Larval survival of Litopenaeus vannamei (boone) fed Chaetoceros muelleri produced with agricultural fertilizers

Abstract

Larval survival of Litopenaeus vannamei fed Chaetoceros muelleri produced with agricultural fertilizers and f/2 medium (control) was compared. The microalgae were cultivated in natural sea water fertilized with 36.8 mg L^–1 N-NH₄NO₃ and 3.5 mg L^–1 P-P₂O₅ as a substitute for nitrogen and phosphorus in the f/2 medium. Microalgal concentration during feeding of nauplius₅ stages to protozoea_III was maintained at a density of 100–150 x 10³ cells mL^–1. From mysis_I to postlarvae₁ stages, Artemia franciscana nauplii were the only source of food. Average growth of C. muelleri with agricultural fertilizers was greater and significant (P < 0.05) with respect to the control on days 2, 3 and 4 of the culture; however, on day 5, there was no significant difference in the cellular density. Survival of the larvae of the mysis_I stage fed C. muelleri produced with agricultural fertilizers and f/2 medium was 69% and 77.5%, respectively, and showed significant differences (P < 0.05). However, survival at the postlarvae₁ stage in both treatments (60.1% and 65.6%) was not significantly different. We conclude that the use of nutrients from agricultural fertilizer as a substitute for nitrogen and phosphorus in the f/2 medium constitutes a viable alternative for the culture of C. muelleri as food for larvae of L. vannamei.