Effects of microalgae diets on growth, proximate, and fatty acid composition of black mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis

This study evaluates the growth, proximate, and fatty acid composition of black mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis fed four marine microalgae (Pavlova lutheri, Nannochloropsis oculata, Diacronema vlkianum and Rhinomonas reticulata) diets for 21 days. Black mussel is a common bivalve species that has been recognized as important for marine aquaculture with increasing production in the last two decades. The mussel group fed N. oculata showed a significantly lower survival rate than the other groups (p < 0.05). Shell height, length, and width of mussels were measured. The height and length of the mussel group fed N. oculata were statistically higher than other experimental groups (p < 0.05). Shell width did not show any significant differences among groups (p > 0.05). The microalgae N. oculata showed the highest protein content whereas P. lutheri had the highest crude lipid content among dietary treatments. The group fed P. lutheri showed significantly higher protein, lipid, and ash contents among experimental groups (p < 0.05). The D. vlkianum diet enhanced the highest docosahexaenoic acid level in black mussels. Black mussel fed P. lutheri showed the highest eicosapentaenoic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid levels. Arachidonic acid was found to be similar among experimental groups. In our study, P. lutheri and D. vlkianum had outstanding results on survival, growth, and essential fatty acid accumulation in mussel culture.