Biochemical characterization and antioxidant status of mysid Mesopodopsis slabberi: potential use as natural resource to aquaculture

Mysids have a great potential as the new high nutritional, sustainable and functional natural resources aquaculture require globally. Despite being an excellent source of proteins and essential fatty acids, their potential in aquaculture has barely been evaluated. We have characterized the nutritional value of Mesopodopsis slabberi in the Guadalquivir estuary, where constitutes a key prey for fish juveniles. Seasonal and ontogenic biochemical composition variation was studied. M. slabberi shows high protein per dry mass (60%) with a slight a significant ( p < 0.05) decline in summer. Glutamic +glutamine, lysine and aspartic +asparagine were the dominant aminoacids, with relatively high levels of leucine, alanine, glycine, methionine, phenylalanine and tryptophane, all of great relevance for aquaculture feeds. Total lipids content is high in M. slabberi , representing PUFAs 44.15 ± 1.12% of the total fatty acids. The highest concentrations of EPA and DHA fatty acids were found in spring. Most important the ratio DHA/EPA was high and similar in all season with an average value of 0.83 ± 0.03. DHA/AA and EPA/AA ratio were 4.92 ± 0.38 and 6.10 ± 0.48, respectively. Highest n3/n6 ratio ( p < 0.05) were detected in spring 7.83 ± 0.77. M. slabberi show an adequate antioxidant balance with TAC/LP ratio greater than 90 in spring and summer reaching the highest levels (132) in autumn. In Guadalquivir estuary, M. slabberi presents high zinc and selenium levels. Our results demonstrate how M. slabberi has high nutritional profile and potential to be used as a valuable functional ingredient in aquaculture, both inert and as a living resource. More research in relation to culture technology and functional assess is necessary to open new ways to reach aquaculture long-term sustainability.