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Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Connected Plankton
EkNEST
with for
GEIGER,
the
Possible Nutrition
Use
Human
M.D., PH.D.*
VER
SINCE
it of
recognized
that
proper
Army
world population repre- however, of the highest impor- Muller nutritionists have been planktonic for new sources of food sup- for the terrestrial sources whkh, ac-reported may not be able toanimals of the population, the Helgoland. as the most promis- expedition
Today only a small
collecting richness
cording to some predictions, keep up with the growth ocean has been considered
ing source of nutrients.
in the ocean water around 1872 the famous Challenger further important data to The use of be the when
fraction lized
surface
of for
fishes
the
and
food
other
grown
sea
in in
is utiform
Besides
human
of
and ecology of plankton. step toward the practical human nutrition seems John British and Graham Kerr in to Parliament use of plankton
to 1941
these,
however,
and
poibly
richer sources are not of these is the so-called lives in the bathypelagic
food source is represented
yet even tapped. deep sea animal which zone and the
by the drifting
investigate as a possible
organisms to some
known authors
as
means of relieving the food shortage resulting other from the German submarine warfare. During the Second World War experiments were also initiated and supported by the United States utiliz- Government, investigating the possible use of
the
pastures of the ocean for is an ancient one, and Melville Dick, as a proof, the following Obed Macys history of Nantucket, year 1690 some persons were on the other whales when to the our childrens predictions better than spouting and one observed ocean-is a grandchildren were poetic was only
of Van Biochemistry
food pro- plankton as emergency food for survival on life quoted rafts. The actual information on composition passage and nutritive value of plankton supplied by In this investigation is, however, very meager. a hill ob-It seems therefore that no actual data but thinking discussed plankton and that of is responsible in many represents it is only and available we material
#{176}
for the assumprecent papers, that a large source of a question of techof economics for practical from a in the to
harvesting
make this probably because the ri734 the accordBritish In the nutritional scientific
*
Biochemistry
California Camp and School of Seafood Co., Nutrition, Medicine.
Terminal
Univer-
very
in
good
review
has
of
The
been
Role
recently
of
Algae
and
California.
Plankton by M.
Stratton,
394
Medicine
and York,
D. 1955.
Schwimnier,
sity of Southern
California
July-August,
1958]
GEIGER
395
Plankton
represents
mixture
of
drifting
ton
protein
are
quite
unsatisfactory.
Most
essentials seem to be present but their plants and small animals which are of the relative quantities and their biologic availasphytoplankton and zooplankton have not been investigated as yet.#{176} The main importance of the ability The composition of fat is, according to 5evis that theyserve as good conauthors, very similar to the fat extracted of radiating energy to food on which the eral fish.#{176} It is characterized by long chain zooplankton thrives.46 The repre- from
sentatives
small (3 to
of
20 They
phytoplankton
,nm) to represent, of zooplankton be
are
harvested
usually
and
too
most
highly
unsaturated
fatty
acids.
It
is
probable,
therefore, of
that
these
them
trifuges. in
cannot
harvesting
be
separated
even
in
by
fact, because
regular
a
they
effect has not yet been investigated. The inorganic composition of some species The zooplankton represents a general catein zooplankton is well discussed in gory of drifting invertebrate life and not any present Vinogradovs monumental work48 which was particular species. The size of the zooplankton published in an English translation by varies between 0.5 to 30 mm and the relative recently University. (A relatively high magneparticipation of the different component species Yale silicon, iodine, iron, and arsenic content shows considerable geographic and seasonal sium,
variations. These changes in the species is characteristic. Plankton is relatively low in
the
holes
of the
nets.
of in data
have
calcium
and
TABLE
sulphur.)
I
(Table
I.)
Average
Inorganic
Composition
living and
%
Chlorine
Sodium Phosphorus
of
dry
weight
14.9
21.1 0.76
the
in
Potash
Calcium Magnesium Sulphur
1.42
0.96 1.29 0.71
animals
living
Others present are syphonophores, fish eggs, and fish larvae. The dry weight of the zooplankton between preliminary ing with position
harvest,
vitamin
-l content
who found
was
first
that
investigated
cod receives
14,
sea
Drummond
of
is
The based
several intermediaries decapodes, and in plankton. The vitamin growth A content test, with
molinof the
%
Protein Fat Ash Carbohydrate (by difference)
of dry 52 19
weight
vestigation zooplankton
the with
to 59 7 32 to
4to
antimony trichloride test, and with the absorption Spectruln gave, however, negative results. It was therefore assumed that zooplankton contains some precursors of vitamin A. Recent investigations have shown that all proA activity resides in the non-carotinoid by multi- vitamin 6.25. Wefraction of the plankton oil. This shows that pigments other than comthis nitro- fish use zooplankton carotinoids for the elaboration of vitamin protein. mon in plank- A.7 The question arises naturally
13 to 17
is
by of
how acids
available present
396
THE
AMERICAN
JOURNAL
OF
CLINICAL
NUTRITION
[Vol.
