these results reveal a higher absorption and a significantly higher retention of the absorbed label in 12 DAH larvae. In addition, 12 DAH larvae appeared to have a slower absorption of the label, which, in continuously feeding larvae, might result in overall lower food absorption efficiency. Therefore, it seems that young larvae have the ability to compensate for a possible lower digestive capacity with higher body retention of absorbed AA. This study confirms that sole larvae, even young stages, have a high capacity for digesting live preys.

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Acknowledgements

S. Morais and L. Conceição acknowledge support from the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia”, Portugal (grants SFRH/BD/4902/2001 and SFRH/BPD/7149/2001). I. Rønnestad is grateful for support from the Research Council of Norway (141990/120; ELHMF publ 237). The experiments were supported by the project DIVERAQUA (Interreg III) and comply with the current laws in Portugal, the country in which the present work was conducted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    S. Morais, M. Lacuisse, L. E. C. Conceição & M. T. Dinis

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Bergen, Allégt 41, 5007, Bergen, Norway

    I. Rønnestad

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  1. S. Morais
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  2. M. Lacuisse
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  3. L. E. C. Conceição
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  4. M. T. Dinis
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  5. I. Rønnestad
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Correspondence to S. Morais.

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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

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Morais, S., Lacuisse, M., Conceição, L.E.C. et al. Ontogeny of the digestive capacity of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), with respect to digestion, absorption and metabolism of amino acids from Artemia . Marine Biology 145, 243–250 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1326-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1326-6

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