Effects of salinity, temperature and photoperiod on egg production of Pseudodiaptomus annandalei (Copepoda: Calanoida) used as live feed in Mariculture

Kuriakose, Neethu and Imelda, Joseph (2025) Effects of salinity, temperature and photoperiod on egg production of Pseudodiaptomus annandalei (Copepoda: Calanoida) used as live feed in Mariculture. Aquaculture, 610. pp. 1-8. ISSN 1873-5622

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Abstract

Copepods are essential for maintaining marine ecosystems, and nauplii of Pseudodiaptomus annandalei serves as a crucial food source for fish larvae. This study investigated how salinity, temperature, and photoperiod (Light: Dark cycle) affect the reproductive traits of this copepod in a controlled environment. Clutch size was highest at 15 ppt salinity, with an average of 18.00 ± 0.58 eggs, while it dropped significantly to 9.33 ± 0.33 at 30 ppt. The dimensions of egg sacs and the total length of adult females were also smallest at 30 ppt. Among different salinities, the shortest times to first and total maturity were recorded at 10 ppt, whereas the longest times occurred at 30 ppt. Temperature also played a critical role; clutch size peaked at 28 °C and was lowest at 25 °C, with an average of 11.00 ± 0.41. Photoperiod had a limited impact on reproductive output, but the highest clutch size was observed in a 0 hL:24 hD light cycle. The findings suggest that optimal conditions for maximizing nauplii production in P. annandalei are a salinity of 15 ppt, a temperature of 28 °C, and a continuous dark photoperiod (0 hL:24 hD). Under these conditions, the highest hatching percentage was achieved, highlighting the importance of these factors for effective breeding in this copepod species. This research provides valuable insights for marine ecology and aquaculture, emphasizing the significance of environmental conditions in copepod reproduction.

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