6,
No.
can be of vitamin of
with the
used A.
also a
test,
be by permissible conclusions
whale.
this the
time
to
draw
reaching of sciena
the
gave
line
with was
D
the obtained.
content
x-ray
of D
examination It
seems The
a shown
was be literature present
was
zooplankton to
World
that
phytoplankton
similar
to
of
rye
and
Provitamin able
C,and did
data
on
these occasional claims. As a further proof for the the nutritive value of zooplankton, it is usually mentioned that the Chinese and some Scannations paste Thor
of
of
B,,
and
may
we
use with
zooplankton a shrimp-like in
pelagic
as his that
crabs
a base flavor. of
and
for Fithe
source nally,
Heyerdahl, voyage,
copepods,
report
zooplankton
other
NUTRITIVE
VALUE
OF
PLANKTON
crustaceans,
of
fish
larvae
was
The
to fore, be it
nutritive
somewhat does not An
value
similar seem
of
to
phytoplankton
that to of represent grass.
potential
pastures.
of protein
additional
grass
is
seems consumed by some is given There- information material was a better this was eaten at grown onfood
the
of the crew. No on how much of and what other time. These rezooplankton can its the in
disadvantage
ports
content
diatomes
say anything about about its effect on consumed chronically to evaluate the nutritive has
zooplankton is
not
its
conclusions
value.
quantities. approach
The on
shows pyramid
usually nutritional
indirect
on the
and pyramid
base zooplankton, of
is
phytoplankton food
of zooplankton experimentally based value by Clarke and Bishop. which attempted authors investigated the growth and this
of weanling rats for a period of 13 days
been
These survival
and of
for
for
rats for a period of 22 days. The plankoysters, mussels, and cockles, and that this adult used was obtained from the Vineyard herbivorous zooplankton represents then the ton food for the larger fishes and for the marine Sound and was frozen at 18#{176} after C reaching It was squeezed with moderate mammals.#{176} Particularly the fact that some the laboratory. to remove excess sea water and conwhale varieties that live nearly exclusively onpressure tamed about 14 per cent of dry material. The plankton (Krill, euphasia superba) grow to 60
-
feet that
subject do
in length zooplankton
to not know
in
led an
to the excellent
This because the
conclusion food
we
terrestrial
conclusion nutritive
investigation (a)
diet mixtures were prepared on the basis of the weight. As control feed Purina-Growena fordry was used. Rats fed on plankton only lost is weight rapidly and died within 4 to 19 days, but recontrols survived on about total 30 starvation. per cent Rats longer fed than on a
quirements digestive
diet composed of two-thirds meal and one-third the plankton and two-thirds plankton and oneefficiency of food conversion. third meal failed to grow as fast as rats on a We do know, however, that the food requirefull diet. The authors do not present detailed ments of terrestrial mammals such as, for inon food consumption but state only that stance, that of horses, of men, and of lions aredata ate only about two-thirds of the ration quite different and therefore it does not seem tothe rats
of the faculties
whale ; of this
particular (c)
July-August,
1958]
GEIGER
397
when it arrive
that
They, testinal flora. theand Bishops without experimental the that no nutritive and
Clarke publiin
plankton cized small frac- their the stom- also undigested congested intestine. plankton on
ach of material
other fundamental value of zooplankton In our opinion, do not conclusion the supply as Bishop
published. Clarke
of Inafood
hind effect
they
toxic (wet
write
effects weight) maximum at
man. as follows:
developed of the time psychological
About
PROBLEMS
after during eaten was 100 and digestibility at was of sea. certainly plankton in
eating the by any grams. distasteful. entered of Such true gave the stomach
material
not
negligible of
problem
seems collection.
to
be
the
The
subjects were probable
of economics
zooplankton
Before
the
amounts It is
factors and
the
are
matter in
of the
this question and the technical harvesting can be seriously following matters will have
first, whether zooplankton can
plankton
the
o,,lv
not
easy of of hours
fora
im-
human
nutrition
or
by
feeding In
it
re,naining after
Clarke
ments conditions sions:
Plankton was ergy plankton life could daily raft all in be calculated content
and
with and
Bishop
particular came
performed
observation to the
these
of following
high meal,
to have
biologic meat
realize
availblood
chemi-
fish
scrap,
that
with to
of
the have
recently amino
from
lower one of
which 24
theoretically
obtained a mans
production
provide788 calories,
A are
is
assi,nilated,
grounds
requirements.
