title: Effects of salinity on food intake and macronutrient selection in European sea bass.
abstract: Salinity is one of the most relevant environmental parameters in regards to fish physiology, modifying food intake and growth performance in many fish species; however, its possible effects on macronutrient selection are still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of three salinity levels (25 per thousand, 7 per thousand, and 0 per thousand) on total food intake and encapsulated macronutrient selection in a euryhaline teleost, European sea bass. A total of 40 fish (five per tank) with an average body weight of 52.4 +/- 7.1 g were used. Lowering the salinity level from 25 per thousand to 7 per thousand and 0 per thousand reduced food intake by 27% and 42%, respectively. Regarding macronutrient selection, these salinity changes significantly decreased the percentage of CH intake by 31% and 27%, while increasing that of P by 30% and 25%, respectively. Fat selection remained unaltered, with an average value of 22% for all tested salinities. Specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were affected by macronutrient selection pattern, which in turn was salinity-dependent. These results indicate a strong influence of salinity on European sea bass food intake and macronutrient selection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia 30100, Spain. veracruz@um.es
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Vázquez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Madrid
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D012965:Sodium Chloride