The effect of embryo incubation temperature on indicators of larval viability in Stage 1 phyllosoma of the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii

The effect of embryo incubation temperature on larval viability, as measured by biological and biochemical parameters, on newly hatched Jasus edwardsii phyllosoma larvae, was examined. Ovigerous lobsters collected from the wild shortly after egg extrusion were held until hatch in warm (18°C), ambient (11.7°C, range 9.5-13°C) and cold (10.5°C) water. The duration of embryonic development until hatch was directly related to incubation temperature. The use of all three temperature regimes (warm, ambient and cold) extended the period that phyllosoma hatched to 87 days compared to 30 days under the ambient regime alone. Embryonic development in warm water produced Stage I phyllosoma that were significantly smaller with reduced levels of eicosapentanoic acid (20:5n-3) and sterols compared to the other treatments. Ascorbic acid reserves were highest in cold incubated larvae. The results suggest a detrimental effect of warm incubation temperature during embryonic development on Stage I phyllosoma. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.