Changes in the biochemical composition of Artemia salina (L.) in relation to different feeding conditions
Abstract
The biochemical composition of early stages of the starved Artemia salina was analysed and compared with the biochemical composition of Artemia fed with the phytoplankton monoculture Chlorella sp. and baker yeast. Changes in the protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash and water contents were observed during 96-h period.
During the first 48 h proteins show an apparent increase under all three feeding treatments with a slight decrease thereupon. Artemia fed yeast shows significantly higher protein levels after 96 h than Artemia fed phytoplankton. This is probably due to the higher protein percentages in the baker yeast. The increase of the percentage of protein in the beginning, both in fed and unfed Artemia nauplii, may be due to their synthesis in a growing organism.
Relative total lipid and carbohydrate contents decrease during the 96-h period of Artemia nauplii development under all treatments, whereas the percentage of water shows increase. The ash mainly follows the patern of protein changes.
