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Impact of spectral composition on larval haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L., growth and survival
Author(s) -
Downing Gavin
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1355-557x.2002.00668.x
Subject(s) - haddock , biology , larva , predation , darkness , light intensity , aquaculture , gadidae , fishery , zoology , ichthyoplankton , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , botany , atlantic cod , optics , physics , gadus
In a small‐scale culture experiment, larval haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L., were raised under various combinations of light quality [blue (470 nm), green (530 nm) or full‐spectrum white light] and light intensity [low (0.3–0.4 µmol s −1 m −2 ) or high (1.7–1.9 µmol s −1 m −2 )], and in total darkness (both fed, and starved). Larval growth (0.9% day −1 in standard length; 2.4% day −1 in body area) was not significantly different between any combination of coloured light. At the time of total mortality in the starved treatment, survival was significantly reduced under low intensity, full‐spectrum white light (13%) vs. all other coloured light treatments (68%). Larvae raised under both continuous dark treatments (fed and starved) exhibited morphological changes associated with irreversible starvation (point‐of‐no‐return). Lack of a pronounced effect of light quality on larval haddock growth probably results from a combination of plasticity in early larval vision, and enhanced encounter rates between larvae and prey at the relatively high prey densities used in aquaculture.