Effect of
salinity acclimation on oxygen consumption of juveniles of the white shrimp
Litopenaeus vannamei
C.
Rosas, N. Lopez, P. Mercado, E. Martinez-2001
Journal of Crustacean Biology, 21(4): 912-922
(from Current Contents)
Abstract :
The present study was undertaken to establish the
effect of salinity and acclimation time on the oxygen consumption of
juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei through evaluation of the
mechanisms involved in adjustments of respiratory metabolism during
acclimation and the effects on the apparent heat increment (AHI). Four
experiments were conducted to assess the effect of acclimation time on
oxygen consumption of shrimp exposed to salinity changes between 30 parts
per thousand to 5 parts per thousand. The effects of a change of salinity
were recorded immediately in the first hour and 24 h after change. The
results showed that L. vannamei juveniles are well adapted to tolerate
salinity changes when they are subjected to sudden change in salinity or are
acclimated to salinity change. The effect of salinity on the apparent
heat-increment coefficient (AHI-%) in shrimp acclimated over time was also
tested. The fasting and feeding oxygen consumptions were increased according
to a reduction in salinity, with high values in 5 parts per thousand and
lower values in 30 parts per thousand. Although at 15 parts per thousand
salinity the animals require energy to maintain homeostasis, we believe the
juveniles acclimated at that salinity could be more efficient than those
acclimated at 5 parts per thousand or 30 parts per thousand salinity because
in that salinity shrimp consumed 1.22 and 1.69 more food than that observed
in shrimp acclimated at 30 parts per thousand and 5 parts per thousand,
respectively, and without an excessive increase in the costs associated with
AHI-%.
(UNAM, Fac Ciencias, Apdo Postal 69 Cd Del Carmen,
Mexico City, DF, Mexico, e-mail crv@hp.fciencias.unam.mx)