Under full-spectrum white light, feeding success of haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus first feeding larvae, as measured both by proportion of larvae feeding and mean prey consumed, peaked at 1·7-18 mol s 1 m 2 . Feeding was significantly reduced at lower and higher intensities. A similar result was observed for larvae feeding under blue (470 nm) light, with significantly greater feeding success at intermediate light intensity (1·8 mol s 1 m 2 ). When different light qualities were compared, larvae had significantly greater feeding success when exposed to blue (470 nm) light than either full-spectrum white or green (530 nm) light. Haddock larvae were capable of prey capture under all light treatments tested, indicating a necessary degree of adaptive flexibility in feeding response. The results are consistent with predisposition of haddock larvae to optimal feeding in a visual environment comparable with open ocean nursery grounds. Information on the impact of light on haddock first feeding can be incorporated into models of larval growth, survival, year-class strength and recruitment, and assist in developing husbandry protocols to maximize larval survival in aquaculture. 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
In a small-scale culture experiment, larval haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L., were raised under various combinations of light quality [blue (470 nm), green (530 nm) or full-spectrum white light] and light intensity [low (0.3±0.4 mmol s À1 m À2 ) or high (1.7±1.9 mmol s À1 m À2 )], and in total darkness (both fed, and starved). Larval growth (0.9% day À1 in standard length; 2.4% day À1 in body area) was not significantly different between any combination of coloured light. At the time of total mortality in the starved treatment, survival was significantly reduced under low intensity, full-spectrum white light (13%) vs. all other coloured light treatments (68%). Larvae raised under both continuous dark treatments (fed and starved) exhibited morphological changes associated with irreversible starvation (point-of-no-return). Lack of a pronounced effect of light quality on larval haddock growth probably results from a combination of plasticity in early larval vision, and enhanced encounter rates between larvae and prey at the relatively high prey densities used in aquaculture.
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