Effects of artificial diets on the organoleptic characteristics of the gonads and reproductive condition of Loxechinus albus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

FRAYSSE C.; MALANGA G; PEREZ AF

REVISTA DE BIOLOGíA TROPICAL

REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL

Lugar: Turrialba; Año: 2017 vol. 65 p. 207 - 220

0034-7744

Abstract: The organoleptic characteristics of sea urchins gonads (size and color, amongothers) can be improved by artificial diets. Loxechinus albus is considered one of themost economically significant resources from the littoral-benthic systems in the SouthPacific Ocean from Peru to Chile. The objective was to determine artificial diets effectson the organoleptic traits of gonads, reproductive condition, body growth and survival ofLoxechinus albus. Two types of diets were administrated (low carotene content diet(LC): balanced food with 0.02% β-carotene and high carotene content diet (HC):balanced food with 0.045% β-carotene) for 16 weeks. As a measurement of growth rate,test diameter of sea urchins fed with artificial diets was measured at the beginning andat the end of the experiment. At both times, size (GI) and color (CI) of the gonads wererecorded in ten individuals from each treatment and ten from the natural population(NP). Energy density (ED), energy content (EC) and total carotenes (TCC) weredetermined by calorimetry and spectrophotometry, respectively. Histological sectionswere examined microscopically and the sex was identified. Each female was assignedto a gametogenic stage (reproductive condition) and determined: number and diameterof the oocytes, gonadal area occupied by oocytes, and relative frequencies ofreproductive stages. At the end of the experiment in relation to the NP, it was possible toachieve higher GI values for both artificial diets. The NP showed higher gonadal areaoccupied by oocytes and larger oocyte diameter at 16 weeks (P