Influence of temperature and light regime on the larval development of the common spider crab Maja brachydactyla Balss , 1922 (Brachyura: Majidae)

Abstract

Temperature and light are important factors affecting production in the aquaculture industry, as they can drive behaviour and physiological responses of free-swimming larval stages. However, the influence of light on crustacean farming has received little consideration. The common spider crab Maja brachydactyla Balss, 1922 has a great potential for aquaculture because of the easy maintenance, high fecundity, and short larval development. In order to optimize larval culture techniques, we quantified the influence of temperature and light on larval survival, development, and elemental (carbon and nitrogen) body composition. Constant darkness resulted in longer developmental time as compared with daily light photoperiod (6-16 light hours). Larvae reared under constant darkness showed also reduced dry mass, carbon and nitrogen content, and C:N ratio. We also found carry-over effects of light conditions: constant darkness experienced during the zoeal stage led to increased developmental time in the megalopa stage. Temperature and light showed additive effects. We optimized the larval culture of M. brachydactyla requiring around 14 days from hatch to first juvenile by keeping cultures under 21 ± 1°C and light sources simulating the daily light cycle.

Survival and growth of hatchery-reared Mediterranean spider crab juveniles, Maja squinado, under different rearing conditions

“…The production of a large number of specimens, for both commercial and stock enhancement purposes, requires a lot of prior knowledge. A considerable number of studies on the production, i.e., the reproduction and growth under captivity conditions, of Maja brachydactyla have been conducted in the last few years (e.g., Castejón et al, 2015;Domingues et al, 2012;Guerao et al, 2012;Rotllant et al, 2015;Simeó et al, 2015).However, information about M. squinado is scarce. Just a few studies on the reproductive process, larval rearing and growth under intensive culture conditions have been published (Durán et al, 2012;Durán et al, 2013;Guerao et al, 2008;Guerao and Rotllant, 2010).…”

Investigation of the Light Intensity Effect on Growth, Molting, Hemolymph Lipid, and Antioxidant Capacity of Juvenile Swimming Crab Portunus trituberculatus

“…Further, the photoperiod (lightdark cycle) acts as a primary environmental cue (zeitgeber) to guide the oscillation of the endogenous biological clock to maintain the normal metabolism and growth of the organism (Ashton et al, 2022). In this study, higher mortality in the dark group may also be attributed to circadian rhythm disruption (Ishibashi et al, 2013;Castejon et al, 2018;Pereira-Davison and Callan, 2018).…”

Impacts of artificial light at night on the early life history of two ecosystem engineers

“…Larvae of the tropical convict surgeonfish Acanthurus triostegus [50] grew larger and survival declined under ALAN. Similarly, crustacean larvae showed shorter developmental time between stages and lower survival [23,24]. Pond snail hatchlings Lymnaea stagnalis also grew larger under ALAN but without compromising survival [25].…”

“…For example, exposure to artificially lit nights decreases survival in zebrafish Danio rerio embryos even before neural light-detecting structures are present [20]. Larvae in aquaculture settings often grow larger and faster at the expense of increased mortality under ALAN [21][22][23][24]. By contrast, pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis hatched under ALAN grew larger but mortality was not altered [25].…”