Animals take in food to obtain sufficient nutrition, which have an effect on metabolism and can influence animals’ wellbeing. The body functions at its optimum when had consistently sufficient nutrient intake (Wilson 2014). For instance, the metabolic rate can be influenced by dietary fatty acid, and increased by some polyunsaturated fatty acids (Hulbert and Else 1999). Low protein intake and nutrient limitation will lead to animals growing slowly (Riedel, Berelson, Nealson & Finkel 2013). Furthermore, balanced nutrition is necessary for maintaining life activities (Hall, Heymsfield, Kemnitz, Klein, Schoeller& Speakman 2012). Animals need to achieve adequate protein from food intake, otherwise a reduction of metabolic rates and growth would occur (Gosby et al. 2011). The measurements of oxygen consumption rates and proportion of gravid females can be used to …show more content…
The uncapped vial was put in 25°C incubation bath for 5 minutes. Then it was sealed under water to be fully filled with no air bubbles left. 7-13 high-energy diet Artemia need remain in the vial. After 2 more minutes, the oxygen concentration can be measured by FiBOX 3 oxygen meter, which was then recorded every 4 minutes for 5 times. The vial was returned to the same incubation after each measurement. After the measurements, using a microscope to measure the length of the Artemia with a ruler one at a time and identify the stage of these animals. Then the vial was rinsed and the experiment was repeated at 25 °C with the low-energy diet animals. Therefore, the oxygen consumption rate and proportion of females that are gravid can be work out through the data collected above.
RESULTS
Summarised results of group data that average length-specific oxygen consumption rate (µmol/mm·hr) of Artemia Franciscana in low and high-energy diet are presented in Figure 1. Figure 1: Average (± S.D.) length-specific oxygen consumption rate of Artemia