Optimising microalgae diets in sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus larviculture to promote aquaculture diversification

Abstract

The objective of this study was to optimise the rearing of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) larvae through the choice of an optimal diet. The effects on larvae reared in oyster facilities and using different microalgae species were analysed. Four experimental diets were tested: 1) Isochrysis aff. galbana (Clone T-ISO), 2) Dunaliella tertiolecta, 3) Rhodomonas sp. and 4) a combined diet of these three species (1:1:1). The biometrics of larvae were carried out every two days. Post-larval survival was assessed when competence for settlement was achieved. Induction of settlement was carried out by contact between larvae and oyster shell particles. This method, adapted from oyster farming, was used for the first time in sea urchin culture. After 9 days post-settlement, metamorphosed juveniles were sampled and post-settlement survival was assessed. The biochemical composition (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids) of microalgae and larvae was measured.

The use of diatom Skeletonema costatum on aquaculture‐produced purple sea urchin ( Paracentrotus lividus ) larvae and post‐larvae diet

“…The use of the species Rhodomonas spp. in sea urchin larvae feeding has been previously studied by some authors such as Hubbard, Wolcott, and Baca (2003), Wolcott and Messing (2005), Castilla-Gavilán, Buzin, et al (2018a);Castilla-Gavilán, Turpin, et al (2018b), and in general, good results have been observed. The use of S. costatum on P. lividus rearing has not been described yet.…”

“…The quality of the microalgae provided is a primordial factor having a direct (nutritional properties) and indirect (water quality) impact on growth, competence (capacity for settlement) and survival. In the last years, several microalgae species have been tested in order to optimize the larvae culture, such as the genus Isochrisis, Dunaliella, Rhodomonas, Chaetoceros, Tetraselmis and Nannochloropis (Ahmed, Elmasry, El-Sayed, & Razek, 2016;Carboni, Vignier, Chinatore, Tocher, & Migaud, 2012;Castilla-Gavilán, Buzin, et al (2018a); Castilla-Gavilan, Turpin, Buzin, Cognie, and Decottignies (2018b)). Some benthic diatoms such as Cocconeis, Diploneis, Navicula, Cylindrotheca and Nanofrustulum were also tested in order to improve settlement success (Zupo, Glaviano, Caramiello, & Mutalipassi, 2018).…”

Early life cycle description and effects of microalgal diets on larval and post‐larval development of the mangrove cockleAnadara tuberculosa(Sowerby, 1833)

“…In aquaculture, microalgae are considered an essential resource, being one of the most important food sources in the early stages of fish (Reitan et al, 1997; El‐Khodary et al, 2021), molluscs (Maquirang et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2021), crustaceans (Abd Rahman et al, 2018; Turcihan et al, 2021) and echinoderms (Castilla‐Gavilán et al, 2018; Militz et al, 2018), given their nutritional value and ability to synthesize and accumulate large amounts of essential fatty acids (Malcata et al, 2018; Patil et al, 2005).…”

Chemosensitivity in the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) to Food-Related Compounds: An Innovative Behavioral Bioassay

“…Eventually, it could be useful to screen among its numerous components those key compounds, if any in particular, which trigger the prompt sensory-motor response in sea urchins, with the aim to limit the water soaking of the prepared diets (Secci et al, 2020). Several studies performed on both larvae and adult of P. lividus have recently focused on fresh and formulated diets in the attempt to increase their nutritional value (Cyrus et al, 2015;Castilla-Gavilán et al, 2018;Prato et al, 2018;Zupo et al, 2019) and a new contribution in this field may rise from the knowledge of their stimulating effectiveness that could also help improving the palatability for animals.…”