Relationship between reservoir morphometry and chitin yield of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) collected from different reservoirs in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Chitin, the second most available carbohydrate in nature next to cellulose is a modified polysaccharide that contains nitrogen. Chitin is a primary compound in exoskeletons of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, one of the major freshwater crustaceans in culture-based fisheries and fish processing industry in Sri Lanka. Present study ascertains the variation in chitin yield amongst M. rosenbergii cultured in different reservoirs and, the relationship of the chitin yield with the area (hectares) and shoreline length (km) of the reservoir. Reservoir morphometric parameters were collected, and chitin was isolated from M. rosenbergii shells (n=300) collected from different perennial reservoirs (n=25) located in Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Hambantota and Monaragala districts of Sri Lanka. Three steps (pre-conditioning, demineralization, and deproteinization) were followed in extracting chitin from the shells.