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¹ Bharathidasan University, Department of Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Marine Planktonology & Aquaculture Laboratory, Tiruchirappalli - 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India
² Bharathiar University, Department of Zoology, Crustacean Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Coimbatore 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v17_3_07 Viewed : 4427 - Downloaded : 4671 The nutritional profiles of wild mixed zooplankton (WMZ) and laboratory cultured Artemia nauplii were compared in the present study. WMZ samples were collected from Sulur lake and Ukkadam lake, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, South India. The WMZ from both lakes and Artemia nauplii were utilized for the estimation of biochemical constituents (protein, carbohydrate, lipid, moisture and ash), profiles of amino acids, and fatty acids. Results showed that the total protein content was found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher in WMZ collected from Ukkadam lake, followed by Sulur lake when compared to Artemia whereas, the total carbohydrate and lipid contents were found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher in Artemia nauplii than WMZ. While, there was insignificant (P>0.05) difference found in ash and moisture contents in all live feeds evaluated. Profile of amino acids and saturated fatty acids were significantly elevated (P<0.05) in WMZ when compared to Artemia. While, in the case of unsaturated fatty acids showed significant (P<0.05) elevations in WMZ of Ukkadam lake followed by Sulur lake and Artemia. The present results revealed that the WMZ has more desirable dietary nutritional characteristics as larval diets than traditional live feed Artemia nauplii. Keywords : Nutritional composition, zooplankton, Artemia, live feed