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Ding P, Yu Y, Zhao Z, Li X, Wang X, Wang H, Huang X, Ding J, Zhao C. Behavior, intestinal health, and growth of small sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus in different color morphs. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 193:106300. [PMID: 38103303 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Selecting high-quality seeds with long-term advantages in behavior, intestinal health, and growth are the key to improve production efficiency of sea cucumber aquaculture. It is proposed to distinguish the seed quality of sea cucumbers by color morphs. In the present study, we carried out a 6-week experiment to investigate behavior, intestinal health, and growth of small sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus in different color morphs. We found that dark-colored seeds of sea cucumber were significantly more adhesive than those with light-colored seeds. This indicates that the dark-colored seeds of A. japonicus are more adaptive in complex environments in stock enhancement. Food consumption and defecation outputs of dark-colored seeds were significantly higher than those of light-colored seeds. In addition, the feces of dark-colored seeds of sea cucumber had significantly lower crude protein content and better intestinal morphology, but there was no advantage in digestive enzyme activities. This suggests that there are potential digestive benefits in dark-colored seeds. Further, dark-colored seeds of A. japonicus showed significantly better intestinal microbiota composition and faster growth rate than that of light-colored seeds. In conclusion, the present results prove that dark-colored seeds of sea cucumber have long-term advantages in behavior, intestinal health and growth. Overall, this study provides important information for the early selection of seeds and the consequent production efficiency in sea cucumber aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ding
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Yushi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Zihe Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiajing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Huiyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiyuan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Jun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China.
| | - Chong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China.
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