Performance of Mixed Species and Mono‐specific Algal Diets for Culture of Larval Western School Prawns,Metapenaeus dalli |
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Authors: | Jason A Crisp Frances M L D'Souza James R Tweedley Gavin J Partridge Navid R Moheimani |
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Institution: | 1. Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia;2. Government of Western Australia, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Perth 6000, Western Australia;3. Australian Centre for Applied Aquaculture Research, South Metropolitan TAFE, Fremantle 6160, Australia;4. Algae Research and Development Centre, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia |
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Abstract: | The effect of three mono‐specific and four combinations of the diatoms Chaetoceros muelleri, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and the chlorophyte Tetraselmis suecica on survival, development, and dry weight of the western school prawn, Metapenaeus dalli, was assessed from protozoea I until mysis I. The development and dry weight of larvae were significantly greater when fed diets comprising C. muelleri and/or T. suecica. A fourth diet, consisting of all three microalgal species also performed just as well. Survival alone was a poor measure of the performance of the various diets. Larvae fed with C. calcitrans, either alone or in a mixed diet with either C. muelleri or T. suecica, had significantly slower development and lower dry weight. Overall performance, assessed using the normalized biomass development index, determined that both mono‐specific and mixed diets containing C. muelleri and T. suecica were among the best for M. dalli larvae. These results for M. dalli are consistent with those found for commercially grown penaeid prawns. This study enhances the limited knowledge on the feeding requirements of metapenaeid prawn larvae. Moreover, the results will help improve hatchery methods for the aquaculture‐based enhancement of M. dalli in the Swan‐Canning Estuary and potentially increase the abundance of this iconic recreational species. |
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Keywords: | algae aquaculture enhancement penaeid phytoplankton restocking shrimp |
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