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Performance of mixed species and mono-specific algal diets for culture of larval Western School Prawns, Metapenaeus dalli

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Crisp, J.A., D'Souza, F.M.L., Tweedley, J.R.ORCID: 0000-0002-2749-1060, Partridge, G.J. and Moheimani, N.R.ORCID: 0000-0003-2310-4147 (2017) Performance of mixed species and mono-specific algal diets for culture of larval Western School Prawns, Metapenaeus dalli. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 49 (5). pp. 845-856.

Link to Published Version: https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12484
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Abstract

The effect of three mono-specific and four combinations of the diatoms Chaetoceros muelleri, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and the chlorophyte Tetraselmis suecica on survival, development, and dry weight of the western school prawn, Metapenaeus dalli, was assessed from protozoea I until mysis I. The development and dry weight of larvae were significantly greater when fed diets comprising C. muelleri and/or T. suecica. A fourth diet, consisting of all three microalgal species also performed just as well. Survival alone was a poor measure of the performance of the various diets. Larvae fed with C. calcitrans, either alone or in a mixed diet with either C. muelleri or T. suecica, had significantly slower development and lower dry weight. Overall performance, assessed using the normalized biomass development index, determined that both mono-specific and mixed diets containing C. muelleri and T. suecica were among the best for M. dalli larvae. These results for M. dalli are consistent with those found for commercially grown penaeid prawns. This study enhances the limited knowledge on the feeding requirements of metapenaeid prawn larvae. Moreover, the results will help improve hatchery methods for the aquaculture-based enhancement of M. dalli in the Swan-Canning Estuary and potentially increase the abundance of this iconic recreational species.

Item Type: Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s): Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research
School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Inc.
Copyright: © 2017 World Aquaculture Society
URI: http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/42334
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