Fisheries Research Articles

Effect of stocking density on the growth, survival, and behavior of Postpuerulus Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus cygnus (George) (Decapoda: Palinuridae)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-20-2009

Journal Title

Journal of the World Aquaculture Society

ISSN

Print: 0893-8849 Electronic: 1749-7345

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology

Abstract

The effect of four stocking densities (30, 60, 100, and 150 lobsters/m2) on the growth and survival of Panulirus cygnus postpueruli was determined over a 112-d grow-out trial. Agonistic behavior at each experimental density was recorded using infrared filming. Survival and growth decreased with increasing density, although this trend was only significant between the lowest (30/m2) and the highest densities (150/m2) (P < 0.05) at the conclusion of the grow-out trial. Density had no significant effect on apparent feed intake but significantly affected food conversion ratios (FCR) across all four densities, with FCR being best at 30/m2 and worst at 150/m2. The number and frequency of agonistic encounters per tank differed significantly with density, with agonistic encounters being highest at 150/m2 and lowest at 30/m2. Agonistic encounters coincided with the crepuscular foraging pattern of postpueruli. The reduction in survival and growth of postpueruli at the highest density (150/m2) can be attributed to the significant increase in the number of agonistic encounters. This study supports that P. cygnus postpueruli should be stocked at densities less than 100/m2 in order to minimize the negative effect of density on growth and survival.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-7345.2009.00248.x