5(4): 300-307 (2011) DOI: 10.3153/jfscom.

2011034

Journal of FisheriesSciences.com E-ISSN 1307-234X

© 2011 www.fisheriessciences.com

RESEARCH ARTICLE ARAŞTIRMA MAKALESİ

DETERMINATION OF GASTRIC EVACUATION TIME

AND RATE OF BLACK SEA TROUT (Salmo trutta
labrax Pallas, 1811) LARVAE THROUGH LIVE FEED
UTILIZATION

Nimet Selda Başçınar ∗, Eyüp Çakmak

Central Fisheries Research Institute, Yomra, Trabzon

Abstract: In this study, F2 Black Sea trout larvae hatched in the Central Fisheries Research Institute
hatchery, were used. The aim of the study was to determine the rate of live feed per meal and
the time and rate of the gastric evacuation in Black Sea trout larvae (Salmo trutta labrax Pallas,
1811). Twenty-eight larvae, with a mean weight and length of 0.117±0.01 g and 2.45±0.096
cm, respectively were placed individually and in groups into small test units with 1 litre of
fresh water with aeration. In the larvae, fed individually, the stomach evacuation was achieved
in 24 hours. Consumption of artemia by larvae ranged from 12 to 163. The artemia in stomach
was reduced exponentially by passing time. The gastric evacuation rate was 0.0505 arte-
mia/hour (P<0.05). On the contrary, in-group feeding, larvae consumed 2 to 99 artemia and
the gastric evacuation was completed at the 27th hour. The gastric evacuation rate of the larvae
fed in-group was 0.0661 artemia/hours (P<0.05).

Keywords: Black Sea Trout, Salmo trutta labrax, Gastric Evacuation Time, Gastric
Evacuation Rate, Artemia

∗
Correspondence to: Nimet Selda BAŞÇINAR, Central Fisheries Research Institute, Vali Adil Yazar Cad.,
No:14, Kaşüstü Beldesi, 61250 Yomra, Trabzon -TÜRKİYE
Tel: (+90 462) 3411053 Fax: (+90 462) 3411152
E-mail: seldabascinar@yahoo.com

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Özet: Karadeniz Alası (Salmo trutta labrax Palas, 1811)

Larvalarında Canlı Yem Kullanımının Mide Sindirim
Zamanı ve Oranının Belirlenmesi
Araştırmada Su Ürünleri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü Kuluçkahanesinde Ocak 2006 çıkışlı
Karadeniz alabalığı (F2) larvaları kullanılmıştır. Karadeniz Alabalığı (Salmo trutta labrax Pa-
las, 1811 ) larvalarında öğünlük canlı yem oranı, mide sindirim zamanı ve oranının belirlen-
mesi amaçlanmıştır. Boy ve ağırlıkları ölçülen 28 adet larva (0.117±0.01 g ve 2.45±0.096cm)
her biri içerisinde1litre tatlı su ve havalandırma bağlı küçük deney ünitelerine bireysel ve grup
olarak yerleştirilmiştir. Bireysel yemlemede larvaların 24 saatte mide boşaltımını tamamladığı
gözlenmiştir. Larvaların öğünlük tüketimi 12-163 adet artemia arasında değişim göstermiştir.
Artemia’ların midede zamana bağlı azalması eksponansiyel olarak bulunmuştur. Mide sindirim
oranı 0.0505 adet/saat olarak bulunmuştur (P<0.05). Grup halinde yemleme yapılan larvaların
2-99 adet artemia tükettiği, mide sindirim zamanının 27. saatte tamamlandığı gözlenmiştir.
Grup olarak beslenen larvalarda mide sindirim oranı 0.0661 adet/saat olarak belirlenmiştir
(P<0.05).
Anahtar Kelimeler: Karadeniz Alabalığı, Salmo trutta labrax, Mide Sindirim Zamanı, Mide
Sindirim Oranı, Artemia.

