Live feed disinfection improves larval lobster survival...with implications for other species

摘要

Early-stage Homarus gammarus larvae have a greater chance of successful development in the hatchery if they are fed live food, typically enriched Artemia nauplii. However, the cultivation of Artemia is often accompanied by extensive growth and diversification of the microbial community within the culture water, which in turn can compromise growth and survival of the lobsters. For this experiment INVE~(C) BDS-G~(R) dip slides incorporating specialised marine agar were used to, measure concentrations of heterotrophic bacteria, including Vibrio spp. in cultures of both Artemia and lobster larvae, and in the hatchery seawater supply. As predicted, the live Artemia culture had by far the highest bacterial loading, especially of pathogenic Vibrio spp. The question then was how to control it.