Metabolism and chemical composition of phyllosoma larvae,with special reference to the tropical rock lobster Panulirus ornatus (Decapoda; Palinuridae)

• Published in: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
• Main Authors: Ikeda, T, Smith, GG, McKinnon, AD, Hall, M
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science Bv 2011
• Subjects: Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences; Fisheries Sciences; Aquaculture; Antarc*; antarcticus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2011.05.022; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/80900

Rates of oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion and chemical composition (water, ash and CNcomposition) were determined throughout larval development, from Stages IIX, of Panulirus ornatusphyllosoma larvae raised in the laboratory. Dry mass (DM) specific oxygen consumption rates varied from 1.4to 3.3 l O2 (DM)−1 h−1, showing a pattern of developmental decline. In contrast, specific ammonia excretionrates fluctuated irregularly from 0.02 to 0.067 g NH4N (DM)−1 h−1, yielding oxygen consumption toammonia excretion ratios (O:N atomic ratio) as wide as 51180. With progressive development, ashdecreased from 34% to 17% of DM while C composition increased from 33% to 41% of DM. No consistentchanging pattern with development was seen for water contents (7483% of WM), N composition (6.99.5%of DM) and C:N ratios (4.05.1). Supplemental data of both specific oxygen consumption and ammoniaexcretion rates of laboratory-raised Stage III P. homarus and wild Parribacus antarcticus phyllosoma (stageunknown) of this study and literature data on phyllosomas of other lobster species by previous workers wereshown to be comparable to those of P. ornatus phyllosomas when the differences inDM and temperature weretaken into account. No appreciable differences due to the origin of the specimens, whether wild or laboratoryraised,were evident. Comparison of the present results with those of stomatopod larvae and holoplanktoniccrustaceans in the same tropical marine habitats revealed that phyllosoma larvae are characterized bysomewhat lower DM specific oxygen consumption rates and N composition. The study revealed markedlyreduced ammonia excretion rates in phyllosomas, suggesting reduced swimming activity and preferentialutilization of dietary protein to somatic growth rather than metabolism.