Egg Volume, Energy Content and Fatty Acid Profile of Maja brachydactyla (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae) During Embryogenesis

Authors

Joana Figueiredo, Universidade de Lisboa - PortugalFollow
Luis Narciso, Universidade de Lisboa - Portugal

ORCID

0000-0001-6597-0268

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

ISSN

0025-3154

Publication Date

11-2008

Keywords

Crab, Development, Ecology, Fatty acid, Larval diet, Reproduction

Abstract

Fatty-acid and energy content of Maja brachydactyla eggs at different developmental stages (recently spawned, half-developed and ready to hatch) were analysed in order to understand what is being consumed and produced during the embryonic development. Egg volume increased during development (34%, 0.187 to 0.285 mm³, N = 270) and was negatively correlated with egg energy and fatty-acid content (r = −0.80 and r = −0.46, respectively), which decreased through embryogenesis. The most consumed fatty acids were the PUFA (21.2 μg · mg dw⁻¹), followed by the SFA (18.8 μg · mg dw⁻¹) and MUFA (14.9 μg · mg dw⁻¹). Palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n-9) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3) acids were preferentially consumed (13.14, 9.21 and 8.67 μg · mg dw⁻¹, respectively). The fatty acid composition found in M. brachydactyla eggs reflected the habitat and omnivorous and detritivorous scanvenger diet of the adults, although the consumption of algae was more important than previously thought, at least in the area where these adults were captured. Pre-hatching eggs have a high PUFA content (64.5 μg · mg dw⁻¹ or 46.3% of the egg fatty-acid content). We conclude that larvae of this species might need a diet rich in PUFA, particularly EPA and DHA, for successful development. From the culture perspective, live preys commonly used in aquaculture will likely require to be enriched with DHA.

DOI

10.1017/S0025315408002063

Volume

88

Issue

7

First Page

1401

Last Page

1405

Comments

©2008 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

NSUWorks Citation

Joana Figueiredo and Luis Narciso. 2008. Egg Volume, Energy Content and Fatty Acid Profile of Maja brachydactyla (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae) During Embryogenesis .Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , (7) : 1401 -1405. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/403.