| The effect of four temperatures, ranging between 17 degrees C and 32 degrees C, was studied on development and lipid reserve management of Crassostrea gigas larvae. No effect of temperature was found on larval mortality, as high survival (>90%) was recorded before competence at all temperatures studied. Temperature did, nonetheless, have a strong effect on growth and settlement success. At low temperature (17 degrees C), larvae competent to metamorphose were only observed from day 23 and only a low percentage finally achieved metamorphosis (12%). The opposite was seen at temperatures >= 27 degrees C: larval competence appeared at day 18 and led to high rates of metamorphosis (60-90%). This difference at settlement seemed to be linked to larval... |
