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Email the author (Login required) Effects of microalgal diets on growth and survival of yellow clam seeds Amarilladesma mactroides (Reeve, 1854)
Submited: 2025-09-04 14:48:51 | Published: 2026-08-31 22:47:19
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue4-fulltext-3530
Abstract
The effects of different proportions and biomass supply levels of three live microalgae species, Isochrysis aff. galbana (ISO), Chaetoceros muelleri (CM), and Tetraselmis suecica (TS) on the growth and survival of Amarilladesma mactroides seeds were evaluated in two experiments. In the first experiment, four monoalgal and three bi-algal diets, plus a control without feeding, were evaluated at a feeding level corresponding to 3% of total seed wet biomass over 28 days. Higher mass gain and shell growth were observed in seeds fed ISO and CM-based diets, particularly the monoalgal CM and bi-algal ISO/CM diets, whereas TS-based diets showed lower performance. In the second experiment, the two best-performing microalgae species (ISO and CM) were combined in different proportions (30:70, 50:50, and 70:30) and supplied at different biomass levels (3, 6, and 10% of total seed wet biomass) over 21 days. Bi-algal diets containing balanced or ISO-enriched proportions (50/50 and 70/30), particularly at 3 and 6% biomass supply levels, resulted in the highest growth performance. No significant differences in survival were observed among treatments in either experiment. These results demonstrate that diets composed of I. aff. galbana and C. muelleri, supplied either alone or in combination, promote improved growth performance of A. mactroides seeds under laboratory conditions.
