ABSTRACT This study aimed at determining the compelling palatability of different protein hydrolysates for Nile tilapia juveniles (Oreochromis niloticus). Four isoproteic (30% crude protein) and isoenergetic (3,200 kcal kg−1) experimental diets were formulated, with a 5% inclusion level of poultry hydrolysate protein (PHF), or swine liver hydrolysate protein (PHS), or feather hydrolysate protein (PHP) and a control treatment containing 5% of fishmeal (FPE). Four juveniles (2.9 ± 0.01 g) were distributed in 10 L tanks and fed four times a day, and before each feeding event, diets were drawn. The same amount of pellets from each diet was offered, and feeding behaviors were recorded during three minutes for each feeding event, referred to the time of capture of the first pellet, number of pellet rejections, and number of approximations without capturing pellets and quantity of consumed pellets. A significant effect (P < 0.05) was observed regarding a higher consumption of pellets and palatability index for PHF, followed by PHS, FPE, and PHP. Therefore, it was concluded that PHF provided the highest compelling palatability for Nile tilapia juveniles, by displaying a 10.82% increase of the palatability index, 17% of final feed consumption, and presented a rejection number 6.89 times lower than FPE.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da proteína bruta, da energia bruta, da gordura e da matéria seca de um hidrolisado proteico de peixe (HPP), feito de resíduos de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) e sardinha inteira (Cetengraulis edentulus), e avaliar o desempenho produtivo e o crescimento das fibras musculares de pós-larvas de tilápia-do-nilo. Realizaram-se dois ensaios, o primeiro para a determinação da digestibilidade em 120 alevinos (70,0±2,0 g) e, o segundo, para avaliação do desempenho produtivo de 375 pós-larvas, com três dias de idade, distribuídas em 25 aquários (unidade experimental) com volume útil de 30 L. Cinco rações à base de ingredientes vegetais foram elaboradas, às quais se incluíram os peixes a 0, 2, 4, 6 e 8% de HPP. Para a avaliação do crescimento muscular, oito peixes de cada unidade experimental foram utilizados. Os valores de CDA encontrados foram: 98,29% para matéria seca; 99,28% para proteína bruta; e 99,13% para energia bruta. As melhores respostas zootécnicas quanto ao desempenho produtivo resultaram do tratamento com a inclusão do hidrolisado proteico a 4,75%. As dietas influenciaram a frequência do diâmetro das fibras musculares, principalmente o crescimento por hiperplasia. O HPP pode ser eficientemente utilizado, e sua inclusão a 4,75% é indicada em dietas de tilápia-do-nilo na fase de pós-larva.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to determine the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of crude protein, crude energy, fat, and dry matter of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH), made of by-products of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and whole sardines (Cetengraulis edentulus), and to evaluate the productive performance and muscle fiber growth of Nile tilapia post-larvae. Two trials were conducted, the first one to determine the digestibility in 120 fingerlings (70.0±2.0 g), and the second one to evaluate the productive performance of 375 post-larvae, with three days of age, which were distributed in 25 aquaria with 30 L of useful volume. Five diets were prepared based on vegetable ingredients, to which fish were included at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% FPH. For the evaluation of muscle growth, eight fish of each experimental unit were used. The ADC values found were: 98.29% for dry matter; 99.28% for crude protein; and 99.13% for gross energy. The best zootechnical response for the productive performance resulted from the treatment with the inclusion of fish hydrolysate at 4.75%. The diets affected the frequency of the muscle fiber diameters, mainly the growth by hyperplasia. FPH can be efficiently used, and its inclusion at 4.75% is indicated in the diets for Nile tilapia in the post-larvae stage.

O caranguejo-uçá (Ucides cordatus) é um valioso recurso pesqueiro, sobreexplorado ao longo do litoral brasileiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi obter dados bioecológicos deste caranguejo em toda a costa do Estado do Amapá. Foram realizadas seis coletas de frequência bimensal, compreendidas entre os meses de dezembro de 2008 a janeiro de 2010. Por meio de transectos foram estimadas a densidade (tocas m-2) e a abundância (indivíduos m-2) populacional. Todos os animais foram submetidos à biometria, sendo somente as fêmeas, classificadas quanto ao estágio de maturação gonadal. A densidade (1,09 tocas m-2) e a abundância (0,31 indivíduos m-2) foram influenciadas pelo clima, sendo os maiores valores observados durante o verão (1,17 tocas m-2 e 0,34 indivíduos m-2). A razão sexual foi de 1,38M:1F, mostrando diferença significativa entre a proporção de sexos. Os indivíduos apresentaram dimorfometria sexual, com medidas lineares significativamente superiores nos machos. Os animais coletados também apresentaram maior comprimento e largura de cefalotórax (CC e LC), quando comparados aos caranguejos estudados em outros estados brasileiros. Houve relação tanto entre LC e CC, como entre peso individual (PI) e LC para machos (R² = 0,83 e 0,90) e fêmeas (R² = 0,79 e 0,84). O crescimento foi alométrico negativo (menor crescimento de CC em relação à LC) para ambos os sexos. A maior frequência de fêmeas ovígeras (78%) e no estágio IV de maturação (38%) pertenciam à classe de tamanho de LC 59,8 - 67,5 mm. O maior pico de fêmeas maduras ocorreu nos meses de maio e agosto, mostrando um período reprodutivo diferente de outros estados do Brasil.

The mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) is a valuable fishery resource, overfished along the Brazilian coast. This study aimed to obtain bioecological data on this crab along the coast of the State of Amapá. Six bimonthly samplings were conducted between December 2008 and January 2010. Transects were used to estimate the density (burrows m-2) and population abundance (individuals m-2). All the animals were subjected to biometrics, with females being classified according to their stage of gonadal maturation. The mean density (1.09 burrows m-2) and abundance (0.31 individuals m-2) were influenced by the climate with the highest values in summer (1.17 burrows m-2 and 0.34 individuals m-2). The male to female ratio was 1.38:1 showing significant difference in the proportion of sexes. The individuals showed sexual dimorphism, with linear measurements significantly higher in males. The sampled animals also had larger carapace length and width (CL and CW) compared to crabs studied in other Brazilian states. There was a positive relationship between CW and CL and individual weight (IW) and CW for males (R² = 0.83 and 0.90) and females (R² = 0.79 and 0.84). The growth was negative allometric (CL increases to a lesser extent than CW) for both sexes. The highest frequency of ovigerous females (78%) and in maturation stage IV (38%) occurred in the CW size class between 59.8 and 67.5 mm. The peak of mature females occurred in May and August, showing a reproductive period different from those in other Brazilian states.