Effect of brine shrimp size on the consumption rate, growth, and survival of early stage phyllosoma larvae of the rock lobster Jasus edwardsii

Stages I, III, and V phyllosoma larvae of the rock lobster Jasus edwardsii (Hutton) were fed daily with 40, 80; 160, or 320,1-mm brine shrimps (Artemi a salina) while controls were fed either 4, 8, or 16, 2-3-mm brine shrimps. Stage I larvae fed 1-mm brine shrimps moulted in the same time as the cont rols. Stage III and V larvae fed 160, l-mm brine shrimps or less took signi ficantly longer to moult than the controls but those fed 320, l-mm brine sh rimps were not significantly different. There was no difference in the surv ival rates, which ranged between 70 and 100% for all stages. The consumptio n rate increased significantly as the initial density of 1-mm brine shrimps increased.