Detrital Nonprotein Amino Acids Are the Key to Rapid Growth of <i>Tilapia</i> in Lake Valencia, Venezuela

Abstract

The detritivorous cichlid Sarotherodon mossambicus grows rapidly on a low-protein diet by assimilating detrital nonprotein amino acids. Differences in the quantity of detrital amino acids in different lakes may account for the variable success of S. mossambicus introductions around the world.