Introduction
In ecologic studies, two main questions are to 2. –X- rays; 3. Stomach irrigation method; 4. Ra-
be answered in order to determine the relation- dio isotopic method; 5. Vomiting agent use
ship between predator and their food sources. (Sağlam, 1995).
The first one is in which rate predators consume Evacuation rate is simply identified as the di-
its own hunt and the second one is how often gested amount of the consumed food in a certain
they consume. The answers for these questions time period. Later, evacuation rate data is used
can mostly come up with the combination of the for the estimation of feed consumption rate (Tal-
size of the type we study on, its digestive and bot, 1985; Basimi and Grove, 1985; Bromley,
metabolic rate and the feeding variety caused by 1987; Richte et al., 2003; Hallfredsson et al.,
environmental factors, provision of food, the ef- 2007; Dunbrack et al., 2009). There are many
fect of water temperature, disease, oxygen level, factors which have impact on fish gastric evacu-
salinity and light (Hall, 1987). In feeding ecol- ation. Of them, the most significant ones are
ogy, one of the main objectives is to calculate temperature, fish size, feed type, feed amount and
daily food consumption of the fish. To this aim, feed quality (Pandan, 1967; Kapoor et al., 1974;
many researchers have tried to determine the 1978; Fange and Grove, 1979; Smith et al., 1989;
amount of food in fish stomach which is undi- Andersen, 1998; Koed, 2001).
gested within 24 hours after feeding time or
within appropriate periods. This is also essential The living organism needs feeding both in
for the estimation of evacuation rate. The elapsed marine and terrestrial environment in order to
time for the rate of evacuation and for complete sustain its life and its vital functions. Different
gastric evacuation of different fishes was exam- formations appear through the metabolic activi-
ined in detail by researchers (Grove and et al., ties in the body of the living organism and
1978; Hall, 1987; Jobling, 1993). thereby the systems- such as digestion, evacua-
tion and circulatory- set out the life of living or-
The evacuation studies on fish started in ganism. Compared with the other periods, physi-
1800s (Mölnar et al., 1967). Studies in those ological changes occurred especially in the larval
years were mostly on the structure of evacuation period of fish are of more and greater signifi-
channel of fish and in the following years, the cance. Physiologically, morphologically and
evacuation physiology of many fish varieties, histologically, fish larva alimentary canal has a
even of fish types without stomach, was investi- more simple structure than adult fish alimentary
gated in a more detailed way (Steigenber et al., canal. Before deutoplasm and oil drip absorption,
1974; Grove and Crawford, 1980). there is primitive intestine structure. After first
In order to evacuate stomach inner side which feeding, this structure rapidly changes. This
is required in evacuation studies, five common change is related to feed variation. Many larvae
methods are used: 1. Rapid slaughtering method; are planktonics except for the feeding habits of

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the adult. Larvae firstly consume small size of the stomachs of the salmon trout were cut and
phyto-zooplankton and then start to consume big artemias in them were counted under microscope.
size of live feed. Changes increase parallel to the By first observation of feed in stomach, the com-
amount of live feed and physiologic adaptation to plete evacuation time of feed was recorded. Ad-
powder feed (Hoşsu et al, 2005). ditionally, meantime was identified as gastric
evacuation time (Steigenber, 1974; Macdonald et
Digestion enzyme activation is lower at the
al, 1982; Fletcher et al, 1984). In order to identify
very beginning of feeding. However, during lar-
digestion rate a sample was taken each four
val period, it increases in mucosal epithelia; pan-
hours, stomach was taken out and contents were
creas and liver by production based on presence
estimated. By using this data, the drawn evacua-
of enzyme in larval feed or feed consumption. In
tion time and slope of line which was about re-
many fish larvae, it is common to see intestine
duction of prey numbers in stomach was found.
peristaltic. The silli cells in the digestion canal of
The slope of line shows digestion rate at that prey
the larvae form more rapidly than the adults.
density.
Evacuation rate is related to feed density and
temperature. Thus, evacuation and assimilation in A second experiment was designed in order to
larval fish is rapid (Hoşsu et al, 2005). find out the difference in the gastric evacuation
time and rate in group and individual feeding.
It is important to analyze the effect of feed
Again at 11°C in 1 liter research units, the sam-
amount in evacuation rate. It is easy to control
ples were fed in group (n=25) with artemia (8385
the amount of feed intake by each fish in individ-
artemia/l). The sampling was performed at the
ual feeding. Nevertheless, some types show bet-
same hours as made in individual feeding and
ter feeding attitude in group (Sağlam, 1995). In-
artemia in stomachs was counted under micro-
dividual feeding method is restrictive in some
scope.
studies when fish consume feed in specific
amounts. All data were evaluated in Excel® and vari-
ance analysis was done in Statistica® and used
In this study, it is aimed to identify gastric
P<0.05.
evacuation times and rates differences and feed
amount for each feeding time which are of ut- Results and Discussion
most importance in terms of culture in Black Sea
trout feeding individually and as group. Based on It is observed that larvae fed individually
the results of this study, producers will have a completed gastric evacuation in 24 hours. Feed
chance to learn how often they should feed fish amount in stomach at the 0th hour ranges from 12
and the amount of feed they should use. to 163 artemia. Gastric evacuation rate is found
as 0.0505 artemia/hour (r2=0.27) (P<0.05) (Fig-
Materials and Methods ure 1.). Since the reduction of artemia in stomach
depends on time and it is exponential, digestion
In this study, 2006 reared at hatchery Black
rate is estimated by % logarithmic estimation of
Sea trout larvae (F2) were used. Twenty-eight
remaining artemia in stomach.
larvae whose length and weight were measured
(0.117±0.01 g and 2.45±0.096 cm) were individ- In individually feeding research, it was ob-
ually placed into small test units with aeration served that 93% of larvae have full stomach, 7%
and 1 liter fresh water. Those 28 samples were of larvae have empty stomach.
starved for three days (72 hours) and then they Compared to individual feeding, it was ob-
were fed individually at 11 °C. For each fish served that in group feeding larvae consumed 2-
4700 artemia/l was provided. 30 minutes after 99 artemia. It was found out that gastric evacua-
feeding, residual feed was removed from experi- tion time was completed at the 27th hours and
mentation units. With regard to sampling time, gastric evacuation rate was 0.0661 (r2=0.90)
the sampling after 30 minutes was the first and (P<0.05) (Figure 2.).
named as 0. sampling. The time for sampling was
set as 0-4-8-12-16-20-24 and the 27th hour. The While the first bait eaten lasted for 24 hours in
first sampling was performed 30 minutes after individual feeding with average 80±0.54 artemia
feeding and others were made out in intervals for and 0.0505 artemia digestion rate; in group
each 4 hours. Samples were firstly made faint (20 feeding, 79.5±25.33 artemia with 0.0661 artemia
ppm bencozaine) and then transferred to labora- /hours was digested at the 27th hours in stomach.
tory in 5% formaldehyde. After the sampling, Statistical analysis for digestion rate were to be

