Study on halotolerance of phyllosoma larva of Chinese spiny lobster (Panulirus stimpsoni Holthuis)

The halotolerance of phyllosoma larva of Chinese spiny lobster (Panulirus stimpsoni Holthuis) was experimentally studied in a man-made seawater of 13,15,19,23,27,31,35,39,43,47 and 49 salinity.The experimental results showed that phyllosoma lame survived for 4~6 d with a rate of 25.0% to 47.5% if seawater salinity was increased or decreased gradually from 31 to 49 or to 13 respectively.In a range of 23 to 39 salinity,the phyllosoma larva grew,developed and metamor phosed normally,the metamorphosis rate of which in Stages Ⅱ and Ⅲ being 85% and 48%,respec tively,when cultured in seawater of 31 salinity.It seems that some regular dispersion of larvae appeared in various salinities of seawater; In lower salinity,they mainly dispersed in the lower layer and in higher salinity,almost stayed in the upper and middle layers.Also,the results indicated that the phyllo soma larva of Chinese spiny lobster had a strong halotolerance to various salinities of seawater ranging from 15 to 47,in which 27 to 35 salinities were appropriate for larva growth and development.