STUDI BIOLOGI PEMANFAATAN OSMOLIT ORGANIK TAURIN PADA LARVA KERAPU MACAN (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, Forskal)

The aim of the study was to determine the roles of organic osmolyte, namely taurine, on the survival rate of grouper larvae ( Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ) Forskal. Grouper larvae, 2 to 10 day old (D2-D10) from Lampung Seafarming Development Center  (BBL Lampung), was used in this study. Complete random design, with four levels of concentrations of taurine (0, 300, 400, and 500 ppm), was used to determine the roles of organic osmolyte (taurine) on survival rate of the  grouper larvae during 4 to 7 days. The concentration of taurine in external and internal of larvae was measured by spectrophotometer. To determine the effect of the food, the rotifer was incubated in taurine 500 ppm, used as food of experimental larvae. Analysis Varian and Tukey Test in α = 5% was used in data analysis of this study. The results indicated that taurine 400 ppm was the effective concentration to increase the survival rate of the larvae compared to taurine concentrations of 0, 300, and 500 ppm. Combination taurine 500 ppm and 50% media salinity increased the survival rate of the larvae. Although the survival rate of the larvae that fed on by incubated rotifer in taurine was not significant different, the trend was increasing in survival rate. The transport of taurine from external to internal environment could be blocked by EDTA (40 %), therefore, we could assume that taurine transport was using ion channels of Na/Cl and/or Ca.  Morphometry test indicated that taurine increased length of the larvae. Keywords : taurine, survival rate, larvae