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Effect of temperature and salinity on larval development of southern king crab (Lithodes antarcticus)

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Abstract

Larvae of Lithodes antarcticus Jacquinot were reared in October, 1981 from hatching to the glaucothoe stage at 16 temperature/salinity combinations (5.5°; 7.5°; 9.5° and 13.5°C; 26, 29, 32 and 35‰ S) to determine optimal environmental conditions for larval development. The highest survival percentage was obtained in the culture at 7.5°C and diminished according to temperature increase or decrease. High temperature cultures significantly shorten the larval life duration, but produce large mortalities. At 5.5°C mortality occurred almost exclusively during the moult to glaucothoe stage. Higher survival percentages were obtained as salinity was increased. In the lowest salinity culture (26‰ S) no zoea reached the post-larvae stage at culture temperatures. The best T/S combination was obtained at 7.5°C and 35‰ S, with a survival percentage of 29%. The shortest zoeal developments were obtained at 32‰ S in all culture temperatures. Salinity also affects larvae coloration: there is a pigment concentration on erythrophores, which causes a color decrease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, C.C. 92-(9410), Ushuaia, Territorio Nacional de la Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sud, Argentina

    J. H. Vinuesa, L. Ferrari & R. J. Lombardo

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  1. J. H. Vinuesa
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  2. L. Ferrari
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  3. R. J. Lombardo
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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

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Vinuesa, J.H., Ferrari, L. & Lombardo, R.J. Effect of temperature and salinity on larval development of southern king crab (Lithodes antarcticus). Mar. Biol. 85, 83–87 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396418

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396418

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