Effects of diet and starvation on growth and survival of Scapharca broughtonii larvae

Effects of diet and starvation on growth and survival of Scapharca broughtonii larvae were studied in two experiments by feeding the larvae with different algae diets and by starving the larvae for different periods of time.Ten days old larvae of S.broughtonii were fed with five different marine microalgae species,singly and in various mixtures.Both faster growth and higher eyespot larvae ratio were found in diets of Isochrysis galbana mixed with other four single species than in those of single species.Growth of the mixtures tested was in the order of 50% I.galbana/50% Chlorella sp.50% I.galbana/50% Platymonas subcordiformis50% I.galbana /50% Chaetoceros muelleri50% I.galbana/50% Nitzschia closterium.Of the single species diets,best growth and survival was observed in larvae fed with I.galbana,and which was similar to those of larvae fede with the mixture of 50% I.galbana / 50% Nitzschia closterium.At 23.2—24.0 ℃,larvae of S.broughtonii were deprived of food for various days to study the growth compensation from the outset of experiment.The results showed that starvation had significant effects on growth,though S.broughtonii larvae could survive long feeding delays.These results suggested that S.broughtonii larvae had the abiliity to survive 'starvation' using alternative sources of energy.It also showed that growth,survival and metamorphosis of S.broughtonii were affected by many factors besides food quality and quantity.