Digestive enzyme profiles reveal digestive capacity and potential energy sources in fed and starved spiny lobster (Jasus edwardsii) phyllosoma larvae

Author(s):  
Danielle J Johnston ◽  
Arthur J Ritar ◽  
Craig W Thomas
2004 ◽  
Vol 275 ◽  
pp. 219-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Johnston ◽  
A Ritar ◽  
C Thomas ◽  
A Jeffs

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle J. Johnston ◽  
Arthur Ritar

Mouthpart and foregut structure indicates that Jasus edwardsii phyllosomas ingest soft fleshy foods such as gelatinous zooplankton. Mouthpart morphology changes little during larval development, indicating that ingestive capabilities and external mastication are well developed from an early age. However, the density and complexity of setation and robustness of individual mouthparts increases with age, suggesting a greater capacity to ingest larger prey during development. The foregut consists of a single chamber with a number of well-developed grooves, ridges, and setae but lacking a gastric mill. The primary role of the foregut is mixing, sorting, and filtering particles, preground by the mouthparts. Phyllosomas have been divided into early (stage I–III), mid (IV–V), and late (VI–X) stages based on the development of the filter press and main brushes. Increasing robustness of setation and complexity of the foregut suggest that the texture of prey becomes more muscular (fibrous) with larval development. The results presented here suggest that early-stage phyllosoma would benefit from a diet comprising soft gelatinous items, whereas late-stage phyllosomas are better prepared to deal with larger, fleshy prey. The changes in structural characteristics with age should also serve as a guide in the development of formulated diets.


2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao Wang ◽  
Richard O'Rorke ◽  
Scott D. Nodder ◽  
Andrew G. Jeffs

Despite the global significance of spiny lobsters, the biology of their planktonic larvae, especially their carnivorous diet, is very poorly understood. Unsuitable diets and feeding regimes are one of the major reasons for consistently high mortalities during larval culture. In an effort to begin to determine the nutritional requirements of phyllosoma larvae of the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii, the present study first characterised the proximate composition of 11 previously identified groups of their potential prey. This included gelatinous zooplankton (chaetognaths, ctenophores, tunicates, siphonophores, scyphozoans, heteropods and pteropods), crustacean zooplankton (amphipods, copepods and euphausiids) and fish larvae. The composition of the 54 samples of 30 species of zooplankton ranged over 79.2–98.1% moisture content, and 1.9–54.2% for protein, 0.4–11.2% for carbohydrate, 0.1–27.9% for lipid, and 3.9–76.4% for ash of dry weight. The results showed that, in the most, zooplankton species provide a reliable source of protein. Only a small number of zooplankton had high lipid yield, suggesting that a narrow range of zooplankton species high in lipid are likely to be targeted by late-stage phyllosomas. The results of the present study will be useful as a guide for the development of artificial diets to improve phyllosoma aquaculture.


2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Jeffs ◽  
Stephen M. Chiswell ◽  
John D. Booth

Pelagic spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii, pueruli and phyllosomas were sampled on offshore transects from the south-east coast of the North Island of New Zealand in February 1998. Carapace length, weight, and total lipid content of pueruli (n = 360) were assessed; 33 pueruli had soft carapaces, indicative of recent metamorphosis from final-stage (stage 11) phyllosoma larvae. The recently metamorphosed pueruli occurred 24–216 km offshore, much farther offshore than has been previously suggested for the location of metamorphosis. Their distribution was compared to information on their size and condition, as well as their distance offshore, water depth, temperature and salinity, and estimates of phytoplankton biomass. The results indicate that a threshold of larval energy reserve is unlikely to trigger metamorphosis, but rather some exogenous trigger may be involved, or metamorphosis may be part of a programmed developmental process. The distribution and condition of the new pueruli suggest that about 84% had the energetic capacity to swim inshore to settle. This result may have important implications for patterns of puerulus settlement and subsequent recruitment of lobsters to coastal populations and their important associated fisheries. It may influence both the seasonal and interannual variability in settlement observed in this species.


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