A conceptual production model for freshwater crayfish pond culture incorporating detrital forage.

A production model is presented for semi-intensive freshwater crayfish culture ponds incorporating detrital forage. The conceptual model is developed from five submodels of trophic-dynamic interactions within the pond ecosystem. The model includes microbially enhanced detrital forage (MEDF) produced from plant matter grown in the pond as a significant component of nutrition. The model is proposed as an aid to understanding pond-based aquaculture techniques that rely upon manipulating the characteristics of MEDF. The significance of MEDF as a source of nutrition in aquaculture is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]