760 



Fishery Bulletin 94(4). 1996 



had lower 0:N ratios than fed larvae on days 6 and 

 10. Starved larvae had 0:NH 3 ratios between 4.3 and 

 12.0 and 0:N ratios between 1.7 and 9.0. 



Discussion 



Oxygen consumption rates 



Absolute oxygen consumption of red drum larvae was 

 similar to that reported for other larval fishes. Fyhn 

 and Serigstag ( 1987 ) found absolute oxygen consump- 

 tion rates of 0.05-0.100 (.iL 2 /ind./h in cod larvae 

 for the first 5 d of life at 5°C, which, despite the dif- 

 ferences in species and temperature, were similar to 

 our results for red drum. A comparison with other 

 subtropical species is offered by the data of Houde 

 (1983) who reported rates of 0.08 to 0.14 \ih 2 /ind./h 



for 25.5 ug-sized sea bream, Archosargus rhom- 

 boidalis, reared at 26°C, increasing to 0.44-0.62 |xL 

 0.,/ind./h in 41-66 ng individuals. Values for red drum 



