Some biochemical and physiological aspects of growth and gametogenesis in<i>Crassostrea gigas</i>and<i>Ostrea edulis</i>grown at sustained elevated temperatures

Abstract

Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg) and Ostrea edulis L. were grown at sustained temperatures of 12°, 15°, 18° and 21°C for a period of 19 weeks. Regular assays of weight specific ammonia excretion rate were made, following which animals were sacrificed for estimation of dry meat weight, dry shell weight, biochemical composition (percentage carbon, nitrogen, carbohydrate, ash) and gonadal development (histological assessment). Crassostrea gigas grew from an intial live weight of 5·2 g to values of 23·5, 28·2, 34·6 and 38·7 g at 120, 150, 180 and 21 °C respectively.