Effects of early starvation on the development and survival of Macrobrachium vollehovenil (Herklots 1857) larvae reared in the laboratory.

Abstract

Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (Herklots) has been identified as a crustacean species with great culture potential. The effects of starvation on development and survival of early larval stages of the African river prawn M. vollenhovenii were investigated.


As an aspect of the ongoing effort to determine the culturability of the species, the time of first need for exogenous food by the larvae was examined in relation to larval development and survival.


Larvae required external food 2 to 3 days from hatching. This time corresponded with the period of transformation of the first larval stages into stage II larvae. Larvae starved at this stage of development cannot moult into subsequent instars and soon die.

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Volume , No 1 January (2001) pp. 33-36



KEY WORDS:

Starvation, larvae, Macrobrachium vollenhovenii.