A Growth Assessment of
Juvenile Abalone Haliotis laevigata Fed Enriched Macroalgae Ulva
rigida
M.H. Taylor, E.
Tsvetnenko-2004
Aquaculture International, 12(4-5):
467-480
Abstract:
The experiment was conducted to assess the growth of
juvenile greenlip abalone Haliotis laevigata fed a range of Ulva
rigida diets with different nitrogen contents and an artificial pelleted
diet. The minimal nutrient concentration resulting in significant enrichment of
U. rigida was 2.25 mg N l-1. The maximum nitrogen content
obtained by U. rigida in this study was 6.099%, which resulted from an
inorganic nutrient concentration of 7 mg N l-1. However, no further
significant increase in enrichment occurred from nutrient concentrations of 10
and 15 mg N l-1. Abalone specific growth rate in shell length (SGRL)
and wet weight (SGRW) and foot muscle yield were significantly
higher for abalone fed the artificial diet compared to those fed any U.
rigida diet. Abalone fed U. rigida enriched in less than 15 mg N
l-1 had similar growth rates compared to abalone fed unenriched U.
rigida. Abalone fed the artificial diet contributed a higher percentage of
weight gain into the valuable foot muscle. The foot muscle moisture content of
abalone fed the artificial diet was significantly lower than that of abalone
fed any U. rigida diet. The conclusions reached by this study should
assist Australian abalone producers in assessing the potential benefits of
using U. rigida as an effluent biofilter and subsequent food source
for the commercially important juvenile greenlip abalone.
(Aquatic Science Research Unit,
Muresk Institute of Agriculture, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box
U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia, e-mail of E. Tsvetnenko: e.tsvetnenko@curtin.edu.au)