USE OF A PROBIOTIC FOR THE CULTURE OF LARVAE OF THE PACIFIC OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA-GIGAS THUNBERG)

Additions of bacteria (strain CA2) as a food supplement to xenic larval cultures of the oyster Crassostrea gigas consistently enhanced growth of larvae during different seasons of the year. Bacterial enhancement of larval growth occurred when either Isochrysis galbana (ISO), I. aff. galbana (T-ISO) or Pseudoisochrysis paradoxa (VA-12) were used as algal foods. Additions of CA2 bacteria at 10(5) cells ml-1 to cultures of algal-fed larvae increased larval growth, the proportion of larvae that set to produce spat, and the subsequent size of spat. A lower proportion of slow-growing larvae in populations receiving additions of CA2 bacteria compared with populations of larvae fed only algae, suggests a bacterial nutritional contribution to larval growth. Manipulation of bacterial populations present in bivalve larval cultures is a potentially useful strategy for the enhancement of oyster production.