Molecular ecological approaches to elucidate the natural diet of larvae and juveniles in potential aquaculture species

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06183
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 40030:Aquatic bioproduction science-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Wakabayashi Kaori 広島大学, 統合生命科学研究科(生), 准教授 (20725147)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 摂餌生態 / DNAメタバーコーディング / 天然餌料 / 大型甲殻類 / 養殖

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Feeding ecology of fishery-important species provides fundamental knowledge in support of developing aquaculture feeds. The aim of this study is to understand the natural diets of fan lobsters at molecular level. Fecal pellets released from the lobsters just after landing were sampled and subjected to the analysis of food organisms found in the fecal pellets. DNA metabarcoding using the COI gene region as a marker was applied to identify the food organisms to the lowest possible taxa. The results from a total of 41 individuals of Japanese fan lobster demonstrated that multiple species of fishes, shrimps, and cnidarians were utilized as diet by the lobsters. Since the Japanese fan lobster moves slowly and lives on the sea bed, it can be inferred that they opportunistically target dead/weak body of those animals on the sea bed and feed on them rather than attacking those animals in their living state.

Free Research Field

水圏生産科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

養殖用種苗が継続的に摂食し効率的に成長する餌料の探索には、天然の食性を知ることが有効である。本研究では、近年海産動物の食性解析にもしばしば用いられる方法である糞に含まれるDNAのメタバーコーディング解析をウチワエビに適用し、本種が利用する天然の餌料を種レベルで理解することに成功した。さらに、その利用頻度から本種には緩やかな選好性があることも示唆された。