Ladygina L. Microalgae as a food item for larvae of mussels and oysters

Subject: larvae,microalgae Aim: The study focused on growth regularities characteristic of cotinuous and semi-flow-through cultures of microalgae depended upon culture conditions.The investigation has specified the biochemical fractions of microalgae used to feed larvae of the oyster Crassostrea gigas (Th) and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lam). For the first time food requirement of cultured larvae of the oysters and mussels and the rations special to each developmental stage were specified. Optimum growth conditions were determined in relation to the amount and composition of the forage and the stocking density of cultured larvae.It was found that in the veligers and veliconchs oyster average daily increment depended upon the diet and upon the diet and microalgal concentration, respectively.The results obtained underlie the biotechnology for controlled rearing of mollusc larvae that has been put into practice at the rearing station of the Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas.