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Baseline culture parameters for the cyclopoid copepod Oithona colcarva : a potential new live feed for marine fish larviculture
Author(s) -
Broach Jason S,
Cassiano Eric J,
Watson Craig A
Publication year - 2017
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.13271
Subject(s) - copepod , biology , tetraselmis , salinity , stocking , fishery , bay , zooplankton , aquaculture , larva , ichthyoplankton , live food , zoology , algae , crustacean , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , oceanography , geology
Abstract Feeding copepods during early larval culture stages of marine fish has proven to be advantageous for growth and survival of marine finfish larvae. However, commercial availability of most copepods is limited; thus, there is an impetus to evaluate promising copepod species to meet the diverse dietary demands of various marine fish. The marine cyclopoid copepod, Oithona colcarva , was isolated out of zooplankton samples taken from waters within Tampa Bay, Florida. Once isolated, trials were conducted to determine the appropriate culture parameters for producing nauplii to feed marine fish larvae. The effects of temperature (22°C, 26°C and 30°C), salinity (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 g L −1 ), stocking density (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 individuals mL −1 ) and diet (Nanno 3600 microalgae paste, Colurella adriatica , Rhodomonas lens , Tisochrysis lutea , Chaetoceros gracilis and/or Tetraselmis chuii ) on nauplii production during a single life cycle of reproducing individuals were examined. Results of those trials indicated that a culture temperature of 30°C and a salinity of 30 g L −1 were advantageous for maximum nauplii production. Furthermore, a diet containing a 1:1:1 mixture of T. lutea , C. gracilis and T. chuii and a stocking density of at least 8 individuals mL −1 were identified as beneficial. The results of these trials, the potential for large‐scale culture and observations on the performance of marine fish larvae fed Oithona colcarva nauplii are discussed.