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Digestive enzymatic activity on Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae fed different diets

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Abstract

Digestive enzymatic activity and growth performance on tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae fed Artemia nauplii (LF), frozen adult Artemia (AB), an artificial diet (AF) with 46% protein and 16% lipids and a starvation group (SG) from first feeding (5 days after hatching—5 DAH) to 34 DAH were studied. All larvae under starvation (SG) died at 15 DAH. By the end of the experimental period, morphological variables (total length, wet weight and specific growth rate) were significant in larvae fed AF compared to LF and AB. All enzymes studied in the experiment were present since the start of exogenous feeding (including pepsin) and the enzymatic activity varied with the diets. Low levels of enzymatic activity were observed until the 29 DAH; however, after this moment, there was a significant increase (eightfold), particularly for the AF treatment. In vitro protein digestibility tests performed with enzymatic extracts showed that artificial diets with 52% protein and 14% lipids were better digested by larvae before 30 DAH, while diets with 45% protein and 11% lipids were better digested after this age. Taking into account the better growth performance, higher enzymatic activity and better protein digestibility obtained, artificial diets can be used since the start of exogenous feeding on tropical gar larvae, as in other lepisosteids.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Programa de Apoyo a la Investigación Científica y Tecnológico (Ref: PAICYT CN1100-06) for financing the Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Ecofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apartado Postal F-96, C. P. 66450, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, Mexico

    Carlos Aguilera, Roberto Mendoza & Israel Iracheta

  2. Laboratorio de Acuicultura Tropical-DACBIOL, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Mexico

    Gabriel Marquez

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  1. Carlos Aguilera
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  2. Roberto Mendoza
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  3. Israel Iracheta
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  4. Gabriel Marquez
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Correspondence to Roberto Mendoza.

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Aguilera, C., Mendoza, R., Iracheta, I. et al. Digestive enzymatic activity on Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae fed different diets. Fish Physiol Biochem 38, 679–691 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-011-9550-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-011-9550-8

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