North Carolina State University Researchers Add New Data to Research in Zoological and Botanical Gardens [Comparison of Whole Blood Fatty Acid Profiles between Lionfish (* * Pterois* * spp.) in Wild and Managed Care Environments]: Life Sciences – Zoological and Botanical Gardens

2022 OCT 10 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators discuss new findings in zoological and botanical gardens. According to news reporting originating from Raleigh, North Carolina, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Suboptimal nutrition may contribute to lionfish (* * Pterois volitans* * and * * Pterois miles* * ) health issues in managed care environments.”

Financial supporters for this research include North Carolina Aquariums.

The news journalists obtained a quote from the research from North Carolina State University: “This study’s objective was to establish and compare whole blood fatty acid profiles in wild and aquarium lionfish. Whole blood samples were dried onto specialized high-quality paper cards from wild, invasive lionfish harvested off the North Carolina coast (* * n* * = 16) and lionfish managed by the North Carolina Aquariums (* * n* * = 12). Blood fatty acid profiles were analyzed from dried blood spots. Aquarium lionfish had significantly (* * p* * < 0.05) higher linoleic (18:2o6) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5o3) acid levels than wild lionfish. Similarly, aquarium lionfish had significantly (* * p* * < 0.05) lower saturated fatty acids and arachidonic (20:4o6) to eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5o3) ratios than wild lionfish. Total omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as the ratio of these two fatty acid groups, were similar between wild and aquarium lionfish.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Gut content analysis of wild lionfish diets included reef-dependent and schooling fish while aquarium lionfish diets were pelagic fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and commercial gel diets with nutrient supplements. This study reports whole blood fatty acid profiles in lionfish, providing comparative macronutrient data that may be useful for improving their nutrition and welfare in aquariums.”

For more information on this research see: Comparison of Whole Blood Fatty Acid Profiles between Lionfish (* * Pterois* * spp.) in Wild and Managed Care Environments. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2022,3(28):357-365. The publisher for Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens is MDPI AG.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3030028.

Our news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Nicholas G. Dannemiller, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States. Additional authors for this research include Emily F. Christiansen, Craig A. Harms, Larry J. Minter, Kimberly D. Ange-van Heugten.

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