EGG PRODUCTION, EGG HATCHING SUCCESS, AND POPULATION GROWTH OF THE CALANOID COPEPOD ACARTIA GRANI (CA-LANOIDA, ACARTIIDAE) FED WITH EIGHT DIFFERENT DIETS

摘要

Calanoid copepods, including species of the genus Acartia, are commonly used for larval diets of marine finfish.Most calanoid copepods are filter-feeders, but there is little information on their natural food preference and on the individual food value of the species present in natural phytoplankton. For this reason, the identification of microalgal diets that allow good survival, fast rates of somatic growth and of reproduction, as well as high copepod yields is of paramount importance for larval fish culture.Food quality and quantity are probably the most important factors regulating the productivity of copepod culture, and different microalgal diets can affect egg production, egg hatching, and quality.