Effects of diet and breeding pair quality on fatty acid composition during egg development for the false percula anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

CHED 827

Caitlin A. Houlihan, choulihan060@hawks.rwu.edu, Ashley M. Zullo, azullo420@hawks.rwu.edu, Stephen K. O'Shea, soshea@rwu.edu, and Nancy E. Breen, nbreen@rwu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Roger Williams University, One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809
False percula anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) broodstock nutrition has been shown to be a critical determinant of egg quality. Evaluation of the effect of broodstock diet on the reproductive performance of A. ocellaris has demonstrated that a diet rich in PUFAs produces larger clutches and higher hatch rates. This study evaluated the change in fatty acid concentration of anemonefish eggs during their 0-9 day development as a bioindicator of successful hatch number and survival. Six breeding pairs were fed an experimental gelatin based diet 4 weeks prior to sampling. Each spawn was digitally photographed for image analysis of clutch number, egg size, and color. Twenty eggs were sampled for FA profiling. New technological application of HPLC/MS was used to evaluate concentration profiles of eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, arachidonic, and docosapentaenoic acids. Alcoholic KOH egg extract was run immediately afforded timely and efficient (6 min) analysis. A FA profile change was observed.