<i>Asparagopsis taxiformis</i> Feed Supplementation as a Tool to Improve the Resilience of Farmed <i>Diplodus sargus</i> to Marine Heatwave Events—A Metabolomics Approach

The need to maximize aquaculture production while addressing environmental and food security challenges posed by climate change has driven research towards the development of functional aquafeeds that enhance performance and immunity in farmed species. However, exposure to dietary and environmental...

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Main Authors: Marta Dias, Isa Marmelo, Carla António, Ana M. Rodrigues, António Marques, Mário S. Diniz, Ana Luísa Maulvault
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Fishes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/7/350
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Summary:The need to maximize aquaculture production while addressing environmental and food security challenges posed by climate change has driven research towards the development of functional aquafeeds that enhance performance and immunity in farmed species. However, exposure to dietary and environmental stressors affects marine organisms, altering key metabolic pathways best understood through high-throughput “omics” tools. This study assessed the effects of <i>Asparagopsis taxiformis</i> supplementation on central metabolic pathways by analyzing changes in primary metabolite levels in the liver of farmed <i>Diplodus sargus</i> under optimal and suboptimal temperature conditions. Results showed that seaweed supplementation had a beneficial effect on the fish’s primary metabolome; however, inclusion levels and rearing conditions played a crucial role in determining outcomes. While 1.5% supplementation maintained a balanced primary metabolome under optimal temperature conditions, 3.0% supplementation most effectively mitigated the adverse effects of acute thermal stress during a marine heatwave. These findings highlight the nutritive and functional potential of <i>A. taxiformis</i> supplementation in aquafeeds for marine omnivorous fish species and emphasize the importance of evaluating functional aquafeeds under suboptimal rearing conditions. Overall, our results demonstrate the value of metabolomics in elucidating the molecular basis underlying biological pathways in farmed marine fish and optimizing production through climate-smart dietary strategies.
ISSN:2410-3888