Feeding rate responses of Babylonia formosae habei (Prosobranchia: Buccinidae) larvae on cultured algae

Babylonia formosae habei is a commercially important marine gastropod species. Food particles ingested by the planktotrophic larvae of B. formosae habei can be critical in maximizing the larval growth and survival of this species. In this study, feeding rate responses of B. formosae habei larvae on cultured algae were observed using a Coulter multisizer. Variations were recorded based on the changes of different factors of influence, including varied larval stoking density, varied types of algae, varied algae concentrations and selective feeding on mixed algae cells of different types. Results of this study reveal some facts on the feeding of B. formosae habei larvae: larval stoking density has negative effect on their feeding rates; larva has a higher feeding rate on big-sized algae than small-sized algae; larva has a higher feeding rate on diatom than green algae and flagellate; feeding rate of larvae increased when fed mixed algae cells. Optimal algal concentration of the cultured algae Chlorella sp., Chaetoceros muelleri, Isochrysis zhanjiangensis and Dunaliella tertiolecta was suggested at 20 × 104, 5 × 104, 20 × 104 and 10 × 104 cells mL−1 respectively. Results of the preset study can be important in understanding feeding ecology of B. formosae habei larvae, and applicable for the aquaculture of this species.