Open AccessSEASONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE EFFECT OF PHOTOPERIOD ON SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT OF LARVAL AMERICAN LOBSTERS ( Homarus americanus )
Author(s) -
Aiken D. E.,
Rowe W. J.,
MartinRobichaud D. J.,
Waddy S. L.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of the world mariculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0735-0147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1982.tb00038.x
Subject(s) - biology , larva , homarus , photoperiodism , metamorphosis , zoology , american lobster , spring (device) , fishery , ecology , crustacean , horticulture , mechanical engineering , engineering
Previous experiments showed that larval lobsters reared in culture tanks survived better and developed faster in very short days. Further study has revealed that this phenomenon is modified by season of the year. Larvae have been hatched and reared to Fourth Stage at LD 01:23, LD 12:12 and LD 23:01 in standard planktonkriesels at constant 20°C during each month from February through September. In winter and early spring, best survival was obtained with very short photophase (LD 01:23). In May and June, survival was better in the intermediate daylength (LD 12:12). Rate of development to Fourth Stage also was affected by season. Mean time to 80% metamorphosis was shorter in LD 01:23 in spring and in LD 23:01 in late summer. In general, larvae hatched in late summer took longer to reach Fourth Stage than those hatched in spring. However, size at Fourth Stage did not appear to be influenced by either season or photoperiod.