Impact of Four Fiber Sources and the Strategy of Feeding on the Nutritional Quality of Rabbit Meat (Oryctogalagus cuniculis)

This study was conducted to valorize four sources of fiber (Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera and palm nut fibers) in animal production. The experiments were carried out on 128 rabbits divided into 4 batches of 32 animals, reared for 8 weeks under the same conditions. Each batch was subdivided into two subgroups, one fed with a complete diet (a diet containing one of the fiber sources and served all day) and the other with the same diet separated from the fiber source (served at 9 a.m. and supplemented with the fiber source at 4 p.m.). Eight (8) experimental rations were, respectively, tested on the subgroups: complete feed Gliricidia sepium (CFG);supplemented feed Gliricidia sepium (SFG);complete feed Leucaena leucocephala (CFL);supplemented feed Leucaena leucocephala (SFL);complete feed Moringa oleifera (CFM);supplemented feed Moringa oleifera (SFM);complete feed palm nut fiber (CFF);supplemented feed palm nut fiber (SFF). In each subgroup, 4 rabbits were slaughtered at 15 weeks of age for a total of 32 rabbits. Physico-chemical parameters were evaluated on the feed and the meat. Data were analyzed using SAS 2013 software. Fiber content was similar (p > 0.05) for complete feeds. Fat content was high (p < 0.001) for the palm nuts fiber (27.34%) and the CFF feed (11.36%). Feeding rabbits with G. sepium leaves or palm nut fiber continuously increased the fat content of the meat in contrast to sequential feeding. Meat quality was also better when the fiber source was used in the feed of the rabbits in the evening.

Optimization of Propionic Acid Feeding for Production of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in Fed-Batch Culture of Ralstonia eutropha

The feeding method of propionic acid for production ofpoly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydro xyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] by fed-batch culture of Ralstoniaeutropha was optimized to achieve high cell density and high 3HV yield. Effects of different feedingstrategies of propionic acid on the production of P(3HB-co-3HV) were investigated. A decline ofspecific synthesis rate of copolymer and the yield of 3HV unit from propionic acid were observed dueto the propionic acid accumulation in culture broth when the feeding solution with highP/G(propionic acid to glucose) ratio was employed. It was further confirmed by controlling propionicacid concentration at a low level in the separate feeding of propionic acid. An optimal feedingstrategy was demonstrated to reduce the propionic acid accumulation. The cell concentration,P(3HB-co-3HV) productivity and 3HV unit fraction reached to 163.9kg·m^(-3), 1.8kg·m^(-3)·h^(-1),and 10.6%(by mass), respectively, resulting in a yield of 0.33g HV per g propionic acid.

Effects of feeding and stocking density on digestion of cultured Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.

The combined effects of feeding rate(0.8%,1.0%,and 1.2%initial body weight/day),feeding frequency(two,three,and four times/day) and stocking density(10,15,and 20 kg/m3) in recirculating aquaculture systems(RAS) on growth performance,digestion and waste generation of Atlantic salmon(Salmo salar L.) were investigated in an 8-week orthogonal experiment(L9(3)3) with a constant daily water renewal at 7.50%of total volume.No mortality occurred during the experimental period.Feed conversion ratio(FCR) varied from 0.90 to 1.13 and specific growth rate(SGR) ranged from 0.48%to 0.69%/day.SGR,thermal growth coefficient(TGC) and FCR were not significantly(P>0.05) affected by the three factors,while net protein utilization(NPU) was significantly(P<0.05) affected.Apparent digestibility coefficients(ADC) of dry matter in the present study were in the range 66.12%-73.55%.ADC in protein,lipid and energy were statistically different among all treatments and in the range of 90.07%-93.67%,81.54%-89.15%,and67.55%-71.87%,respectively.The proportion of mean total ammonia nitrogen excreted ranged from 1.37%to 1.64%of feed nitrogen at steady state,and the concentration of nitrogenous and phosphorus compounds were differently correlated to the three factors.The results will provide valuable reference data for culture management decisions in the Atlantic salmon farming industry.

Feeding ecology of Japanese Spanish mackerel(Scomberomorus niphonius)along the eastern coastal waters of China

Feeding activities provide necessary nutrition and energy to support the reproduction and development of fish populations.The feeding ecology and dietary plasticity of fish are important factors determining their recruitment and population dynamics.As a top predator,Japanese Spanish mackerel(Scomberomorus niphonius)supports one of the most valuable fisheries in China.In this study,the feeding ecology and diet composition of Japanese Spanish mackerel spawning groups were analysed based on samples collected from six spawning grounds along the eastern coastal waters of China during spring(March to May)in 2016 and 2017.Both stomach contents and stable isotope analysis were conducted.Stomach content analysis showed that spawning groups of Japanese Spanish mackerel mainly fed on fish,consuming more than 40 different prey species.Diets were significantly different among sampling locations.The most important prey species were Stolephorus in Fuzhou,Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus in Xiangshan,Euphausia pacifica in Lüsi,sand lance Ammodytes personatus in Qingdao and Weihai,and Leptochela gracilis in Laizhou Bay.Stable isotope analysis showed that the trophic level of Japanese Spanish mackerel was relatively high and generally increased with latitude from south to north.In the 1980 s,the diet of Japanese Spanish mackerel was dominated solely by Japanese anchovies in the eastern coastal waters of China.The results in the present study showed that the importance of Japanese anchovies declined considerably,and this fish was not the most dominant diet in most of the investigated waters.Both the spatial variations in diet composition and changes in the dominant diet over the long term indicated the high adaptability of Japanese Spanish mackerel to the environment.Combining the results of stomach analysis and stable isotope analysis from different tissues provided more comprehensive and accurate dietary information on Japanese Spanish mackerel.The study provides essential information about the feeding ecology of Japanese Spanish mackerel and will benefit the management of its populations in the future.

