Biochemical compounds' dynamics during larval development of the carpet-shell clam (Linnaeus, 1758): effects of mono-specific diets and starvation

Domitília Matias (1) , Sandra Joaquim (1) , Margarete Ramos (1) , Paula Sobral (2) , Alexandra Leitão (1)

1 Instituto Nacional de Recursos Biológicos, I.P./L-IPIMAR
2 IMAR, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Successful larval growth and development of bivalves depend on energy derived from internal (endotrophic phase) and external (exotrophic phase) sources. The present paper studies survival, growth and biochemical changes in the early developmental stages (from egg to pediveliger) of the clam in order to characterize the nutritional requirements and the transition from the endotrophic to the exotrophic phase. Three different feeding regimes were applied: starvation and two mono-specific microalgal diets ( and ). A comparison between fed and unfed larvae highlighted the importance of egg lipid reserves, especially neutral lipids, during a brief endotrophic phase of embryonic development (first 2 days after fertilization). Egg reserves, however, may energetically contribute to the maintenance of larvae beyond the embryonic development. In fed larvae, the endotrophic phase is followed by a mixotrophic phase extending to days 5-8 after fertilization and a subsequent exotrophic phase. Metamorphosis starts around day 20. The intense embryonic activities are supported by energy derived from lipids, mainly from neutral lipids, and the metamorphic activities are supported by energy derived essentially from proteins accumulated during the planktonic phase and depend on the nutritional value of diets. The diet of proves to be more adequate to larval rearing. The results provide useful information for the successful production of aquaculture.

Mots clés: Bivalve larvae; Biochemical composition; Nutritional phases; Starvation; Diet

Domitília Matias, Sandra Joaquim, Margarete Ramos, Paula Sobral, Alexandra Leitão. Biochemical compounds' dynamics during larval development of the carpet-shell clam (Linnaeus, 1758): effects of mono-specific diets and starvation. Helgoland Marine Research, 2010, 65 (3), pp.369-379. ⟨10.1007/s10152-010-0230-3⟩. ⟨hal-00636202⟩