DEVELOPMENT OF CRYOPRESERVATION TECHNIQUES FOR BIVALVE LARVAE

CRYOPRESERVATION OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STORE EMBRYOS AND LARVAE OF THE HARD CLAM, MERCENARIA MERCENARIA, FOR EXTENDED PERIODS WITH NEGLIGIBLE LOSSES. OBJECTIVES FOR PHASE I RESEARCH INCLUDE (1) TO DETERMINE THE EFFICACY OF SELECTED CRYOPROTECTANTS IN PRESERVING AND STORING 2-8 CELL EMBRYOS, (2) TO DETERMINE SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCY OF 2-8 CELL EMBRYOS, TROCHOPHORE AND VELIGER LARVAL STAGES IN SELECTED CRYOPROTECTANTS, AND (3) TO ASSESS EFFECTIVE FREEZING AND THAWING RATES OF CRYOPRESERVED HARD CLAM EMBRYOS AND LARVAE. TECHNIQUES PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYE IN CRYOPRESERVATION STUDIES OF OYSTER SPERMATOZOA, EMBRYOS AND LARVAE OF MARINE MUSSELS AND SEA URCHINS AS WELL AS TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED FOR VERTEBRATE EMBRYOS WILL BE SCREENED. SELECTED CRYOPROTECTANS AND PROCEDURES WILL BE APPLIED TO TEST SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCY OF HARD CLAM EMBRYOS AND LARVAE. EFFECTIVE CRYOPRESERVATION METHODS WILL BE FURTHER TESTED FOR APPLICABILITY IN COMMERCIAL SCALE CULTURE FACILITIES.