Combined effects of
photoperiod and feeding frequency on survival and growth of juvenile
cuttlefish Sepia officinalis L. in experimental rearing
N. Koueta, E. Boucaud-Camou-2003
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 296(2): 215-266
Abstract:
The combined effects of photoperiod and feeding
frequency on survival and growth of juvenile cuttlefish has been studied in
experimental rearing. During juvenile cuttlefish growth, survival and growth
rate were low when the photoperiod was short (8 h of light and 16 h of
dark). Increased frequency of diet did not stimulate the appetite of animals
reared in normal or long photoperiod (16 h of light and 8 h of dark).
However, by studying the combined effects of photoperiod and feeding
frequency, we have demonstrated that an increase in feeding frequency can
enhance survival and growth in the group receiving the shortest period of
light per day. Temperature is an important factor in the regulation of the
incubation period of eggs and of growth after hatching, but it also appears
in this investigation that the combined effect of photoperiod and feeding
frequency must be considered during growth of juvenile cuttlefish.
(Laboratoire de Biologie et
Biotechnologies Marines, Université de Caen, 14032, Caen Cedex, France,
e-mail: koueta@ibba.unicaen.fr)