Effect of a prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)-plant eco-symbiotic culture system (PECS) on intestinal microbiota, organic acids, and ammonia

Abstract Prawn-plant eco-symbiotic culture system (PECS) is an efficient symbiotic culture system, in which prawn and plants are placed in the same culture space according to a certain proportion. In the study, the potential of PECS to impact microbial communities and metabolites in the intestine of cultured giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii is assessed. We found that the growth parameters (such as length gain, weight gain and specific growth rate) of PECS with 15 % feed ratio were significantly improved by 4 week culture. And PECS modulated growth profiles of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Atopobium cluster, and Roseburia subcluster bacteria, all of which increased significantly with 15 % feed ratio in the intestines of M. rosenbergii. Growth of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and bacteria referable to the Desulfovibrionales and Desulfuromonadales, were influenced by PECS, whereas growth of Clostridium histolyticum and C. coccoides/Eubacterium rectale groups were not significantly affected. PECS with 15 % feed ratio positively impacted short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) production, and reduced lactate levels, without causing any ammonia cytotoxic effects. Well growth performance of the prawn was consistent with increase in intestinal benefit microbiota. In general, PECS (with a feed ratio of 15 %) proved to be beneficial for promoting organic acids and growth performance via modulated intestinal microbiota, indicating PECS with reasonable feed ratio represent a promising alternative to traditional pond monoculture of M. rosenbergii.