15 JUNE 1999
M.S. Doroudi, P.C. Southgate, R.J. Mayer-1999
Aquaculture Research, 30: 271-277
Abstract:
This paper reports on a 4 x 4 factorial design experiment conducted to examine the combined effects of temperature and salinity on embryonic development and growth and survival of black-lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera (L.) larvae. The temperatures used were 20 C, 25 C, 30 C and 35 C, and the salinities were 25 ppt, 30 ppt, 35 ppt and 40 ppt. Response surface contour diagrams were generated from the survival and growth data to estimate optimal conditions. Normal development of embryos occurred only from 25 C to 30 C. The optimal conditions for maximum survival and growth were 26-29 C and 28-32 ppt. Temperatures of 35 C or greater were lethal for larvae and, at all temperatures tested, larval growth and survival were lowest at a salinity of 40 ppt.
(Aquaculture Department, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia)