Combined effects of temperature and salinity on cuttlefish ( Sepia officinalis L.) hatching

In an investigation of conditions suitable for achieving commercial production of Sepia officinalis L. in a brackish lagoon by means of egg sowing, the hatching of the eggs of this marine cephalopod were studied under different combined temperature and salinity conditions. Two series of experiments ( 3 × 3 and 3 × 2 designs) were run over the temperature range 15–24°C and the salinity range 23–33‰ S. Temperature was found to affect only the incubation time, and its relevant regression function is calculated. Salinity had a significant inhibitory effect on hatching at all of the temperatures investigated. No interactive effect between the two parameters was observed. A comparison is made with the results obtained using other temperature and salinity profiles relating to the Lesina lagoon. It is concluded that the environmental conditions occurring in May represent the minimum conditions for obtaining a marketable size harvest in autumn. It is in fact during this period that the lagoon water reaches a temperature of about 20°C and a salinity of 28%., allowing 50% hatching to be achieved in 30 days.