An automated rearing chamber system for studies of shellfish feeding

Abstract

Producing large volumes of high quality microalgae to feed shellfish and other organisms is a limiting factor in the development of the aquaculture industry. Feeding regimes yielding the highest conversion efficiencies of algal feed to molluscan growth are required to maximize the return on algal-culture investments. In the past we have used 12 specialized, manually-controlled molluscan rearing chambers to study nutritional requirements and growth of oysters, clams, and scallops. A computer-controlled, solenoid-valve system was added to automate seawater flow, volume of microalgal food delivered, and feeding duration independently for each chamber. Labor was reduced from 7 h per week to 3 h, while adding flexibility. Each chamber represents a model for a programmed nursery system. Evidence that superior growth of bivalves can be achieved by feeding regimes made possible by this apparatus are provided by an experiment with juvenile bay scallops ( Argopecten irradians). Published by Elsevier Science B.V.