THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIET AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF PALAEMONETES

¹ Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, N. C.

1. Larvae of Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis and Palaemonetes vulgaris (Say) reared in the laboratory showed differences in survival, frequency of molting and rate of development which may be associated with the amount of food available.

2. Larvae were unable to survive if fed diets of either single species or combinations of species of several unicellular marine algae or if not fed. Starved P. pugio larvae were able to survive one molt without food but starved P. vulgaris larvae died without molting.

3. Larvae of both species lived through metamorphosis if fed a diet which included animal tissue. The best survival was obtained by feeding living Artemia nauplii.

4. The frequency of molting, the duration of larval life and the number of larval intermolts in the development of P. pugio and P. vulgaris vary according to the quantity of food available. The frequency of molting and the rate of development are suppressed by a reduction in intake of food.

5. Variation in molting frequency independent of the rate of development makes possible variation in the form and number of larval intermolts.

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