Morphological and metabolic investigations during the ontogeny of dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus (Teleostei: Serranidae) larvae

Author(s)

Paulo Henrique de Mello

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2015-10-26

Examining board members

Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton; Maria Celia Portella; Neuza Sumiko Takahashi

• Advisor: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton

Abstract

This project analyzed the fatty acids profile, embryogenesis and ontogeny of the digestive system of dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus larvae during the first days of development. Furthermore, we described how the embryos are divided, hatch and develop its main features, and how develops its digestive system during the first days of development, and how they use the FA during the first 8 days of development. We observed that the grouper larvae present relative slow development of their digestive structures, however, the larvae are able to capture, ingest and digest preys already from 4º DAE. The dusky grouper eggs are composed by high percentages of PUFA in phospholipids and for the hatching process it uses preferably the SFA of phospholipids. Additionally, the n3 series PUFAs overlaps the n6 series, especially DHA, which exhibited high values compared to other marine species both on phospholipids as in the triglycerides during the first three days of development. The larvae exhibit a high requirement of HUFAs DHA/EPA, and during this phase is important to use live food of small size (copepods or “SS strain” Brachionus rotundiformes) enriched with the ratio of DHA/EPA levels above 2.0. Thus, all the knowledge generated during these days of development allow us the application of this knowledge in the embryogenesis and hatchery process of the dusky grouper contributing to leverage its domestication and production in captivity and eventually draw up a restocking program of this species contributing to their conservation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/12301-0 - Metabolic investigation during the ontogenetic process of dusky grouper larvae (Epinephelus marginatus)( Teleostei: Serranidae)
• Grantee: Paulo Henrique de Mello
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate