Effect of temperature on the culture of larvae of the bivalve Mytilus chilensis originated from broodstocks from different latitudes in a controlled environment

Abstract

D-veliger larvae from Mytilus chilensis broodstocks from natural banks of Punta Arenas and Chiloé (Chile) were grown at 9 ± 0.5 ºC and 15 ± 0.5 ºC to compare results under two culture temperatures. During this experiment, larvae were fed Isochrysis galbana (clone T-ISO). The larvae were grouped into four groups depending on origin of broodstock and the culture temperature. The growth rate was statistically higher in the group from Punta Arenas at 15 ºC, while settlement length was smaller in the group from Chiloé at 9 ºC. In both cases, the remaining groups did not differ significantly. Settlement survival showed no significant differences between populations and temperatures. Both populations showed a better use of accumulated thermal units (ºC day^–1) during growth at 9 ºC than at 15 ºC. Despite the genetic differentiation of the Punta Arenas population, the productive outcome of M. chilensis larvae from broodstocks from different latitudes is similar.