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Development of Digestive Enzymes in California Halibut Paralichthys californicus Larvae

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Abstract

California halibut Paralichthys californicus is an important commercial species with high aquaculture potential in Baja California Sur, México. To optimize the feeding process using live prey and/or inert diets, we evaluated alkaline proteases, pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, lipase, α-amylase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities on starved larvae and larvae fed live prey. Highest activities were observed for alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase in feeding larvae than starved larvae on day 4 after hatching. At day 5, a sizeable increase in all enzymatic activities was detected in feeding larvae. Alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and alkaline phosphatase decreases progressively from day 5 until day 18. At day 18, a slight pepsin activity was observed. This was considered an indicator of the start of digestive system maturation. We concluded that total enzymatic equipment for this species is complete between day 18 and 30 after hatching. Based on this evidence, early weaning from live prey to inert feed would be possible at this time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DACBIOL Laboratorio de Acuacultura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Villahermosa–Cárdenas Km. 0.5, Villahermosa, Tabasco, 86039, México

    C. A. Alvarez-González

  2. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Mar Bermejo 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz, B.C.S., 23090, México

    D. Tovar-Ramírez & H. Nolasco

  3. Department of Animal Science, University of California, One Shields Av., Davis, CA, 95616-8521, USA

    M. Cervantes-Trujano, D. E. Conklin & R. Piedrahita

  4. Centre d’Aqüicultura, IRTA, Crta. Poblenou s/n, P.O. Box 200, 43450, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain

    E. Gisbert

Authors
  1. C. A. Alvarez-González
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  2. M. Cervantes-Trujano
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  3. D. Tovar-Ramírez
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  4. D. E. Conklin
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  5. H. Nolasco
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  6. E. Gisbert
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  7. R. Piedrahita
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Correspondence to D. Tovar-Ramírez.

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Alvarez-González, C.A., Cervantes-Trujano, M., Tovar-Ramírez, D. et al. Development of Digestive Enzymes in California Halibut Paralichthys californicus Larvae. Fish Physiol Biochem 31, 83–93 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-006-0003-8

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