Effect of brine shrimp size on the consumption rate, growth, and survival of early stage phyllosoma larvae of the rock lobster Jasus edwardsii

Abstract

Stages I, III, and V phyllosoma larvae of the rock lobster Jasus edwardsii (Hutton) were fed daily with 40, 80, 160, or 320, 1‐mm brine shrimps (Artemia salina) while controls were fed either 4, 8, or 16, 2–3‐mm brine shrimps. Stage I larvae fed 1‐mm brine shrimps moulted in the same time as the controls. Stage III and V larvae fed 160,1 ‐mm brine shrimps or less took significantly longer to moult than the controls but those fed 320, 1‐mm brine shrimps were not significantly different. There was no difference in the survival rates, which ranged between 70 and 100% for all stages. The consumption rate increased significantly as the initial density of 1‐mm brine shrimps increased.

Keywords:

• Jasus edwardsii
• phyllosoma larvae
• Artemia salina
• food size
• intermoult period
• post‐moult size
• survival