A sults the
seasons to collect zooplankton.6424 The varof plankton is such that it would be review of Clarke and Bishops re-iability exceedingly difficult to predict what type and that their methods were not up to what amount would be encountered in any standards by which nutritional situation, at least until that area has should be designed. Some of the given studied for a long time.9 It was found are that the rats consumed much been
quantities
than from
from
the
the
control
diet
diet.
containing
Further-
by
several in
authors
that
the
distribution
of
zoo-
plankton44
changes
is
patchy,
that
as well
there
as
are
in
abrupt
amounts,
iiore, (S per
quantities
we
see
that of
have
due the
been
to
the
high
water diet,
content too
composition
cent) of
experimental
offered.
the
diet
may
lead
of the of the
large that there is a ertical v diurnal variation so that species climb several hundred feet in The high water some evening toward the surface of the ocean. to an abnormal this, there is the recently discovered seaThe high salt sides sonal vertical variation in plankton distribution. influenced the quantities
Also of recently described is the as an important
the Be-
Furthermore,
source
undigested material were stagnating in the testinal tract. This may have influenced only the utilization of the diet itself but the ilnportant nutritional function of the
scattering and
layer2
which
of small crus-
398
THE
AMERICAN
JOURNAL
OF
CLINICAL
NUTRITION
[Vol.6,
No.4
We
have of
needs
to
realize
that on phytoare
i.e.,
that to
people
would A
eat, further
digest,
and
utilize be harphytorep-
gro
vth
zooplankton
sunshine
minerals
its the
development
or if the
and
water
if
the
is not
minerals
plowed,
hausted,
minerals
are
not
replaced or
at the western
in
shallow South
the
coasts American
North
if The deeper resents This mix- highly water ocstance Africa and waters Investiproduce
collection
the
a hazard because toxic representatives Gonyaulax catenella and Gymnodium extensive fish that forms which turn a highly there living may otherwise toxic lead
there are different kno vn, for inin the California dinoflaggalates mortality. are many in different to poisoning fish Another and We which have
Atlantic
main to
vering in
in summer
and a
waning second
of crop
the in
populaautumn
assume plankton
tion or the
tudes
winter. abnormally
near
locations is which
edible oo#{176}
lati- into
consumption of plankton The question as to the feasibility of collect- ing of stinging forms ing plankton has been discussed by scientists sumption of Portuguese and lay authors and we have to realize that serious consequences. both usually go overboard in their predicWe want to emphasize
tions.* Some authors, for instance, claim vesting
the
sea
from
one
to
three
of or-and This means crease Because haden cent twice and ocean of as however, theeasily
nutritious countries
tons
zooplankton more economical the catch of and trashfish. provided the food were where sufficient
seems
it
be more realistic time being to inof could demands manbe done for this In many availurgent of the
herring-varieties,
represents
the
calculations, in the
is not most
million tons of carbon yearly the 19 Inillion tons fixed by Most of these estimates include plankton. The was experimentally and Sears4 who during maximal plankton pus found Heyerdahl
of zooplankton. constructed suitably
compared with fishcatch in palatable form ready for transporland plants.947 tation from the fishing areas to the interior.4 phyto and zoo- The reluctance to accept fishflour as food inactual yield on zooplankton gredient for human consumption, as observed determined by Bigelow recently in many underprivileged countries, found in the upper water layers in my opinion, raises a serious doubt as to production 0.5 to 0.8 ml zoo- whether dried zooplankton will ever be acand Bum- ceptable to 1.0 mi.8trition. 2.5
that men could
as seems the
protein first
nu-
one
predicts
day
to
with
5 kg
col-
It
with
that nutritive
the
lect daily 588 lb of plankton Scotland enough to feed think however, that it should
*
feasibility of feeding it to men and animals must on the coasts of be solved, and then the different harvesting 357 people. Weterritories will have to be investigated for posbe added: pro- sible contamination of the crop with toxic maan of krill article in shortage. the based Antarctic on
It was
recently, trawhing
in
problem because
profitable
food 198:
than
protein 84, 1958.)
whaling
and
may
(W.
the
July-August,
1958]
GEIGER
399
drying
equipment.4
Recently
excellent
rotary
These
investigations but
our
be
As
time yield
such,
consuming some
they
filters purposes
could
and
be
driers and
well
have it
adapted
been that
for
seems connection
evaluation in
for
would not
basic
would
problem.
represent
of of may Ourshort nutrition
a great
but
only
to
the
science
they
The
seems plankton
final
to
step
be the collection
in
our
cents.
problem
humanity
because
economics
dollars
answer cut
whether
the possible
question in the
can
of whether nutritional
be utilized
there is a pyramid,
directly
present
be has now solve never there or
abundance
for been has even not seriously
of
the actually been
food
fact an study
resources
that investigated. urgent these this
seems
question Until necessity problems,
toi.e.,
plankton
responsible
a for we
and that
may
of
purposes have to
be the
the
feasible future
form
that
intermediary
rely
also
of
but
of
we
certain
quote
made
in
alternatives
this
by
connection
Lucas there to
the the
not the
following
be the
converters
statements incentive to
I: n
may solve
presence
technical
conto utilized
attempt
is acceptable
terrestrial
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as
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H.
SUGGESTIONS
FOR
FURTHER
NUTRITIONAL
RESEARCH
of of 1930.
the sterols
biological of plankton.
activity ompt.
of
sterols. rend.
Before
connected seriously
any
with
economic
the the
or
utilization
technical
of question
problems
plankton should are 3. first
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in
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G.
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and
et Univer-
C
docu-
considered,
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etude
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