effect of salinity and temperature on oxygen consumption in juvenile pink shrimp, farfantepenaeus paulensis


W. Wasielesky Jr., R.L. Santos, C.S. Castano, A. Bianchini

Abstract:

A number of studies have been carried out on the effects of salinity and temperature on different aspects of physiology of cultured shrimps, which are important to the understanding of oxygen requirements during variations of such factors. Juveniles Farfantepenaeus paulensis (5.11 +/- 1.34 g) were pre-acclimated during 15 days under laboratory conditions (salinity 15, 25°C, 12L/12D, fed ad libitum with fresh shrimp and crab meat). After this period, groups of F. paulensis were held on different salinity (5, 10, 20 and 30 ppt) and temperature (15, 20, 25 and 30°C combinations in 100L tanks and acclimated for 15 days (12L/12D, fed ad libitum with fresh shrimp and crab meat). Oxygen consumption was determined in a water flow respirometer with an oxymeter (ORION ® - 800), for each salinity and temperature combination. Oxygen consumption is temperature dependent in all tested salinities. On the other hand, low salinity (5) induces high oxygen consumption only in experiments performed below 30°C. These increases seem to be indicative of osmotic stress. When local water conditions show signs of high temperature and/or low salinity, the shrimp density must be reduced, to provide sufficient oxygen amount for physiological processes of F. paulensis.

(Laboratório de Zoofisiologia – D.C.F., Fundaçao Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Av. Alfredo Huch, 475, CP 474, Rio Grande, RS – Brasil, CEP 96201-900, e-mail : cabelo@octopus.furg.br)


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