Lipid class dynamics during larval ontogeny of sea scallops, Placopecten magellanicus, in relation to metamorphic success and response to antibiotics

This study examines ontogenetic changes in lipid class composition in relation to survival and growth of five batches of sea scallops, Placopecten magellanicus, from egg to dissoconch stages. It also investigates the effects of antibiotic addition during metamorphosis to determine whether transient treatment during this critical period is effective in increasing metamorphic success. The top-performing larvae (growth rate: 4.7-5.0 μm day− 1, dissoconch survival: 32–57%) were characterized by a pronounced increase in absolute (ng larva− 1) and relative concentrations (wt.% of total lipid) of triacylglycerol (TAG) during the pre-metamorphic period, followed by utilization during metamorphosis (0.5–1.4 μg day− 1 larva− 1). In contrast, the low-performing scallops (growth rate: 3.6–4.5 μm day− 1, dissoconch survival < 1%) exhibited a constant, low level of TAG. These results strongly suggest that the accumulation of TAG during the pre-metamorphic period is a good predictor of scallop performance as measured by survival to dissoconch stage. Antibiotic treatment enhanced absolute and relative TAG concentrations in pre-metamorphic scallops and resulted in higher post-metamorphic survival and TAG concentration than in non-treated controls. However, the proportion of dissoconch to live larvae at the end of the experiment was significantly lower with antibiotic treatment (8% vs. 20% in controls), thus resulting in comparable yields of dissoconch larvae ∼ 8% irrespective of treatment. A possible negative effect of antibiotic treatment on bacterial induction of settlement and metamorphosis of sea scallop larvae is suggested.