Pengaruh Zooxanthellae Karaug Terhadap Kelangsungan Hidup dan Pertumbuhan Kerang Raksasa Kima (Tridacna squamosa)

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The influence of zooxanthellae isolated from corals on the growth and suwivorship
of giant clams. Giant clam known as marine bivalves (Tridacnidae) which live in coral
reef. One important aspect of giant clam biology is the existence of zooxanthellae as
symbiotic algae which have important role source of energy In hatchery operational
procedure zooxanthellae were introduced into larvae. Zooxanthellae were isolated from
adult clams. Since clams are also known as endangered species, it is important to find
other sources of zooxanthellae. The objective of this research is to investigate the effect
of introduction of zooxanthellae which were isolated from different sources on the survival
and growth of giant clams larvae. The results showed that there is no differences on the
survivorship and growth of giant clams larvae introduced by zooxanthellae isolated from
several corals. This result has open a possibility of using corals as source of zooxanthellae
instead of using giant clams.
Key words : zooxanthellae, giant clams, survivorship, growth