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found significant for both experiments (P<0.05) In group feeding, it was observed that 80% of
(Figure 3.), (Figure 4). fish stomach was full, 20% of fish stomach was
empty.

2,5

2
Log %(N)

1,5

0,5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (h)

Figure 1. Gastric evacuation time of larva fed individually

2,5

2
Log %(N)

1,5

0,5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (h)

Figure 2. Gastric evacuation time of larva fed in-group

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80,1
80
feeding rate(number of artemia)

79,9
79,8
79,7
79,6
79,5
79,4
79,3
79,2
indvidual group

Figure 3. Live feed rate of Salmo trutta labrax larva fed individually and as group for each feeding

180

160 Individual
feeding
140
Residium (number of artemia)

120 Group
feeding
100

80

60

40

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (h)

Figure 4. Gastric evacuation rate of larva fed individually and as group

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Digestion function in many fish varieties was ship between time and qualitative measures of
searched. Reduction of stomach contents de- fish digestion, thus allowing investigators to de-
pending on time is well-defined as directional termine how long an ingested fish would be
digestion function by Jones (1974). While evacu- identifiable at different temperatures. An analysis
ation of small organism which has lower energy of published evacuation rates (n = 121) of 22 fish
contents and easily evacuated is defined with ex- species indicated that both temperature and prey
ponential function; the digestion of those whose size (PS, g wet weight) significantly affected di-
energy content is higher than the other small or- gestion r2 = 0.52. Predator size did not signifi-
ganisms like worm was identified by linear func- cantly affect rates of evacuation (Wayne
tion (Persson, 1979; Elliot, 1972; 1966; Jobling, and Wurtsbaugh, 1993).
1987). When feed surface area is wide, evacua- Conclusion
tion speed becomes slower than the same amount
of feed which are formed by small parts. In this As a result, in this study, daily minimum and
case, it is defined with linear or square model in maximum amount of live feed intake of larva was
the best way (Pandian, 1967; Lambert, 1985). found out both in individual and group feeding.
Taking into account that the living organism is
It is realized that feed type, water temperature fed individually in nature and in-group in agua-
and long term starvation affect evacuation rate of culture facilities, the statistical analysis between
trout (more than 7 days). In a research on river the gastric evacuation rates (for individually and
trout, it is indicated that feed type has effect on in-group) and time was found to be significant
evacuation rate, compared to caddis larva, in (P<0.05). As a result of this research, it was
rainbow trout the whole evacuation rate lasts found out that the individual gastric evacuation is
more with oligochaetes and gammarus feed (El- 24 hours and the digestion time in group feeding
liot, 1972). In lower temperature, feed intake of is 27 hours. It is better to feed larva with live feed
fish can stop; however, due to the increase in following larva yolk sac consumption within 2-3
temperature feed consuming can increase as well. hours owing to the fact that all individuals cannot
Eliot (1975) states that in his study on brown intake same amount of feed at the same time
trout, feed intake increases due to the increase in (stomach stands empty 7% in individually feed-
temperature. It is also stated that after feed intake ing and 20% in group feeding) when individual
reaches top, any increase in temperature can differences are taken into consideration in larval
cause decrease in feed intake. period in which the living organism need more
Many researchers point out that through the food.
identification of gastric evacuation rate daily feed
consumption can be easily estimated (Elliot, Acknowledments
1972). Elliot (1972) identified that in his research This research is done for the project for pro-
on brown trout, gastric evacuation rate is expo- motion of Black sea trout (Salmo trutta labrax
nential depending on temperature. He also deter- PALLAS, 1811) to Private Sector. The number of
mined the evacuation time and rate as a mathe- the project is TAGEM
matical model in different fish size by different /HAYSÜD/2006/09/03/02.
feed at different temperature. The reduction of
feed in stomach depending on time was observed
exponentially and in this study similar result was
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