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Optimal spawning conditions of Phyllospora comosa (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) for mariculture

Version 2 2024-06-03, 07:08
Version 1 2019-05-17, 13:47
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-03, 07:08 authored by EE Cumming, Ty MatthewsTy Matthews, CJ Sanderson, BA Ingram, Alecia BellgroveAlecia Bellgrove
The fucoid Phyllospora comosa has sparked interest from the industry as a potential commercial aquaculture species. However, information on the feasibility of culturing this species, including maximising spawning and fertilisation, remains limited. This study aimed to identify optimal conditions for spawning and early development of P. comosa under laboratory conditions. We tested spawning and germination success across lunar phase (new moon vs full moon), temperature (15 °C, 18 °C, 21 °C), light (35 μmol photons m −2  s −1 vs 0 μmol photons m −2  s −1 ) and exposure (desiccated vs submerged). Lunar cycles were compared over three consecutive months. Fifty fertile P. comosa male and female thalli were collected from Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia, every 2 weeks to coincide with full and new moon phases from February to April 2017. Spawning of eggs and sperm was achieved in all treatment combinations. However, there was no consistent effect of lunar phase, light, temperature or exposure, with high temporal variability amongst treatment groups. Percentage germination after 24 h in static culture varied between 35 and 90%, and overall embryo mortality was high (> 65%) after 7 days, but did not differ amongst spawning cue treatments. The high mortality observed at day 7 did not appear to be linked to insufficient egg or sperm densities nor excess sperm (polyspermy). Overall results indicate flexibility in spawning conditions which is advantageous for integration into aquaculture.

History

Journal

Journal of applied phycology

Volume

31

Pagination

3041-3050

Location

Dordrecht, The Netherlands

ISSN

0921-8971

eISSN

1573-5176

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2019, Springer Nature B.V.

Issue

5

Publisher

Springer