Valeur alimentaire de Tetraselmis striata et T. chui pour les larves de Crassostrea gigas

In an attempt to simplify mollusc hatchery-nursery procedures and to provide cost-effective alternative diets, the use of concentrated and preserved microalgae is an alternative to the use of fresh microalgae. Because of their ability for preservation, Prasinophytes appears to be good candidates for remote algal production. In the present work, the food value of fresh and preserved Tetraselmis chui and T. striata for umboned Crassostrea gigas larvae was studied. During the first experiment, fresh T. striata led to the best larval development, but these performances were not confirmed subsequently. When used as monospecific diets the food value of both Prasinophytes is unsufficient to support a good C. gigas larval development. However in bispecific diets a substitution of 50% of fresh Chaetoceros calcitrans fortna pumilum with the preserved T. striata concentrates did not influence neither growth nor survival rate of C. gigas larvae.