The effect of temperature on the growth, survival and food consumption of the east coast rock lobster Panulirus homarus rubellus |
| |
Authors: | J.O.G. Kemp P.J. Britz |
| |
Affiliation: | aDepartment of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6170, South Africa |
| |
Abstract: | The successful culture of the east coast rock lobster Panulirus homarus rubellus is reliant, among other factors, on the provision of optimal water quality for growth and survival. This study investigated the effect of temperature over a range of 9.7 °C (18.9 ± 0.7 °C to 28.6 ± 1.5 °C) on the growth and survival of juvenile (40.4 ± 9 mm CL; 63.64 ± 12.05 g) P. h. rubellus fed a diet of fresh mussel flesh. Specific growth rate (SGR) was significantly different between temperatures (p = 0.01), with the highest values recorded for the 24 and 28 °C treatments. There was no significant difference in moult increment (MI) between temperatures in terms of both an increase in weight (p = 0.83) and carapace length (p = 0.54). Intermoult period (IMP) differed significantly between temperatures (p = 0.0015) with mean IMP lowest at 24 °C, although not significantly different from the means of the 26 and 28 °C treatments. IMP was highest at 19 and 21 °C. Apparent feed intake was significantly different between treatments (p < 0.0001) and exhibited a strong positive correlation with increasing temperature (y = − 1.67 + 0.16x ; r2 = 0.81). Food conversion ratio (FCR) differed significantly between temperatures (p = 0.02) with 24 °C exhibiting the most efficient FCR. Results indicate that efficient growout of juvenile P. h. rubellus, in terms of both growth and food conversion efficiency, is obtainable at 24 °C. |
| |
Keywords: | Mariculture Spiny lobster Temperature Growth Panulirus homarus rubellus |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|