Combined effects of
temperature and diet on growth and biochemical composition of the Pacific
oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg) spat
C. Flores-Vergara, B. Cordero-Esquivel, A.N. Cerón-Ortiz,
B.O. Arredondo-Vega-2004
Aquaculture
Research, 35(12):
1131-1140
Abstract:
Temperature and quality of the available food are
important factors that influence the physiology of oysters; however, the
combined effects have not been well studied. We evaluated the impacts of the
temperature and diet on the growth, survival and biochemical composition in
the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas spat, cultured in the laboratory
for 8 weeks at 23, 26, 29 and 32°C and fed Isochrysis sp.-Pavlova
lutheri (IP) and Dunaliella tertiolecta (Dt). The growth and
biochemical composition showed a pattern, which changed in response to
rising temperature. The shell length was significantly longer, in spat fed
the IP diet, except at 32°C, where both diets produced poor growth results.
The survival was <50% after 5 weeks at 32°C, whereas at all other
temperatures it was >88%. High temperatures directly increased lipids and
saturated fatty acids, while the proteins, carbohydrates and unsaturated
fatty acids decreased. High temperatures achieved in the environment, as
those reached on clear summer days during low tides, are an important
stressor in oyster spat, especially when the quality of the available food
is poor.
(Laboratorio de Microalgas, Departamento de
Acuicultura y Biotecnología Marina, CICESE, Km. 107 Carretera
Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, Baja California, CP 22800, México. E-mail of B
Cordero-Esquivel: bcordero@cicese.mx)