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An Experimental Brackish Aquaponic System Using Juvenile Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) and Rock Samphire ( Crithmum maritimum )

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  • Nikolaos Vlahos

    (Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Fytoko Volos, Magnesia, Greece
    Department of Animal Production, Fisheries and Aquaculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, 30200 Mesolonghi, Greece)

  • Efi Levizou

    (Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences Fytoko, University of Thessaly, 38446 Fytoko Volos, Magnesia, Greece)

  • Paraskevi Stathopoulou

    (Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Fytoko Volos, Magnesia, Greece)

  • Panagiotis Berillis

    (Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Fytoko Volos, Magnesia, Greece)

  • Efthimia Antonopoulou

    (Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Vlasoula Bekiari

    (Department of Animal Production, Fisheries and Aquaculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, 30200 Mesolonghi, Greece)

  • Nikos Krigas

    (Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization, Demeter, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Kormas

    (Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Fytoko Volos, Magnesia, Greece)

  • Eleni Mente

    (Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, 38446 Fytoko Volos, Magnesia, Greece)

Abstract

Brackish aquaponics using Mediterranean fish and plants provides an alternative opportunity for a combined production of high-quality food products with high commercial and nutritional value. This is the first study that investigates the effect of two different salinities (8 and 20 ppt) on growth and survival of Sparus aurata and Crithmum maritimum along with the cellular stress pathways using the activation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein family members and the water bacterial abundance. In total, 156 fish were used (average initial weight of 2.55 g, length of 5.57 cm) and 36 plants (average initial height of 8.23 cm) in floating racks above the 135 L fish tanks. Survival rate for both organisms was 100%. C. crithmum grew better at 8 ppt (t-test, p < 0.05). The growth rate of S. aurata was similar for both treatments ( p > 0.05). HSPs and MAPK were differentially expressed, showing tissue-specific responses. The average bacterial abundance at the end of the experiment was higher ( p < 0.05) in the 20 ppt (18.6 ± 0.91 cells × 10 5 /mL) compared to the 8 ppt (6.8 ± 1.9 cells × 10 5 /mL). The results suggest that the combined culture of euryhaline fish and halophytes provides good quality products in brackish aquaponics systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolaos Vlahos & Efi Levizou & Paraskevi Stathopoulou & Panagiotis Berillis & Efthimia Antonopoulou & Vlasoula Bekiari & Nikos Krigas & Konstantinos Kormas & Eleni Mente, 2019. "An Experimental Brackish Aquaponic System Using Juvenile Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) and Rock Samphire ( Crithmum maritimum )," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:4820-:d:263908
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    Cited by:

    1. Evangelia Tsoumalakou & Eleni Mente & Nikolaos Vlahos & Efi Levizou, 2023. "Cultivating the Mediterranean Wild Edible Species Cichorium spinosum L. in Aquaponics: Functional and Growth Responses to Minimal Nutrient Supplementation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.

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