Lipid profile and growth of the clam spat, Ruditapes decussatus (L), fed with microalgal and cornstarch diets

Poster.-- 7º Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura, Convergencia entre investigación y empresa: un reto para el siglo XXI, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 19-21 de mayo de 1999

The influence of both the lipid composition of microalgal diets and flours (cornstarch) on the lipid classes and fatty acids of Ruditapes decussatus spat was studied. These aspects of the nutritional value of the diets were discussed in relation to the growth of the spat. Cornstarch is rich in carbohydrate but is deficient in protein and lipid. The microalgal cells contains lipid as well as protein and carbohydrate. Tahitian Isochrysis cells have phospholipids and triacylglycerols as majority lipids whereas in the cornstarch particles the lipids more abundant are free fatty acids and phospholipids.The n-3 fatty acids were the most abundant acids in the microalgae whereas the n-6 fatty acids were in the cornstarch. The n-3 PUFA were not detected in cornstarch. Diets with a lipid composition high in phospholipids and triacylglycerols as well as in essential fatty acids produce good growth rates in spat of R. decussatus, but these elements alone are not sufficient to explain the quality of the diet, given that higher amount of carbohidrates supplied by the mixed diets (Tahitian Isochrysis and cornstarch) can explain the higher growth observed in relation to the diets with the sarne composition in the lipids (phospholipids, tryacylglycerols as well as in essential fatty acids)

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