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Growth, settlement and survival of Dicathais orbita (Neogastropoda, Mollusca) larvae in response to temperature, diet and settlement cues
Author(s) -
Noble Warwick J,
Benkendorff Kirsten,
Harris James O
Publication year - 2015
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 - 10.1111/are.12298
Subject(s) - biology , metamorphosis , larva , isochrysis galbana , aquaculture , tetraselmis , algae , shellfish , fishery , botany , zoology , ecology , aquatic animal , fish <actinopterygii>
The southern A ustralian whelk, D icathais orbita, is a potential candidate for aquaculture, as both seafood and for bioactive compound production. Larval rearing experiments to determine the effects of temperature and diet on the growth and survival of D . orbita larvae under laboratory conditions comprised five different unicellular algal diets of two brown algal species; I sochysis galbana and C haetoceros muelleri , two green algae; T etraselmis seucica and N annochloropsis oculata , and a mixture of all four strains for larvae maintained at 16 and 22°C. Absolute growth, specific growth rate ( SGR ) and survival were determined regularly. Larvae reared at 22°C on a mixed diet, or brown algae, performed significantly better than those reared on green algal diets alone. Preliminary trials with settlement cues were undertaken on different aged larvae to determine when larvae become competent. An array of natural cues (carrion, X enostrobus pulex , adult mucus and U lvella lens ), as well as concentrations of KCl was tested. KCl (concentration of 20 mM) induced the greatest settlement, however, no larvae metamorphosed under the conditions provided. This study confirms long‐lived planktotrophic larval development for D icathais orbita with higher development rates at the higher water temperatures. Further studies will optimize culture conditions and cues for settlement and metamorphosis.