Growth Performance and Environmental Quality Indices and Biomarkers in a Co-Culture of the European Sea Bass with Filter and Deposit Feeders: A Case Study of an IMTA System
Efthimia Cotou,
Helen Miliou,
Evanthia Chatzoglou,
Eirini Schoina,
Nektarios Politakis,
Dimitra Kogiannou,
Eleni Fountoulaki,
Afrodite Androni,
Aggeliki Konstantinopoulou,
Georgia Assimakopoulou,
Cosmas Nathanailides
Affiliations
Efthimia Cotou
Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Helen Miliou
Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece
Evanthia Chatzoglou
Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece
Eirini Schoina
Laboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Foods, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece
Nektarios Politakis
Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Dimitra Kogiannou
Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Eleni Fountoulaki
Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Afrodite Androni
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Aggeliki Konstantinopoulou
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Georgia Assimakopoulou
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Cosmas Nathanailides
Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 47100 Arta, Greece
This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system comprising co-cultured fed fish and organic extractive species representing three distinct trophic levels as well as the impact and potential utilization of two commercially available fish feeds made up of 35% fish meal (FM) and 20% fish meal (LFM) ingredients, using a multi-indicator assessment approach. Significant alterations were observed in growth performance indicators (GPIs), water and sediment quality indices, toxicity tests and biomarkers within the IMTA system. The fish survival, weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) were higher in the IMTA system with significantly lower feed conversion ratios (FCRs) and higher feed efficiency (FE) in comparison to the fed fish monoculture system. Yet, organic filter feeders displayed 100% survival, and increased shell growth, while deposit feeders exhibited successful survival and significant weight gain. In the comparison between FM-IMTA and LFM-IMTA, fed fish in FM-IMTA showed higher WG, SGR, and FE with lower FCR. Environmental parameters like temperature, oxygen, and nutrient concentrations fluctuated but generally improved in the IMTA system, indicating lower mesotrophic conditions. Sediment fatty acid profiles differed between systems and toxicity assessments, which suggested a lower impact in IMTA and FM-IMTA systems. The sediment microbial community displayed high similarity within IMTA systems and between FM-IMTA and LFM-IMTA. These findings underscore the potential of IMTA systems for sustainable aquaculture, emphasizing improved growth performance and reduced environmental impact, particularly when using fish meal feeds.
