Growth and survival of Spisula solidissima similis larvae fed different rations of Tahitian strain Isochrysis species

Laboratory-spawned veliger-stage larvae of the southern Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima similis (Say 1822), were reared to late pediveliger stage on five different cell concentrations of Tahitian strain Isochrysis species (T-Iso) to determine an optimal food ration for this subspecies. Larvae were fed daily 0, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, or 300,000 cells/mL of T-Iso. Day-old veliger larvae were stocked in 150 (1-L) replicate flasks at mean densities of 0.7 or 0.8 larvae/mL for trials A and B, respectively. Larval growth and survival were assessed every 2 days over the 14-day trial penods. Significantly greater growth and survival of larvae occurred in both trials in the lower food rations of 50,000 and 100,000 cells/mL. A reduction in larval growth rate and survival was observed at the higher ration treatments. A decline in overall larval health may be associated with the deliterious effects of surplus ration degradation.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10793/1222

Description

Peer-reviewed.

Citation

Hurley, D.H., Walker, R.L. and O'Beirn, F.X. (1997) Growth and survival of Spisula solidissima similis larvae fed different rations of Tahitian strain Isochrysis species, Journal of Shellfish Research, 16(1), pp. 151-155