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ANTONIO MAZZOLA

Experimental rearing of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus fed with discards of the lettuce Lactuca sativa in a sea-based system

  • Authors: Vizzini, Salvatrice; Visconti, Giulia; Vaccaro, Antonino; Mazzola, Antonio
  • Publication year: 2018
  • Type: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
  • OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/298513

Abstract

Small-sized specimens (test diameter: 16.64 ± 0.93 mm, mean ± SE) of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus were fed with fresh discards of the lettuce Lactuca sativa during a 24-week experiment in a sea-based system. At the end of the experiment, stock survival was high (88.8 ± 6.6%). Sea urchin test diameter and total weight grew by 35% and 56%, respectively, while gonad somatic index, after an initial decrease, increased by 3.2%. Moreover, more than 90% of specimens achieved the gonad colour that the market demands. These results support the exploitation of L. sativa as the main ingredient in a manufactured diet for echinoculture of P. lividus. Employing diets formulated with discard ingredients, combined with a low-cost sea-based rearing system, could be a suitable approach for sustainable management of echinoculture.