Enhanced a novel β-agarase production in recombinant Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) through induction mode optimization and glycerol feeding strategy

Agarases are hydrolytic enzymes that act on the hydrolysis of agar and have a broad range of applications in food,cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, a glycerol feeding strategy based on induction mode optimization for high cell density and β-agarase production was established, which could effectively control acetate yield. First, exponential feeding strategy of glycerol with different overall specific growth rates（μ） was applied in the pre-induction phase. The results showed that the low μ（μ=0.2） was suggested to be the optimal for cell growth and β-agarase production. Second, the effects of induction temperature and the inducer concentration on cell growth and β-agarase production were investigated in the post-induction phase. When induced by isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactoside（IPTG）, the strategy of 0.8 mmol/L IPTG induction at 20℃ was found to be optimal for β-agarase production. When cultivation was induced by continuous lactose feeding strategy of 1.0 g/（L·h）, the β-agarase activity reached 112.5 U/mL, which represented the highest β-agarase production to date.Furthermore, the β-agarase was capable of degrading G. lemaneiformis powder directly to produce neoagarooligosaccharide, and the hydrolysates were neoagarotetraose（NA4） and neoagarohexaose（NA6）. The overall research may be useful for the industrial production and application of β-agarase.

Degree of ontogenetic diet shift and trophic niche partitioning of Euphausia superba and Thysanoessa macrura are influenced by food availability

Euphausia superba and Thysanoessa macrura are dominant krill species in the Southern Ocean and their habitats are often overlapped reportedly.Studies of the feeding strategies of these two krill species will help us better understand the coexistence mechanisms and estimate the roles that krill played in the food web of the Southern Ocean.The trophodynamics of E.superba and T.macrura at different ontogenetic stages(furcilia,juvenile,adult)were studied using fatty acid and stable isotope biomarkers in the samples collected in Amundsen Sea during austral summer of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019.Diatoms like Fragilariopsis spp.was the most abundant phytoplankton species in the summer of 2017/2018,while the abundance of phytoplankton in the summer of 2018/2019 was dominated by Phaeocystis sp.The gradual increase of the carnivorous index 18꞉1n-9/18꞉1n-7 with ontogeny of both species in 2018/2019 indicated more carnivorous feeding of adults compared with juveniles and larvae.Meanwhile,greaterδ15N values of T.macrura than that of E.superba were more significant in the juvenile and adult stages during the summer of 2018/2019.Our results indicate that the trophic niche differentiation between the two krill species appeared in postlarval stage and can be influenced by food availability.Compared with E.superba,T.macrura was more prone to feed omnivorously or carnivorously responding to food availability.

Editorial special issue:Friendly nutritional strategies for sustainable aquaculture

The aquaculture sector provides the primary protein source for the global population while generating income and revenue(FAO,2020).Apart from that,aquaculturists are responsible for developing and maintaining sustainable production methods,including aquafeed production(Albrektsen et al.,2022).

Impacts of species depletion on the food web structure of a marine ecosystem based on topological network analysis

Single-species management ignores the interactions between species,and ecosystem-based fisheries management(EBFM)has become a main method to fisheries management.Understanding food web structures and species interactions is essential for the implementation of EBFM and maintenance of ecosystem functions.Overfishing is one of the main reasons behind the depletion,which could even lead to the depletion of some target species in local areas.So understanding the impacts of species depletion on food web structures is important for the implementation of EBFM.The impacts of species depletion can be transmitted through the food web and cause the local extinction of both target and non-target species.In this study,topological network analysis was applied to examine the impacts of species depletion on the food web structure of Haizhou Bay.Results showed that fine crayfish Leptochela gracilis,squid Loligo sp.,and Japanese snapping shrimp Alpheus japonicus have the highest numbers of outgoing links(48,32 and 31 respectively);thus,these species may be considered key prey species.Whitespotted conger Conger myriaster,fat greenling Hexagrammos otakii,and bluefin gurnard Chelidonichthys kumu were key predators with the highest number of incoming links(37,36 and 35 respectively).The competition graphs derived from the Haizhou Bay food web were highly connected(more than 40%predators sharing over 10 common prey species),and showed close trophic interaction between high trophic level fishes.Simulation analysis showed that the food web structure has small changes to the depletion of species in a highly complex food web.The most-connected target species did not necessarily indicate high structural importance;however,some species with low connectivity may demonstrate stronger trophic interactions and play important ecological roles in the food web.But most species were more sensitive to the depletion of the most-connected target species than other target species(for instance,for zooplankton,closeness centrality 13.876 in D6,but closeness centrality 82.143 in original food web).Therefore,EBFM should focus on the most-connected target species,but also on those species with few but strong links and feeding relationships in the food web.

OPTIMAL FEED STRATEGY FOR FED-BATCH GLYCEROL FERMENTATION DETERMINED BY MAXIMUM PRINCIPLE

Optimal glucose feed strategy for glycerol fed-batch fermentation was investigated by Pontryagin’s maximum principle to maximize the final glycerol yield. The problem was solved by a nonsingular control approach by selecting the culture volume as the control variable, then the general optimal feed profile was numerically determined.