Changes in biochemical composition during the entire course of
phyllosoma development have rarely been measured (Ikeda et al.,
2011). Also, simultaneous measurements of protein (measured directly)
and crude protein (calculated from N), have not been investigated
previously in phyllosoma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the instar-specific changes in biochemical composition,
with regard to lipid and protein content, during ontogeny of S. verreauxi
in order to evaluate energy storage and utilisation through larval development
and better understand the energy storage requirements of late
instar phyllosoma prior to metamorphosis. We investigated the effects
of stocking density on biochemical composition and growth and development,
measured as dry mass (DM), total length (TL), carapace width
(CW), and instar, testing the null hypothesis that these parameters vary
between phyllosoma cultured at Low Density (LD) and High Density
(HD).