Abstract
Growth of the barnacle Balanus albicostatus was investigated for the population in an aquarium at 20.0-30.5°C from March to the following February. For feeding, the diatom Chaetoceros calcitrans and Artemia nauplii were given. Shell size in the basal diameter of the rostro-carinal axis and mortality were examined monthly. Mean molting cycle was estimated from the daily frequencyof the molting for 45 days. Shell strain during molting growth was characterized by a strain gauge method.
The mean±S. D. of shell size showed 4.5±1.7mm in March and increased to 10.7±2.4mm in the following February. The daily growth rate ranged from 0 to 29 μm/mm•day duringthe experimental period. It tended to be high until September, and decreased thereafter. The mortality in the period was 18.3%. The molting cycle of the population was 5.0 days at 28°C. The shell showed compressive stress at the intermolt, and its strain decreased during molting.
