Nucleic acid derived indices or instantaneous growth rate as tools to determine different nutritional condition in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis Linnaeus 1758) hatchlings
Authors
Sykes, A. (António); Rodrigues-dos-Santos-Domingues, P.M. (Pedro Miguel); Andrade, J.P. (Jose Pedro)Date
2004Type
articleKeywords
Condition indicesCuttlefish
DNA/RNA ratios
Growth rates
Hatchlings
Accuracy methodologies
Sepia
Abstract
Two groups of 100 cuttlefish hatchlings each were used to determine the duration of the yolk reserves, during which
growth can be obtained with no food supply. One group was fed live grass shrimp ad libitum from the 3rd day of life onwards, while
the other was starved during the whole experiment. The experiment lasted 7 days, because this was the 1st day where a negative growth
rate was obtained. Nucleic acid derived indices and instantaneous growth rates (IGR) were used as a way to describe their condition,
when all the yolk reserves would be exhausted and to determine the most accurate tool to express growth and condition. RNA/DNA
ratios described clearly the differences (P < 0.05) between fed and starved hatchlings cultured at 23 ± 2°C, especially from day 4
onwards. Correlation between IGR and RNA/DNA ratios was only attained for the starved population (R 0.90; P 0.0374). DNA
concentration was identical (P > 0.05) between groups and did not displayed a clear pattern with ...