Effect of light intensity on first feeding of the chub mackerel Scomber japonicus larvae

This study investigated the effect of different light intensities on first feeding of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus larvae. Fertilized eggs, obtained from LHRHa-induced spawning of captive broodstock, were stocked (60 larvae/l) into twelve 30-1 aquaria under light intensities of 0, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 lx, with three replicate aquaria per treatment. Temperature was maintained at $20^{\circ}C$ and salinity was 35 psu. Larvae were fed the rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis at a density of five rotifers/ml. Feeding incidence was measured as the percentage of larvae with prey in the digestive tract. Feeding intensity was evaluated as the number of prey in the digestive tract of the larvae. Larvae fed in darkness (0 lx) had significantly lower (P < 0.05) feeding incidence ($13{\pm}0.05%$ larvae with prey) and feeding intensity ($1.00{\pm}0.05$ rotifers per larva) than those larvae fed at 100 ($30{\pm}0.07%$, $1.17{\pm}0.09$ rotifers per larva), 200 ($43{\pm}0.08%$, $1.24{\pm}0.11$ rotifers larvae$^{-1}$), 500 ($53{\pm}0.08%$, $1.48{\pm}0.14$ rotifers per larva) and 1000 lx ($60{\pm}0.08%$, $1.38{\pm}0.13$ rotifers per larva). The feeding incidence of S. japonicus larvae increased with light intensity while feeding intensity showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between light treatments.