Título: ASSESSING GROWTH PROMOTION BY AQUACULTURE FEED SUPPLEMENTS USING DANIO RERIO AS A MODEL ORGANISM
Resumen: The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become an established model organism across multiple research fields. In terms of aquaculture, some international groups have recently used it as a model species for feeding assays due to its rapid development, small size, suitability for high-throughput experimentation and its deep genetic knowledge. Although species-specific differences exist, zebrafish offers a practical platform for the early-stage evaluation of aquafeed supplements, providing valuable insights into the nutritional regulation of growth prior to conducting large-scale trials in commercial finfish species.
Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of zebrafish in assessing dietary effects on growth performance. The present work is part of a broader research initiative aimed at improving sustainability and productivity in aquaculture through the development of functional feeds, supported by two interrelated experimental grants. These projects explore feed supplementation with compounds of microbial and algal origin, such as marine polysaccharides or extracts and bacterial extracellular polymers (ECPs), selected for their potential to enhance fish growth and resilience against pathogens of economic relevance.
In this communication, we present results from our research group evaluating the effects of selected feed supplements on zebrafish growth during the presexual maturity stage and under controlled water temperature, salinity, light, and dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions. After a generalized live food regime and the palatability studies, three different functional feeds were daily administrated “ad libitum” to a constant population of one-month fishes under a constant feeding regime to reduce potential compensatory growth. Non-supplemented or commercial feeds were also administrated to negative or positive control groups. During this procedure, stocking density, natural size heterogeneity, food particle size and ration level were also controlled. Viability, initial and final body lengths and weights were measured and plotted to analyse either global or separately subpopulations of low-, medium-, and heavy-weights. Parameters regarding coefficients of variations in weight, body mass index, body condition scoring, and the nutritional properties of food were also considered.
Nonetheless, careful consideration must be given when extrapolating zebrafish data to commercially relevant species, due to physiological and ecological differences. These limitations emphasize the need for greater standardization in zebrafish research and a cautious interpretation of findings when applied to industrial aquaculture.
Congreso: Aquaculture Europe, Valencia 2025
