Larval growth, survival and
development of Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius) cultured in
different salinities
M.
Kumlu, O. T. Eroldogan, M. Aktas, B. Saglamtimur-2001
Aquaculture Research, 32 (2): 81-86
Abstract:
Larvae of Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricius) at
protozoea 1 (PZ1) stage were stocked in 2-L glass flasks to investigate the
effects of various salinities (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 ppt) on
growth and survival until the post-larval (PL) stages. The PZ larvae were
not able to tolerate a sudden salinity drop of over 10 ppt. Yet, an
abrupt salinity increase of over 10 or even 15 ppt did not cause
mortality. The PZ larvae were successfully acclimated to different test
salinities at a rate of 4 ppt h-1. The larvae displayed
better tolerance to high rather than low salinities. The lowest and highest
critical salinities appeared to be 22 and 55 ppt respectively. Taking
into account survival, growth and development results, the optimal salinity
for the larval culture of M. monoceros inhabiting the Eastern
Mediterranean was 40 ppt. At this salinity, the PZ1 larvae were
successfully cultured until PL1 stage within 11 days with 68% survival
on a feeding regime of Tetraselmis chuii Kylin (Butcher) (20 cells m L-1),
Chaetoceros calcitrans Paulsen (50 cells m L-1),
Isochrysis galbana Parke (30 cells mL-1) and five
newly hatched Artemia nauplii mL-1 from M1 onwards at 28 °C.
(Faculty of Fisheries, Cukurova University, 01330 Balcali, Adana, Turkey,
E-mail: mkumlu@mail.cu.edu.tr)