Preliminary study on feeding habits of Anthocidaris crassispina

We studied the feeding and vitality of adult Anthocidaris crassispina by using experimental ecology studies. The results show that A.crassispina had an obvious preference for Betaphycus gelatinum, followed by Sargassum hemiphyllum, Gelidium amansii and Ulva lactuca. Besides, the selection rate of Codium fragile was very low. The daily feed intake rate was affected by water temperature, seaweed species and body weight of A.crassispina. Both daily feed intake rate and vitality were at the best level of 23~27 ℃. And the daily feed intake rate of adult A.crassispina on U.lactuca, S.hemiphyllum and B.gelatinum were different. Under the optimum feeding water temperature, the daily feed intake rate of adult A.crassispina decreased with increasing body weight significantly.