Abstract

The algal polysaccharide agar has long been used as a food binder due to its structure, rheological behaviour, stability and interactions properties that help to generate ¢rm, round, disk-shaped pellets that may be used in recirculating sea urchin-rearing systems. Three algae-based diets (Ulva lactuca, Gracilaria gracilis, Cystoseira sp.) containing 3%and 6% agar were tested on the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in order to examine the e¡ect of varying percentages of agar on pellet stability in water and sea urchin gonad growth. The kinetics of water absorption and solute leaching of pellets were measured by immersing quadruplicate samples of the pellets inwater for1,2,3,4,5 and 6 days. Our resultsshow that the pellets had good water stability, were readily consumed by sea urchins and the presence of agar did not hamper sea urchin gonad growth. Animals fed Ulva-containing pellets reached a more advanced gametogenic stage with respect to animals fed Cystoseira- and Gracilaria-containing pellets. Moreover, the presence of agarase activity in the digestive system indicated that agar may be an energy source. Pellets are relatively low cost and easy to prepare and store. They may represent auseful resource for rearing sea urchins under intensive conditions.

Autore Pugliese

• Fabbrocini Adele , D'adamo Raffaele

Tutti gli autori

• A. Fabbrocini; M.G. Volpe; M. Di Stasio; R.D.’Adamo; D. Maurizio; E. Coccia; M. Paolucci

Titolo volume/Rivista

Aquaculture research

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

1355-557X

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

Non Disponibile

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile