2025/05/06 by Li, Bowen
#Animal Sciences #Aquaculture and Fisheries Life Sciences #Life Sciences
paper · doi:10.17605/osf.io/p7w53
Research Purpose： The main purpose of this research project is to systematically evaluate the effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on the growth performance, feed utilization, antioxidant capacity, and immune function of aquaculture animals. By conducting a meta - analysis, we aim to quantitatively synthesize the results from multiple independent studies and provide a comprehensive understanding of the overall impact of astaxanthin in aquaculture. This will help to clarify the inconsistent findings in previous research and identify the factors that influence the efficacy of astaxanthin supplementation. Hypothesis 1: Dietary astaxanthin supplementation will improve the growth performance of aquaculture animals. This is a directional hypothesis, and the direction is positive. The predicted effect is that compared with the control group, the final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) of aquaculture animals in the astaxanthin - supplemented group will increase. Hypothesis 2: Dietary astaxanthin supplementation will enhance the feed utilization of aquaculture animals. This is a directional hypothesis with a positive direction. The predicted effect is that the protein efficiency ratio (PER) will increase and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) will decrease in the astaxanthin - supplemented group compared to the control group. Hypothesis 3: Dietary astaxanthin supplementation will improve the antioxidant capacity of aquaculture animals. This is a directional hypothesis with a positive direction. The predicted effect is that the levels of hepatopancreas total antioxidant capacity (T - AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH - Px) will increase, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) will decrease in the astaxanthin - supplemented group. Hypothesis 4: Dietary astaxanthin supplementation will enhance the immune function of aquaculture animals. This is a directional hypothesis with a positive direction. The predicted effect is that the activities of lysozyme, acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and the levels of immunoglobulin (Ig), complement C3, and complement C4 will increase in the astaxanthin - supplemented group. Hypothesis 5: The effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on growth performance, feed utilization, antioxidant capacity, and immune function will vary among different species, trophic levels, and habitats of aquaculture animals. This is a non - directional hypothesis. The predicted effect is that subgroup analysis will show significant differences in the effect sizes of astaxanthin supplementation among different taxonomic groups (fish, crustacean, sea cucumbers), habitat types (marine, freshwater, brackish water), and trophic levels (low, medium, high). Hypothesis 6: There is an optimal dosage range of dietary astaxanthin supplementation for different growth and feed utilization parameters in aquaculture animals. This is a non - directional hypothesis. The predicted effect is that by analyzing the effect sizes across different dosage ranges, specific optimal dosage ranges can be identified for parameters such as FBW, WGR, SGR, SR, PER, and FCR.