Effect of light intensity on the survival of European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) larvae reared in aquaculture system

Abstract

Light plays a crucial role in the growth, development, and survival of aquatic organisms. To evaluate the survival of European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) larvae in relation to different light intensities (26, 359, and 910 lux, equivalent to 0.35, 4.74, and 12.29 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively), this study monitored the survival rates of reared spiny lobster from the early instar phyllosoma stages to their metamorphosis into the puerulus stage (111 days after hatching) at the three light intensities. The newly hatched larvae were cultured in 65-L Kreisel tanks with 200 individuals each (three replicates per treatment, i.e., light intensity). Phyllosoma stages I to III larvae showed no significant differences in survival rates under different light intensities. However, light intensity did have a significant impact on the survival rates of phyllosoma stages IV and V as well as the metamorphosis of phyllosoma VI into puerulus. The highest survival rates were observed under high and medium light intensity conditions. At the end of the experiment, the highest mean survival rate for stage VI, the metamorphosis into the puerulus stage, was 42.0 ± 2.52 % under high light intensity. These survival rates for reared pueruli were 84 times higher than those achieved in previous studies. The present study results show promise for the successful implementation of commercial scale rearing protocols for European spiny lobster and have implications for the design of crustacean larvae culture systems.

Keywords

• European spiny lobster
• Palinurus elephas
• Crustacean larval rearing
• Phyllosoma
• Survival
• Light intensity