Effects of Dietary Copper Supplementation on Fish Growth: A Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Aquaculture Nutrition
• Fish Physiology
• Trace Element Metabolism

Background:

• Copper is vital for fish, but optimal dietary levels are unclear.
• Dietary copper impacts fish growth, enzyme activity, and body composition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess dietary copper supplementation effects on fish.
• To determine optimal dietary copper levels for aquaculture.

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of existing studies on copper supplementation.
• Meta-regression and piecewise regression to identify optimal levels and moderators.
• Structural equation modeling to explore underlying mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Supplementation improved survival, weight gain, and copper levels in fish tissues.
• Excessive copper (> 25 mg/kg) reduced feed conversion and protein efficiency.
• Optimal dietary copper concentration was determined to be 5.7 mg/kg.

Conclusions:

• Dietary copper significantly influences fish performance and health.
• Optimal levels balance benefits against potential negative effects of excess copper.
• Findings inform diet formulation for sustainable aquaculture productivity.