The Biology and Culture of Tilapias

C
Table 4. Assimilation efficiency (AE%) estimates for tilapias feeding on natural diets. t4 VI

Species

Component

Experimental diet of diet AE% Technique Reference

Sarotherodon niloticus Microcystis 14c
(phytoplankton grazer) A nabaena 14c
Nitzschia 14c
Chlorella 14c
Lake George suspended total C
, matter > 100 pm

70 mass balance Moriarty and Mdriarty

75 1973a, b

7 9

49

43

Tilapia zillii

(macrophyte grazer)

Najas guadalupensis dry weight 29 reference (cellulose) Buddington 1979

organic matter 3 2

non-cellulose

organic matter 56

protein 7 5

lipid 76

energy 45

Sarotherodon mossambicus Benthic detrital aggregate organic matter

(detritivore) protein

carbohydrate

energy

Periphytic detrital organic matter

aggregate carbohydrate

protein

detrital amino acids

38 reference (ash) Bowen 1979

46

3 5

42

63 reference (HRA) S. Bowen 1981

63

77 Bowen 1980b

64 Bowen 1980b

Tilapia rendalli Ceratophyllum demersum dry weight 53-60 mass balance Caulton 1978

(macrophyte grazer) (aplical segments only) protein 80

energy 48-58