Nutritional physiology of turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L.): Implications to aquaculture

The nutritional physiology of turbot Scophthalmiis maximus (L.) was investigated in the laboratory under controlled experimental conditions. The study dealt with factors influencing feeding, digestion and absorption in juvenile turbot and explored the partitioning of energy from ingested food. Energy use under varying intrinsic and extrinsic conditions was examined. The results provide an insight into the interrelationships of factors affecting the physiology and hence growth of turbot. The implications of the findings to aquaculture are discussed. A multi-disciplinary approach was adopted and there were many components to the experimental work: study of the gross morphology, histology and ultrastructure of the alimentary tract of turbot; experimental investigations into the effect of various environmental and intrinsic factors on the relationship between ingestion rate, growth rate and conversion efficiency; the rate of transit of food through the gut and assimilation efficiency; maintenance and feeding respiration; body composition; condition factor and hepato-somatic index. The data obtained were collated and used to construct energy partitioning tables for turbot. A review of infectious diseases of turbot, an investigation into the possible parasitic nature of 'rodlet cells', and a study of the host-parasite relationship between turbot and the tapeworm, Bothriocephalus scorpii were also undertaken. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.)