Effects of temperature and salinity on the survival and development of mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forsskål), larvae

The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival and development of the mud crab, Scylla serrata, were investigated in the laboratory. Newly hatched larvae were reared under 20 °C temperature and salinity combinations (i.e. combinations of four temperatures 25, 28, 31, 34 °C with five salinities 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 g L−1). The results showed that temperature and salinity as well as the interaction of the two parameters significantly affected the survival of zoeal larvae. Salinity at 15 g L−1 resulted in no larval survival to the first crab stage, suggesting that the lower salinity tolerance limit for mud crab larvae lies somewhere between salinity 15 and 20 g L−1. However, within the salinity range of 20–35 g L−1, no significant effects on survival of zoeal larvae were detected (P>0.05). The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival were also evident as at low salinities, both high and low temperature led to mass mortality of newly hatched larvae (e.g. 34 °C/15 g L−1, 34 °C/20 g L−1 and 25 °C/15 g L−1 combinations). In contrast, the low temperature and high salinity combination of 25 °C/35 g L−1 resulted in one of the highest survival to the megalopal stage. It was also shown that at optimal 28 °C, larvae could withstand broader salinity conditions. Temperature, salinity and their interaction also significantly affected larval development. At 34 °C, the mean larval development time to megalopa under different salinity conditions ranged from 13.5 to 18.5 days. It increased to between 20.6 and 22.6 days at 25 °C. The effects of salinity on larval development were demonstrated by the fact that for all the temperatures tested, the fastest mean development to megalopa was always recorded at the salinity of 25 g L−1. However, a different trend of salinity effects was shown for megalopae as their duration consistently increased with an increase in salinity from 20 to 35 g L−1. In summary, S. serrata larvae tolerate a broad range of salinity and temperature conditions. Rearing temperature 25–30 °C and salinity 20–35 g L−1 generally result in reasonable survival. However, from an aquaculture point of view, a higher temperature range of 28–30 °C and a salinity range of 20–30 g L−1 are recommended as it shortens the culture cycle.