Abstract
The effect of feeding greater amberjack with copepod nauplii (Acartia tonsa) on the ontogeny of the digestive system was observed until 40 days after hatching (DAH). Copepods are part of the diet of fish larvae in nature, and they are rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids and free amino acids that enhance the digestive capacity of the fish. In a marine hatchery, four cylindroconical tanks of 2,700 L were stocked with about 150 × 10(3) greater amberjack larvae (Seriola dumerili) in each. The larvae were initially fed from 3 to 17 DAH in two tanks with copepod nauplii and rotifers (Brachionus sp.; Copepods group), while in the other two tanks, they were fed only with rotifers (Control group) during the same period. All the tanks were fed with rotifers (3-27 DAH), Artemia nauplii (12-22 DAH), enriched Artemia metanauplii (20-30 DAH), and formulated diet (25-40 DAH). Fish samples were taken regularly (every 2 or 4 days) for histological analysis and every day for the measurement of total length (TL). The TL was 3.7, 4.5 ± 0.1, 6.1, 11, 17.3 ± 0.1 and 20.3 ± 2.3 mm at 4, 10, 16, 22, 30, and 40 DAH, respectively. Copepod-fed fish showed higher TL in the last 2 days of the trial (p < 0.05), while mortality rates were lower in the beginning of the trial 10-17 DAH, (p < 0.05). In addition, copepods-fed fish had less skeletal deformities (p < 0.05). Pyloric caeca appeared earlier in the Copepods group compared with the Control, while the length and surface of the villi, the abundance of goblet cells/100 μm of intestine length, and the area covered with lipid vacuoles in the liver were significantly higher in the Copepods group (p < 0.05). We can conclude that the use of copepods in the diet of the greater amberjack larvae can improve the ontogeny of the digestive system.