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Optimisation of larval culture of the mussel Mytilus edulis (L.)

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Abstract

The blue mussel Mytilus edulis is a commercially important species whose fishery and culture generally relies on natural spat collection. Hatchery-production could provide an alternative source of seed, enabling reliable expansion of the industry. Mussel spawning and larval rearing trials were carried out to optimise elements of hatchery production. Culturing fertilised eggs at low density (20–200 eggs cm−2) rather than high density (400–720 eggs cm−2) significantly improved the quality of first veliger larvae and differences in this improvement were evident between the eggs from different females (maternal effects). Veliger larval growth at 17 or 21°C was significantly faster than growth at 14°C. Feeding veliger larvae an identical total ration either daily or at 2–3 day intervals did not significantly affect their growth. Different microalgal diets (1: Isochrysis sp. (clone T-ISO), 2: Chaetoceros calcitrans forma pumilus, 3: C. muelleri, 4: mixed Isochrysis sp. (clone T-ISO) and C. calcitrans f. pumilus, and 5: mixed Isochrysis sp. (clone T-ISO) and C. muelleri) were tested on veliger larval growth and mixed diets outperformed single-species diets.

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Abbreviations

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank James Wilson (Deepdock), who provided mussels for much of this work, and Gwyn Hughes for the provision of algal foods. We also thank Pauline Kamermans and two anonymous reviewers for providing comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. This research was supported by EU grants INTERREG IIIA REF: 55432 and COOP-CT-2005-017729 (BLUE SEED project). This work was also supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from FCT (SFRH/BD/27113/2007) to FMB.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5EY, UK

    Thomas H. Galley, Frederico M. Batista, Richard Braithwaite, Jon King & Andy R. Beaumont

  2. Instituto de Biotecnologia e Bioengenharia, Centro de Genética e Biotecnologia da Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, CGB-UTAD/IBB, 5000-911, Vila Real, Portugal

    Frederico M. Batista

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  1. Thomas H. Galley
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  2. Frederico M. Batista
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  3. Richard Braithwaite
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  4. Jon King
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  5. Andy R. Beaumont
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Correspondence to Andy R. Beaumont.

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Galley, T.H., Batista, F.M., Braithwaite, R. et al. Optimisation of larval culture of the mussel Mytilus edulis (L.). Aquacult Int 18, 315–325 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-009-9245-7

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