Evaluación de dietas microalgales sobre el crecimiento y supervivencia de larvas de erizo de mar Tripneustes depressus

Abstract

Aquaculture has emerged as a crucial economic activity worldwide, not only for its ability to produce animal protein but also for its contribution to the production of bioactive compounds of industrial and pharmaceutical interest. In Ecuador, the diversification of aquaculture is a priority, and the sea urchin Tripneustes depressus presents a promising option due to its high demand in the Asian market and its potential for mariculture. This study focuses on evaluating the effect of different microalgal diets (Chaetoceros muelleri, Tisochrysis lutea, and Dunaliella tertiolecta) on the growth and survival of T. depressus larvae. The results indicate that diets based on Tisochrysis lutea and combinations with Chaetoceros muelleri are the most effective for larval development, while diets with Dunaliella tertiolecta show lower performance. This study provides a basis for the development of optimized feeding protocols that could improve the efficiency and sustainability of T. depressus cultivation in Ecuador. Keywords: Diversification, Diets, microalgae, Sea urchin, Larviculture