The significance of diet in the growth and development of larvae of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus rathbun, under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The following protistan diets were tested on blue crab larvae: the algae Isochrisis galbana Parke, Monochrisis lutheri Droop, Dunaliella sp., and an unknown mixture; and the ciliated protozoans Euplotes vannus Muller and Parauronema virginianum(2/1) Thompson. None of these diets resulted in development past the first zoea stage, although some apparently were ingested and delayed mortality as compared to unfed controls. The rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Müller sustained good survival through early zoea development; however, rotifer-fed larvae did not metamorphose to the megalopa. Larvae of the polychaete Hydroides dianthus (Verrill) sustained crab larvae throughout zoea development, resulting in 17% survival to metamorphosis. The percentage mortality per stage was significantly lower in polychaete-fed larvae when compared with rotifer-fed larvae during zoea stages III, VI, and VII. Mean intermolt duration varied between diet treatments during the first three stages, but showed no differences during later zoea development. In tests on groups of late stage sibling larvae, Artemia salina L. nauplii gave development to metamorphosis, whereas rotifers did not. All the diets so far tested on blue crab larvae are classified according to their ability to sustain development. It is demonstrated that the two diets which allow completed development, Hydroides dianthus larvae and Artemia salina nauplii, contain 2–3 times as much lipid per dry weight as do rotifers. A metabolic requirement for lipid late in development may be indicated. Invertebrate larvae derived from yolky telolecithal and centrolecithal eggs may be an important dietary component for brachyuran larvae.