On the role of algae in larviculture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The possible roles of algae (i.e. "green water") in facilitating Macrobrachium rosenbergii larviculture have been investigated. Larvae were incubated with ¹⁴C uniformly labeled Tetraselmis sp. and Phaeodactylum sp. No counts were incorporated by the larvae indicating that negligible quantities of algal cell material are ingested directly. In contrast, Artemia nauplii assimilated and digested appreciable quantities of algae under similar conditions. The algae rapidly removed ammonia that had been added to the larviculture medium even starting at levels toxic to the larvae (0.6 ppm). However, very high densities of Artemia (20/ml) caused ammonia accumulation even in the presence of the algae due to their own increased metabolic rate when fed upon algae and due to the reduced number of assimilating algae. Removal of the Artemia under these conditions was followed by rapid disappearance of the ammonia. The beneficial effects of Tilapia as a larviculture associate, reported elsewhere, was observed only in the presence of algae. Larval mortality actually increased in water that had supported the growth of Tilapia if algae were not present. It is concluded that algae facilitate the growth of Macrobrachium larvae only indirectly by removing toxic material, notably ammonia, from the medium. Under conditions where the Artemia are grown before contact with the Macrobrachium larvae and where other means of ammonia removal are employed, larval growth and development are not affected by the presence of algae and the latter can be dispensed with.