Abstract

Adult specimens of sea urchin Loxechinus albus were maintained in suspended rearing systems. They were fed on two extruded artificial diets, without (diet 1) and with macroalgae meal (diet 2), and with a mixed algal diet (Macrocystis pyrifera and Ulva sp.) (diet 3). The ingestion rates and gonadal and somatic production were recorded during an annual cycle. The ingestion rates showed significant fluctuations among them and during an annual cycle. The extruded diet with macroalgae was significantly more ingested by the sea urchins. Gonadal production was clearly influenced by the diet consumed and monthly increases of gonadal indexes presented significant differences during an annual cycle. Somatic production did not show clear changes. The sea urchins fed on diet 2, showed better gonadal production than those fed on artificial diet 1, which showed a significantly better gonadal production than the sea urchins fed on algal diet.