The influence of techniques of larvae rearing and seed collectors on the survival rate and recovery efficiency of the brown mussel Perna perna (L.) in laboratory

Abstract

Te study compared the hatchery recovery efficiency and survival rate of Perna perna spats using larvae submitted to four conditions, prior to settlement, tested with for different collectors. In 15 days old larvae (eyed larvae, T1), transparent nylon thread collectors presented the best results for spats recovered per meter of collector. The 28 days old larvae (foot larvae) stored under refrigeration before settlement (T3 with water and T4 without water) showed no significant differences between the spat number in all the collectors. The brown multi-thread collector was more efficient in T 4. The blue polyamide thread collector was the most efficient with 28 days old larvae settled directly, without refrigeration (T2). Treatment 1 showed the highest spats recovery percentage in the collectors (89.44%) in relation to the tank wall. The results showed that the efficiency of the collector depended on the methodology to prepare the larvae and the material used in the collector. © 2009 Tecpar.