The effect of food concentration on the scope for growth and growth performance of Ruditapes decussatus (L.) seed reared in an open-flow system

Ruditapes decussatus (L.) seed, 1.6 mm in length, was reared in an open-flow system for 28 days at different concentrations of food: 15, 50, 100, 200 and 300 Isochrysis galbana, clone T-ISO, cells mu L-1. Rates of ingestion, absorption, and respiration were measured during the experiment and used to calculate the energy balance. Rate of ingestion and absorption efficiency were the primary physiological processes governing seed growth. Ingestion rates increased with food concentration, up to a maximum of 100 cells mu L-1. Greater increases in concentration resulted in a decrease in ingestion. Clearance rates were inversely correlated to food concentration. Absorption efficiency, estimated using the Conover method, also decreased with increasing concentrations of food. Respiration rates were independent of food concentration. Potential growth rates were lower than actual growth rates for each of the concentrations tested, although the effect of food concentration on actual and potential growth was equal, with maximum growth occurring at a concentration of 50 cells mu L-1. Thus, SFG ('scope for growth') is a good qualitative estimator of actual growth, but a poor quantitative estimator.