How to increase productivity of the copepod Acartia tonsa (Dana): effects of population density and food concentration |
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| Authors: | Jianshe Zhang Adrianna Ianora Changwen Wu David Pellegrini Francesco Esposito Isabella Buttino |
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| Affiliation: | 1. College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China;2. Centro di Ateneo per l'Innovazione e lo Sviluppo dell'Industria Alimentare (CAISIAL), University of Naples “Federico II”, Napoli, Italy;3. Institute for Environmental Protection and Research – ISPRA, Livorno, Italy;4. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy |
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| Abstract: | In this study, we analysed the effect of population density and food concentration on the fecundity of a Mediterranean strain of Acartia tonsa to maximize egg production. During 4‐day feeding experiments, egg hatching success and faecal pellet production were also followed. The algae Rhinomonas reticulata was supplied at different concentrations corresponding to 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 3000 μg C L?1 day?1 at the following adult copepod density: 40, 80 and 160 ind. L?1. Our results show a positive relationship between algal concentration and egg production under all experimental conditions confirming that the quantity of food strongly limits A. tonsa fecundity. Maximum egg production (57 eggs per female) was reached at the lowest density and at the maximum food concentration. Percentage of egg hatching success was not dependent on the quantity of food used. At the same food concentration, an increase in population density from 40 to 80 ind. L?1 induced an increase in faecal pellet production per couple which did not correspond to an increase in egg production, suggesting that higher energetic costs were shifted to swimming activity. Productivity of the A. tonsa Mediterranean strain is mainly limited by the quantity of food rather than by crowding conditions. |
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| Keywords: | zooplankton rearing egg production hatching success algal concentration |
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