A Nutritional Bioenergetic Model for Farmed Fish: Effects of Food Composition on Growth, Oxygen Consumption and Waste Production

The study of flow and transformation of energy and nutrients via mathematical modelling provides an in silico tool approach for designing scientific experiments, improving precision in aquaculture production and reducing the need for experimental animals. The proposed nutritional bioenergetics model is based on the dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory, a mechanistic framework to study individual metabolism. The model is an extension of the typical DEB models in that it includes a digestion module where the protein and non-protein food components contribute to assimilation via the concept of a synthesising unit (SU). The model allows predictions for measurable quantities of interest for aquaculture, including feeding rate, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide, ammonia and solid waste production, under various temperatures and feeding conditions, both in terms of quantity and macronutrient composition. The feeding schedule’s effects, such as the diurnal variation in waste production in response to feeding frequency, are also captured. The model quantifies the effects of the dietary protein-to-energy ratio on food intake and assimilation; energy-rich diets or those with excessive or poor amounts of protein show reduced intake. The model has been parametrised and validated for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to demonstrate its capabilities. Testing the model with diverse datasets has shown that it predicts weight gain well, and to a lesser extent, oxygen consumption and total ammonia production. The proposed model could be a useful in silico tool for fish researchers, technicians and farm operators.