Feeding and digestion in tropical rock lobster phyllosoma larvae and its applications for culture.

以合适的呈现形式提供最佳营养的幼虫培养饲料是发展岩龙虾水产养殖业的主要挑战。热带岩龙虾可能是竞争者，因为它们的生长速度更快，幼虫阶段比温带物种更短。本项目将通过检查口器和肠道结构及其消化酶的类型和浓度，评估幼虫在发育过程中的摄食和消化能力。这些资料将用于配制和测试大小、质地和营养成分适当的改良饲料，这将是根据幼虫的生物和生理特征对幼虫首选饲料进行的第一次全面分析。

Provision of larval culture diets that provide optimal nutrition in a suitable presentation format is the major challenge for developing a rock lobster aquaculture industry. Tropical rock lobsters are likely contenders due to their faster growth rates and shorter larval phase than temperate species. This project will assess the ingestive and digestive capabilities of larvae during development, through an examination of mouthpart and gut structure and their types and concentration of digestive enzymes. Information will be used to formulate and test improved diets of appropriate size, texture and nutritional composition and will be the first comprehensive analysis of preferred larval diets on the basis of their biological and physiological characteristics.