Calanoid copepod adminidstration improves yellow tail clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) larviculture: biochemical and molecular implications

In this study we evaluated the effects of a standard rotifers/Artemia(control) diet and a copepod (Centropages typicus) based diet duringAmphiprion clarkii larviculture. On day 11 post hatch, larvae fed C. typicus showed better survival and growth compared to those fed a standard rotifer/ Artemia diet (87±2 vs 41±2%;6.8± 0.2mm vs 6.1± 0.2mm; 5.9±0.3mg vs 4.5± 0.3 mg,respectively). Further molecular analysis have been carried out on 5 and 11 days post hatch larval samples to clarify the efficiency of a copepod based diet respect to control. In particular, the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR-?,-?) gene expression, which are involved in several biological processes such as lipid metabolism, the retinoic acid receptor ? (RAR ? ), involved in vitamin A metabolism and the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), a biomarkers of cellular stress, were a nalyzed by real -time PCR during the larval development. The results obtained are related to fatty acid composition of live preys used. The superiority of a Centropages typicus copepod diet respect to a standard rotifers-Artemia one has been demonstrated; these results are essential to improve captive production of A. clarkii through a closed system and in turn to preserve natural stocks.