Hatching Success, Egg Production And Development Time Of Acartia Califomiensis Trinast (Copepoda:Calanoida) Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Experiments of hatching success, egg production and development time of the marine calanoid copepod Acartia californiensis Trinast were conducted under laboratory conditions at 17 degree C plus or minus 1 degree C and 35 ppt. Specimens of A. californiensis were collected in the Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California, Mexico. The copepod had an average of 96% plus or minus 32 SD hatching success during the experimental period. Average egg production varied from 24.75 plus or minus 1.95 SD eggs/female/day (n = 2 females, t = 10 days). Development time was 17.75 days from egg to adult (CVI). The results show great concordance with those in other studies carried out with the same species in regions of the northern Pacific coast. A. californiensis proved to be a species easy to rear and to keep in the laboratory.