Physiological responses of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) juveniles fed on full-fat insect-based diet in an aquaponic system

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 13;11(1):1057. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-80379-x.

Abstract

Over the last years, the potential use of Black Soldier Fly meal (BSF) as a new and sustainable aquafeed ingredient has been largely explored in several fish species. However, only fragmentary information is available about the use of BSF meal-based diets in sturgeon nutrition. In consideration of a circular economy concept and a more sustainable aquaculture development, the present research represents the first comprehensive multidisciplinary study on the physiological effects of a BSF diet during sturgeon culture in an aquaponic system. Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) juveniles were fed over a 60-days feeding trial on a control diet (Hi0) and a diet containing 50% of full-fat BSF meal respect to fish meal (Hi50). Physiological responses of fish were investigated using several analytical approaches, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, histology, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), microbiome sequencing and Real-time PCR. While aquaponic systems performed optimally during the trial, Hi50 group fish showed lower diet acceptance that resulted in growth and survival reduction, a decrease in hepatic lipids and glycogen content (FTIR), a higher hepatic hsp70.1 gene expression and a worsening in gut histological morphometric parameters. The low feed acceptance showed by Hi50 group sturgeon highlighted the necessity to improve the palatability of BSF-based diet designed for sturgeon culture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed* / analysis
  • Animals
  • Aquaculture / methods*
  • Diet / veterinary*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fishes / growth & development
  • Fishes / metabolism
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Insecta
  • Intestines / physiology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Fatty Acids