Effect of type of feed, stocking density and grow-out site on gonad index, growth and survivorship of cultured sea urchin (Tripneustesgratilla)

Issue Date

12-2008

Abstract

Grow-out culture of sea urchins in sea cages was developed as a means to enhance the recovery ofdepleted natural populations and to provide a supplemental source of income for fisherfolk. To improvereproductive output and commercial value of hatchery-produced sea urchins, the effects of food type,stocking density and grow-out site on test diameter (TD) growth, survivorship and gonad index (GI)were determined. Sea urchins fed with Sargassum spp. had higher TD growth rates, GI and bettergonad color than those fed with seagrass (Thalassia hemprichii). No significant differences werefound in the average growth rates of Sargassum-fed sea urchins reared at low and high stockingdensity. However, survivorship and average GI were significantly higher in lower stocking densitycages (200–250 sea urchins per m2). Reduction of density in the cages before harvest increased GIsignificantly. Survivorship in the sea cages was high in all grow-out sites except during the secondexperiment where mass mortalities occurred due to low salinities. Grow-out site and period hadsignificant effects on GI but not on TD growth. Possible effects of environmental and temporal factors,and implications of the results on the resource management and culture of sea urchins are discussed.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist, The (Formerly: The Philippine Agriculturist)

ISSN

0031-7454

Volume

91

Issue

4

Page

439-449

Document Type

Article

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Frequency

quarterly

Physical Description

map ; graphs ; tables ; references

Language

English

Subject

feeding, gonad index, grow-out culture, stocking density, Tripneustes gratilla

En – AGROVOC descriptors

TRIPNEUSTES GRATILLA; SEA URCHIN CULTURE; GROWING PONDS; STOCKING DENSITY; SARGASSUM; SEA GRASSES; FEEDING EXPERIMENTS; AQUACULTURE FEEDS; SURVIVAL

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