Larviculture of two marine indigenous crabs with ornamental interests

• Grant number: 11/19930-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Wagner Cotroni Valenti
• Grantee: Rafael Augusto Gregati
• Host Institution: Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In order to obtain the first information on the cultivation of marine crabs with ornamental interest in Brazil, this proposal seeks to establish some conditions for the larviculture of Stenorhynchus seticornis and Mithraculus forceps. The species were selected as they are heavily exploited and show relatively short larval phase. The project is organized in three setsof experiments for both species, where the initial phase will determine the best combinations of temperature (23, 25, 27 and 29 °C) and salinity (25, 30, 35 and 400) for complete larval development. In the second set will be tested the food supply (newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii and inert wet diet, developed at Centro de Aqüicultura da UNESP) and the third step, it will be analyzed the stocking density of larvae (5, 10, 15, 20 e 25 larvas/L.). In the initial phase willl be conducted as a factorial design in 500 ml beakers in a germination chamber. In the other set of experiments, it will be tested a larviculture model with filtration and recirculation water, using mini floating cages as randomized blocks. The results may help to reduce the impact on native diversity, either through direct provision of specimens produced in the aquarium market or its use as a source for reintroducing these species in places already known as impacted ones. Additionally, results can be adapted and used in the cultivation of other species of marine decapods with the similar interest.