Taste sensitivity of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) to sweetness and bitterness

Document Type : Biology(Animal)

Authors

Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

In  this  study,  taste  preference  of  juveniles  of  Persian  sturgeon  were  identified  to  4 concentrations of sucrose (10, 1, 0.8 and 0.5) and 4 concentrations of calcium chloride (10, 1, 0.5  and  0.1)  by  using  behavioral  assay  method.  The  fish  used  were  divided  into  3  weight groups:  small  group  (average  weight  was  7-10  g),  medium  group  (15-20  g)  and  large  group (23-28  g).  The  results  of  index  of  palatability,  for  both  intra-oral  and  extra-oral  receptions, revealed that the differences among 3 weight groups were not significant generally (p> 0.05). It is also found that calcium chloride had positive effect on extra-oral taste reception in all 3 weight  groups.  In  other  words,  the  index  of  extra-oral  palatability  increased  by  increasing concentration.  The  maximum  levels  of  index  of  intra-oral  palatability  for  calcium  chloride were  observed  at  concentrations  of  1%  (for  small  group)  and  10%  (for  medium  and  large group).  But sucrose had negative effect on number of catching acts, just for large group, and it had also negative effect on consumption of granules for all 3 weight groups. Based on these results, we can say addition of 0.5-1 % calcium chloride in juveniles of Persian sturgeon diet can improve feeding status in this species. 

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