Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Effect of salinity on larval survival and development of the mangrove crab Metaplax elegans.

Volume 35 Issue 1&2

R. Balagurunathan and T. Kannupandi

Abstract

Larvae of Metaplax elegans were reared in the laboratory from hatching to first crab stage, to study the influence of salinity at different concentrations from 10 %_o to 35 %_o. First zoea did not survive beyond 2hr at salinity 10%_o 3. Complete development occurred in salinities from 15%_o, to 35 %_o„. The survival rates in 25, 30, 35, 20 and 15 % salinities were 60 %_o,15 %_o, 1 %_o, 38 %_o and l4 %_o respectively. The intermoult duration of zoeal stages increased, when the salinity increased or decreased beyond 25 %_o,. High survival and short developmental period was observed in 25 %_o, indicating the optimum salinity for the larvae of Metaplax elegans.

Date : 31-10-1993