School of Forest
Resources and
Conservation
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Eric J. Cassiano

I received my B.S. in Marine Biology from Hawaii Pacific University in the spring of 2002.  After a brief period with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife working in fisheries science, I began working for the Oregon State University Molluscan Broodstock Program under Dr. Chris Langdon, where I was exposed to the culture of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas.  After a few years there, I began a position in Cedar Key, FL with UF extension agent Leslie Sturmer, where we focused on various aspects of the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) production industry. 

I am currently working on a M.S. under Dr. Cortney Ohs, focusing on production of larval marine finfish through the first feeding phase.  One of the major bottlenecks to marine finfish production has been low survival during the larval phase.  Rotifers (Brachionus spp.) and Artemia spp., the traditional live feeds during this phase, have proven to be nutritionally and mechanically unsuitable for many species.  The lack of success through the hatchery phase has hindered commercial marine finfish production.  Recently, the use of copepods as a primary or supplemental live feed has been evaluated with many species and shown to greatly increase growth, survival, and resistance to stress.  I am examining the effects of feeding live calanoid copepods, Pseudodiaptomus pelagicus, to larval marine finfish species.  Through a series of experimental trials I will define the best feeding regime by evaluating treatment objectives that include how long to feed copepods, and the density and stage of copepods to feed during periods of the larval cycle. 

Email: ericcass@ufl.edu

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