The effect of different fish feed compositions on [delta]13C and [delta]15N signatures of sea bass and its potential value for tracking mariculture-derived nutrients

Increasing demand for fish and seafood calls for an expansion of aquaculture production. At the same time, the status of the marine environment must not be jeopardised. Stable isotopes are potential markers for tracking feed-based nutrient flows from aquaculture into marine biota. Here, we demonstra...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Isotopes in environmental and health studies 2018-03, Vol.54 (1), p.28
Main Authors: Kusche, Henrik, Hillgruber, Nicola, Rößner, Yvonne, Focken, Ulfert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquaculture
Biota
Composition effects
Dicentrarchus labrax
Diet
Fish
Gluten
Isotopes
Marine aquaculture
Marine environment
Nutrients
Organic matter
Proteins
Sea bass
Seafood
Stable isotopes
Tracking
Wheat
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Increasing demand for fish and seafood calls for an expansion of aquaculture production. At the same time, the status of the marine environment must not be jeopardised. Stable isotopes are potential markers for tracking feed-based nutrient flows from aquaculture into marine biota. Here, we demonstrate how four experimental diets (main protein components: fishmeal, soya protein concentrate, wheat gluten, and Jatropha kernel meal) and a commercial diet induce characteristic δ13C and δ15N signals in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during nine weeks of laboratory feeding under replicate conditions. The plant-protein-based diets containing wheat gluten and soya, and the commercial feed consistently induced the largest isotopic differentiation of the fish, both from the feed source and from the pre-experimental condition. The large difference of the fish on plant-protein-based diets compared to the range of natural isotopic variation in the macrozoobenthos of the North Sea lends support to the idea that plant-based feeds are suitable for tracing mariculture-derived organic matter under practical conditions. The commercial feed had a similar effect as the experimental feeds and would be a cost-effective option for an offshore aquaculture experiment.
ISSN:1025-6016
1477-2639
DOI:10.1080/10256016.2017.1361419