Larval development of the prawn Palaemon serratus under limited access to prey

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Decapod crustacean larvae may experience temporal variability in the availability of planktonic food as the combined effect of prey patchiness and vertical migrations in the water column. The aim of this study was to assess whether temporarily limited access to prey would affect larval growth and survival of the prawn Palaemon serratus, a marine species with a high commercial interest. Tests were done through laboratory experiments under controlled conditions of temperature (18°C), food (freshly hatched Artemia nauplii) and photoperiod (12 : 12), and three salinity treatments (15, 25, 34). Replicate groups of larvae were fed ad libitum for 4 h per day (limited access to prey) and compared with continuously fed control groups. In seawater (salinity = 34) and at salinity 25, larval development was successfully completed irrespective of whether access to prey was limited or continuous, but larvae grew at a lower rate under limited access to prey. At salinity 15, limited access to prey led to higher mortality as compared with larvae fed continuously. Our results suggest that P. serratus is well adapted to withstand transitory lack of food and may be able to successfully exploit plankton patches under natural conditions.