Effects of mixed diets on the reproductive success and population growth of cultured Acartia grani (Calanoida)

ABSTRACT

Copepods are alternative candidates to traditional live feeds used in marine hatcheries and food quality and type are recognized factors that influence copepods culture success. In this study, we evaluated the effects of feeding the calanoid Acartia grani with two microalgae – Rhodomonas marina and T-Isochrysis sp. – and one dinoflagellate (Oxyrrhis marina). Results showed that reproductive parameters were improved when R. marina was included in the diets, but the higher number of adults was found when O. marina was combined with R. marina. According to the life stage of the copepod different combinations of diets would be recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Acartia grani
• Rhodomonas marina
• Oxyrrhis marina
• population growth
• reproductive success

Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira under Grant M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000001-Observatório Oceânico da Madeira-OOM. The authors would like to thank the Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA – Algarve), for kindly supplying the microalgae and dinoflagellate inoculums.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira [M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000001-Observatório Oceânico].