Proximate composition and nucleic acid content of premetamorphic leptocephalus larvae of the congrid eelAriosoma balearicum
✍ Scribed by J. Donnelly; J. J. Torres; R. E. Crabtree
- Book ID
- 104734100
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag
- Year
- 1995
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 776 KB
- Volume
- 123
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0025-3162
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✦ Synopsis
Water, ash, proximate composition (protein, lipid, carbohydrate, hexosamine)
, and nucleic acid (DNA, RNA) content were measured in premetamorphic larvae of the congrid eel Ariosoma balearicum (Delaroche) collected from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Specimens ranged from 15.0 to 202.3 mm total length (TL) and 0.0116 to 4.3860g wet mass (WM). Water content increased linearly with increasing specimen mass over the entire size range; consequently, percent water was uniform and had a mean value of 92.9 _+ 1.09% WM. Ash content also increased linearly with specimen mass, but only up to a mass of -~ 2.5 g WM (165 mm TL). Ash content in specimens > 165 mm TL showed only a small increase with mass, suggesting an improved osmoregulatory capability in larger individuals. The absolute amount of all proximate components increased with increasing specimen size, but rates of deposition among the components varied, resulting in different patterns in the relative concentrations of each with growth. Protein dominated the ash-free dry mass (AFDM) throughout development (29 to 59% AFDM); carbohydrate and hexosamine occurred in similar proportions (8 to 24% AFDM). Lipid was a significant proportion of the AFDM in only the smallest individuals. Lipid concentrations decreased initially as mass increased in individuals smaller than ~-0.4 g WM (90 mm TL), indicating a low rate of lipid deposition in small individuals. In specimens > 90 mm TL, lipid concentrations were uniform and had a mean of 12% AFDM. Trends for biochemical components and Communicated by N_H. Marcus, Tallahassee