COMPARATIVE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF EGGS FROM DOMESTICATED AND WILD STRIPED BASS (MORONE-SAXATILIS)

Fatty acid profiles from eggs of wild striped bass, Morone saxatilis, were compared with eggs from domesticated striped bass fed a commercial diet and found to be significantly higher in total lipid (mg/g dry weight [dwt]), n-3 HUFA, EPA, and DHA (all mg/g dwt). The mean ratio of n-3/n-6 fatty acids from wild fish was almost an order of magnitude higher than that of domesticated fish (10.99 vs. 1.27 mg/g), indicating the wild female dietary input to the egg's endogenous levels more closely approximated marine species than freshwater species. Domesticated fish eggs more closely reflected the fatty acid n-3/n-6 ratios of a freshwater species. In addition to fatty acid and lipid levels being significantly different between fish groups, total lipid, n-3 HUFA, EPA, and DHA were significantly different among each group (except EPA of the domesticated fish). Even though total lipid, n-3 HUFA, EPA, and DHA levels of domesticated fish eggs were considerably lower than conspecific wild eggs, the levels in domestic eggs were still considerably higher than reported minima needed for larval growth and survival.