Methodologies for Patellid Limpets’ Aquaculture: From Broodstock Management to Juveniles

Abstract

The production of cultured limpets is a recent research field contributing to aquaculture diversification, focusing on low trophic species while reducing the carbon footprint. Limpets are gastropods that colonize rocky substrates and are mostly present on tidal and subtidal shores. This animal group is in high commercial demand and is endangered in several regions. The aquaculture production of limpets has been traditionally challenging. The most successful reproduction method has been gonadal dissection, as artificial spawning induction has shown limited success to date. Moreover, methods for larval culture, settlement, and juvenile growth have been poorly developed and remain largely unknown. In recent years, advances in this field have led to the optimization of methods to enhance larval production, larval culture, settlement induction of competent larvae, and management of post-larvae and juveniles. The present manuscript reviews these advances, obtained within the framework of AQUAINVERT project, focusing on broodstock management, gametes release, larval production, larviculture, settlement, and grow-out of post-larvae, and providing an update on the actual state of the art in limpets’ aquaculture.

Improving efficiency of methods for hatchery production of the limpet Patella candei (Patellogastropoda: Patellidae)

“…(Mau & Jha, 2018b; Nhan & Ako, 2014, 2016, 2019), Lottia sp. (Gould et al, 2001; Kay & Emlet, 2002; Nakano et al, 2020), Patella aspera (Castejón et al, 2021; Castejón, Nogueira, & Andrade, 2022), Patella caerulea (Ferranti et al, 2018), Patella ferruginea (Ferranti et al, 2022; Guallart et al, 2013; Guallart, Ferranti, et al, 2020; Guallart, Peña, et al, 2020), and also P. candei , with research focusing from larval production (Cañizares et al, 2021) to the settlement and management of the post‐larvae (Castejón, García, et al, 2022).…”

“…Traditionally, the production of trochophores in limpets has been increased using alkaline baths to mature artificially the oocytes (Aquino De Souza et al, 2009; Castejón et al, 2021; Guallart, Peña, et al, 2020; Hodgson et al, 2007; Pérez et al, 2016; Wanninger et al, 1999; Wolfsohn, 1907). Cañizares et al (2021) showed that the production of trochophores in P. candei can be enhanced using NaOH baths at pH 9.0–9.5 for 2–3 h. Several studies also indicated that other alkaline agents like NH 4 OH can promote better larval production yields with significantly shorter bathing times (Castejón, García, et al, 2022; Gould et al, 2001; Hodgson et al, 2007; Nakano et al, 2020; Pérez et al, 2016; Ribeiro, 2008; Seabra et al, 2019; Wanninger et al, 1999). Another key factor for larval production is sperm density.…”

“…Another key factor for larval production is sperm density. In limpets, the optimal sperm concentration for the fertilization of the oocytes is probably a species‐dependent factor that varies from 10 4 to 10 6 sperm cells mL −1 (Castejón, García, et al, 2022; Ferranti et al, 2018; Guallart, Peña, et al, 2020; Hodgson et al, 2007).…”

“…This research line received increasing attention in the last years, describing different methods for small‐scale larviculture systems (Ferranti et al, 2018, 2022; Guallart, Peña, et al, 2020). In this sense, a recent publication by Castejón, García, et al (2022) described a protocol for the larviculture of limpets using glass beakers and nonfeeding conditions to culture the larvae until the last larval stage, followed by siphoning to gather the larvae before reaching settlement competence. This method allowed to gather 30%–60% of the original trochophores of P. aspera as viable pediveligers (Castejón, García, et al, 2022) to perform settlement studies (Castejón, Nogueira, & Andrade, 2022).…”

“…In this sense, a recent publication by Castejón, García, et al (2022) described a protocol for the larviculture of limpets using glass beakers and nonfeeding conditions to culture the larvae until the last larval stage, followed by siphoning to gather the larvae before reaching settlement competence. This method allowed to gather 30%–60% of the original trochophores of P. aspera as viable pediveligers (Castejón, García, et al, 2022) to perform settlement studies (Castejón, Nogueira, & Andrade, 2022). Another key factor determining the success of the larval rearing of species of aquaculture interest is the larval density (Asmani et al, 2017; Kalam Azad et al, 2010; Ramos et al, 2021; Rico‐Villa et al, 2008).…”