Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176514
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Anaerobic degradation of excess protein-rich fish feed drives CH4 ebullition in a freshwater aquaculture pond
Author Waldemer, C.; Lechtenfeld, O.J. ORCID logo ; Gao, S. ORCID logo ; Koschorreck, M.; Herzsprung, P.
Source Titel Science of the Total Environment
Year 2024
Department SEEFO; EAC
Volume 954
Page From art. 176514
Language englisch
Topic T9 Healthy Planet
T5 Future Landscapes
T4 Coastal System
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.48758/ufz.15122
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0048969724066701-mmc1.docx
https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0048969724066701-mmc2.xlsx
Keywords Organic matter quality; Organic matter composition; Oligopeptide; Pellet feed; Protein; Greenhouse gas emission; Methane; Fish pond
Abstract Aquaculture is a climate-relevant source of greenhouse gases like methane. Methane emissions depend on various parameters, with organic matter playing a crucial role. Nevertheless, little is known about the composition of organic matter in aquaculture. We investigated the effects of excessive loading of high-protein fish feed on the quality of sediment organic matter in a fishpond to explain extremely high methane ebullition rates (bubble flux). Analysing the molecular composition of water-extractable organic matter using liquid chromatography Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectroscopy, we found strong differences between the feeding area and open water area: low-molecular weight nitrogen and sulphur-rich organic compounds were highly enriched at the feeding area. In addition, methane ebullition correlated well with sediment protein content and total bound nitrogen in pore water. Our results indicate that feed proteins in the sediments are hydrolysed into oligopeptides (CHNO) and subsequently converted to CHOS and CHNOS components during anaerobic deamination of protein and peptide fragments in the presence of inorganic sulphides. These metabolites accumulate at the feeding area due to continuous feed supply. Our findings illustrate the adverse effects of excessive feeding leading to bioreactor-like methane emissions at the feeding area. Improving feed management has the potential to make aquaculture more climate-friendly.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29729
Waldemer, C., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Gao, S., Koschorreck, M., Herzsprung, P. (2024):
Anaerobic degradation of excess protein-rich fish feed drives CH4 ebullition in a freshwater aquaculture pond
Sci. Total Environ. 954 , art. 176514 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176514