Effects of three microalgae, Tetraselmis suecica, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum on larvae and spat growth in the trumpet shell Charonia sauliae

The trumpet shell Charonia sauliae is an endangered and valuable species with potential for aquaculture. For artificial propagation of C. sauliae, the effects of three different food microalgae on the development, growth, and survival rate of the larvae and spat were investigated. For the larval feeding experiments, we utilized six microalgae species as food sources, namely Pavlova lutheri, Tetraselmis suecica, Nannochloris oculata, Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum; for the larval and spat growth and survival experiments, we utilized T. suecica, C. calcitrans, and P. tricornutum. The results showed that the temporal digestion index (TDI) for the veliger larvae was significantly different for C. sauliae fed the different microalgae species (P < 0.05), that the T. suecica, C. calcitrans, and P. tricornutum cultivars were better suited for larval consumption (P < 0.05), and that the growth and survival of the larvae and spat were significantly influenced by food type, specifically P. tricornutum (P < 0.05). Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of other microalgae species, different algal concentrations, and biochemical composition on the growth and survival of C. sauliae.