Prey density requirements of the striped bass,Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), larvae

Striped bass,Morone saxatilis, larvae of 9 DAH (days after hatching) were fed for 16 d with five densities of adults (5–100 l^?1), copepodites (10–200 l^?1), and nauplii (50–1,000^?1) of the copepodEurytemora affinis, and 5-DAH and 10-DAH larvae were fed at seven densities (5–500 l^?1) of brine shrimp,Artemia salina, nauplii. The study determined the effects of prey types and densities on the survival and growth of the fish larvae, and the effects of delaying first feeding from 5 DAH to 10 DAH. The survival and grwoth of the larvae fedE. affinis adults was higher than those fedE. affinis copepodites.E. affinis nauplii were the poorest prey. OneE. affinis adult provided nutrition equivalent to 1.45 copepoditer or 11.12 nauplii. The percentage survival of the larvae was higher for those fedA. salina nauplii thanE. affinis adults at the densities below 67.25 l^?1, but there was no difference at this density or higher. Delaying first feeding from 5 DAH to 10 DAH did not affect percentage survival and size of larvae at the end of the experiments. Because the survival and growth of the larvae increased as the prey density increased, it was difficult to set a point along the regression line as the minimum density requirement level. It may be said that for striped bass larvae, the higher the prey density, the higher the survival and growth, and thus the greater the recruitment success.