Sains Malaysiana 43(1)(2014): 37–44

Natural Diet of Blue Swimming Crab, Portunus pelagicusat Strait of Tebrau, Johor, Malaysia

(Diet Semula Jadi Ketam Renjong, Portunus pelagicus di Selat Tebrau, Johor, Malaysia)

M. IKHWANUDDIN1*, A.N. LIYANA2, M.N. AZRA1, Z. BACHOK3 & A.B. ABOL-MUNAFI4

1Institute of Tropical Aquaculture, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

2Faculty of Maritime Studies and Marine Science Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

3Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

4Faculty of Fisheries and Aqua-Industries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

Received: 14 November 2012/Accepted: 14 March 2013

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of natural diet in Portunus pelagicus is essential to understand its nutritional requirements, its interactions with other organisms and its potential for culture. The natural diet of  P. pelagicus was studied in Strait of Tebrau, Johor, Malaysia via gut content analysis and molecular analysis. A total of 30 identifiable fatty acids were detected in foregut content of P. pelagicus. Fatty acid 18:3ω3 act as a mangrove detritus marker was found to be the most abundant in foregut content of both sexes of P. pelagicus and has higher value in female. PUFA was the main fatty acid found in foregut content of P. pelagicus and major contributed by fatty acid 18:3ω3, 20:5ω3 and 22:6ω3. Marine animal’s marker was found to be the dominant in foregut content of P. pelagicus and that indicated that marine animals were the main food source of P. pelagicus. In conclusion, this study showed that P. pelagicus is a primarily omnivores crab with preference of marine animal and with addition and/or incidental fed plant items.

Keywords: Dietary composition; fatty acid analysis; foregut contents; Portunus pelagicus

ABSTRAK

Pengetahuan mengenai makanan semula jadi ketam renjong, Portunus pelagicus adalah perlu dalam kajian keperluan nutrisinya, kaitannya dengan organisma lain dan potensi untuk menternaknya. Kajian makanan semula jadi P. pelagicus di Selat Tebrau, Johor, Malaysia dijalankan melalui kandungan analisis perut dan molekulnya. Sejumlah 30 asid lemak telah dikesan di dalam perut P. pelagicus. Asid lemak jenis 18:3ω3 yang bertindak sebagai penanda sisa bakau telah dikesan sebagai yang terbanyak di dalam perut jantan dan betina P. pelagicus dan mempunyai nilai yang lebih tinggi dalam ketam betina. PUFA dikenal pasti sebagai asid lemak yang utama di dalam perut P. pelagicus dan penyumbang terbanyak asid lemak ialah 18:3ω3, 20:5ω3 dan 22:6ω3. Penunjuk haiwan marin adalah yang paling banyak dikenal pasti di dalam perut P. pelagicus dan ini menunjukkan ia adalah makanan utama P. pelagicus. Kesimpulannya, kajian menunjukkan bahawa P. pelagicus adalah ketam omnivor dengan makanan utamanya adalah haiwan marin dan makanan tambahannya dengan/atau bahan-bahan daripada tumbuhan.

Kata kunci: Analisis asid lemak; kandungan perut; komposisi pemakanan; Portunus pelagicus

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*Corresponding author; email: ikhwanuddin@umt.edu.my