Eco-innovative aquafeeds biofortified with Asparagopsis taxiformis to improve the resilience of farmed white seabream (Diplodus sargus) to marine heatwave events
Isa Marmelo,
Cátia Lourenço-Marques,
Iris A.L. Silva,
Florbela Soares,
Pedro Pousão-Ferreira,
Leonardo Mata,
António Marques,
Mário Sousa Diniz,
Ana Luísa Maulvault
Affiliations
Isa Marmelo
UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal; IPMA DivAV - Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Avenida Doutor Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-165, Algés, Portugal; CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal; Corresponding author. Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, I.P. (IPMA), Avenida Doutor Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, n°6, 1495-165, Algés, Portugal.
Cátia Lourenço-Marques
S2AQUA - Collaborative Laboratory, Association for a Sustainable and Smart Aquaculture, Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa S/N, 8700-194, Olhão, Portugal; IPMA-EPPO - Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Aquaculture Research Station, Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa S/N, 8700-194, Olhão, Portugal
Iris A.L. Silva
S2AQUA - Collaborative Laboratory, Association for a Sustainable and Smart Aquaculture, Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa S/N, 8700-194, Olhão, Portugal
Florbela Soares
S2AQUA - Collaborative Laboratory, Association for a Sustainable and Smart Aquaculture, Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa S/N, 8700-194, Olhão, Portugal; IPMA-EPPO - Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Aquaculture Research Station, Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa S/N, 8700-194, Olhão, Portugal
Pedro Pousão-Ferreira
S2AQUA - Collaborative Laboratory, Association for a Sustainable and Smart Aquaculture, Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa S/N, 8700-194, Olhão, Portugal; IPMA-EPPO - Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Aquaculture Research Station, Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa S/N, 8700-194, Olhão, Portugal
Leonardo Mata
CCMAR - Marine Plant Ecology Research Group, Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, 8005-139, Gambelas, Faro, Portugal; Greener Grazing, LLC, Greenfield, MA, 01301, USA
António Marques
IPMA DivAV - Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Avenida Doutor Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-165, Algés, Portugal; CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos S/N, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
Mário Sousa Diniz
UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
Ana Luísa Maulvault
UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal; IPMA DivAV - Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, Avenida Doutor Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-165, Algés, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
Extreme weather events, like marine heatwaves (MHWs), are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, posing several challenges to marine ecosystems and their services. As disease outbreaks are often prompted by these acute phenomena, it is essential to develop eco-innovative strategies that can efficiently improve farmed fish resilience, especially under sub-optimal rearing conditions, thereby ensuring a sustainable aquaculture production.This study aimed to unveil farmed juvenile white seabream (Diplodus sargus, 28.50 ± 1.10 g weight, n = 150) immune and antioxidant responses under a category II MHW in the Mediterranean Sea (+4 °C, 8 days of temperature increase plus 15 days of plateau at the peak temperature) and to investigate whether a 30 days period of prophylactic biofortification with Asparagopsis taxiformis (1.5 %, 3 % and 6 %) enhanced fish resilience to these extreme events. Several biomarkers from different organization levels (individual, cellular, biochemical and molecular) were assessed upon 30 days of biofortification (T30), exposure (after 8 days of temperature increase + 15 days at peak temperature, T53) and recovery (8 days of temperature decrease, T61) from the MHW.Results showed that MHW negatively affected the fish physiological status and overall well-being, decreasing specific growth rate (SGR) and haematocrit (Ht) and increasing erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). These adverse effects were alleviated through biofortification with A. taxiformis. Seaweed inclusion at 1.5 % was the most effective dose to minimize the severity of MHW effects, significantly improving immune responses of D. sargus (i.e. increased levels of immunoglobulin M, peroxidase activity and lysozyme expression) and modulating antioxidant responses (i.e. decreased LPO, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activity). These findings confirm that A. taxiformis is a functional ingredient of added value to the aquaculture industry, as its inclusion in marine fish diets can beneficially modulate fish immunity and resilience under optimal and adverse rearing conditions.
