Growth, development and survival of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae cultured under different light spectra and intensities

Abstract

We assessed the effects of light intensity and spectrum on the growth, development and survival of Dicentrarchus labrax larvae from 30 to 96 days after hatching. Twelve lighting regimes were applied using 0.3, 1 and 2 W/m2 full spectrum white, blue, red and green light. By day 66 of exposure, growth performance was significantly better in larvae reared under green or red light compared with white or blue light (p < 0.05), while it was significantly better at 2.0 W/m2 compared with 1.0 or 0.3 W/m2 (p < 0.05). Larvae reared under white or blue light had significantly more deformities (p < 0.05) than did larvae reared under light of other spectra, while larvae reared under 0.3 W/m2 light intensity had a significantly higher proportion of jaw malformations than reared under 1.0 and 2.0 W/m2 (p ˂ 0.05). Dicentrarchus labrax larvae subjected to green light showed significantly lower survival compared with the other light spectra (p < 0.05). Moreover, light significantly affected brain aanat1a, aanatt1b, mellc, mt1, mt2, gh, tsh and crf mRNA expression. Therefore, the red and green light groups (or under 2.0 W/m2) could improve the growth performance and enhance secretion of melatonin, gh and tsh, and reduce the proportion of jaw malformations.