LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF PAGURUS LONGICARPUS SAY REARED IN THE LABORATORY. V. EFFECT OF DIET ON SURVIVAL AND MOLTING

¹ Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062

The value of several flagellate algal species, shelled oyster larvae (Crassostrea virginica) and annelid larvae (Arenicola marina post-trochophores) as food for larvae of Pagurus longicarpus was determined. The flagellate algae were ingested by Pagurus larvae but did not allow development to the second instar. Shelled oyster larvae were an inadequate diet because Pagurus larvae could not break the shell. Arenicola post-trochophores allowed complete larval development with survival to the fourth zoeal stage comparable to Artemia-fed controls. Survival of Arenicola-fed larvae through the megalopal stage was superior to Artemia-fed controls. Pagurus larvae were shown to be capable of ingesting several micro-crustaceans and polychaete larvae, but culture tests of suitability for complete development were not performed.