Survival, growth and biochemical composition of larvae of the the lion's paw scallop, Nodipecten subnodosus, in batch- and flow-through culture

Interest in mariculture of the lion's paw scallop, Nodipecten subnodosus, is increasing due to overexploitation wild populations Mexico and species' high market demand. Four larval three postlarval trials N. subnodosus were carried out using batch- or flow-through culture 500-L tanks laboratory test variability methodology terms percent survival (S) growth. Temporal changes weight energy substrates (proteins, lipids carbohydrates) also assessed during development. The period fed with a binary algal diet lasted 12 15 days at 26 °C. Maximal S metamorphosis was 19 22%. Higher growth rate observed where larvae higher amounts microalgae both batch (10.1 μm d −1 ) (9.7 d) systems. Postlarvae exhibited up an order magnitude shell gross (GGR) than larvae, differences total yield appeared be related amount food. Total dry weight, ash-free proteins, decreased significantly D-stage increased thereafter, reaching new maximal values pediveligers. Combined results suggest that stocked densities (10 20 mL can reach rates when sufficient high-quality algae. latter method allowed substantially increase stocking larval/postlarval density without compromising yield. Larval biochemical patterns indicated heavily dependent on protein/lipid egg reserves. Accumulation umboned-pediveliger stages relied protein-lipid metabolism. • Flow-through (FL) larvae/postlarvae compared. attained FL even . showed as much 10-fold acceleration (40 73 ). Survival maternally-derived Endogenous protein accumulate from umbonate through pediveliger stages.