Impacts of Artemia sp. enrichment and algae presence on red king crab larval survival, growth, and health
Closure of the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) fishery since 1983 in the Kodiak management area of Alaska has failed to yield sufficient natural population recovery to support its reopening. In response to calls for action, the Alaska King Crab Research and Rehabilitation Program was form...
| Other Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.617.7816 http://seagrant.uaf.edu/research/projects/kingcrab/docs/posters/leroux-2009-03.pdf |
| Summary: | Closure of the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) fishery since 1983 in the Kodiak management area of Alaska has failed to yield sufficient natural population recovery to support its reopening. In response to calls for action, the Alaska King Crab Research and Rehabilitation Program was formed to investigate the feasibility of mass culturing Alaskan king crab species for the purpose of population rehabilitation. Following P. camtschaticus larvae through their four larval and single glaucothoe stages, this study addresses the effect of Artemia sp. enrichment with DC DHA SELCO ™ as well as Isochrysis galbana algae on larval growth, health, and survival. Larvae were reared in a 190 L conical bottom tanks at a density of 15/L and fed San Francisco Bay strain Artemia sp. at densities from 2-4.5/mL, increasing with larval stage. I. galbana was fed at a density of 50,000 cells/mL twice daily. Health and growth assessments were conducted mid-way through each larval stage and survival was assessed by counting all live crabs at stocking and the glaucothoe stage. Molting activity, tank temperature, and salinity were also monitored. A significant effect of effect of Artemia sp. enrichment on survival to the glaucothoe stage (P < 0.001) was observed, but differences in survival with respect to the addition of I. galbana were not. Health assessments elucidated a number of notable observations regarding lipid content, gut fullness, and presence of filamentous bacteria. It is suggested that further study examine the effects of strain and enrichment strategy of Artemia sp. on larval rearing. |
|---|