Metabolic responses to natural and artificial feeding on the Caribbean spiny lobster juveniles, Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804)

The metabolic response and the calorigenic effect of the natural and artificial feeding in Panulirus argus juveniles, were evaluated. Experiments were made in a dynamic respirometer where cameras worked as aquatic metabolic cages, to determinate the oxygen consumption and the ammonia excretion during the fast and the feeding. The bioenergetics index was calculated, apparent heat increment (AHI), postpandrial nitrogen excretion (PPNE) and the atomic ration O:N. The studied foods were:Lima scabra, Acanthopleura granullata, and Littorina mespillum; Echinometra lucunter, Plagussia depressa; and two isocaloric foods that contain 25 and 45 protein percentage. To the artificial foods, the chiton and the sea urchin a bromathologic analysis was carried out. During the 6 hours of experimentation, for A. granullata, the VO2/W increased to 2.4 times the value of the fast, which represents 2454 joules Kg super(-1)bh.h super(-1), while the U/W took a value 2.9 times higher, equivalent to 632 joules Kg super(-1)bh.h super(-1). The ratio O:N diminished at 12.9, indicating the proteins catabolism. Results are compared with the following observation not in all the cases, the proteins are used as an energy substrate, in those species in which the lipids are well represented. Elements are analyzed to confirm the strict carnivory of this species.