Water Temperature in Inland,Low-Salinity Shrimp Ponds in Alabama

Water temperature in eight ponds and air temperatures were monitored at 2-h intervals during the 2010 growing season at an inland, low-salinity shrimp farm in Alabama. There was a high correlation (P < 0.01) between mean daily air and water temperatures; pond water usually averaged 3° to 4°C warmer than air. Monthly mean water temperatures among eight ponds differed by 3.40°C in May and by 2.83°C in September, but there was less than 1°C difference among ponds in June, July, and August. Differences in temperature among ponds were not related to pond water surface:volume ratio, but in July and September there was a negative correlation (P < 0.05) with increasing aeration rate. Negative correlations (P < 0.05) between average water temperature over the entire culture period and survival and production of Pacific white shrimp, Litopeneaus vannamei, possibly resulted from variation in crop duration and were not causal. Nevertheless, differences in water temperature among ponds in May and September were great enough to have possibly caused differential shrimp survival and production among ponds.     

Trace elements in waters of inland,low‐salinity shrimp ponds in Alabama

Trace element concentrations in waters of 10, inland, low‐salinity shrimp ponds in Alabama tended to be greater than those found in normal seawater – molybdenum, boron and silicon were exceptions. Concentrations of most trace elements varied greatly among ponds on individual sampling dates, and average concentrations based on all sampling dates in individual ponds also varied considerably. The analytical method used, digestion of water samples in nitric acid followed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry, measured total concentrations of trace elements – free ions, hydrolysis products, ion pairs, coordination compounds (chelated forms) and particulate forms. Free ions are the toxic forms of most trace elements and the ionic concentration is much less than the total concentration of a trace element. Based on total concentrations of trace elements, it is doubtful that free‐ionic concentrations of trace elements were great enough to harm shrimp. The fact that no negative correlations were noted between trace element concentrations and shrimp survival and production supports this conclusion. However, positive correlations (P < 0.05) between shrimp survival and production and increasing concentrations of zinc, cobalt and iron should be investigated further to ascertain if additions of these elements to ponds might improve shrimp performance.     

Effects of different feed management treatments on water quality for Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Increasing feeding rates may provide an increase in production, thus nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter will also increase. These nutrients promote a greater oxygen demand and concentrations of toxic metabolites which can lead to frequent problems with low dissolved oxygen and an abundance of blue‐green algae. Four feed management practices were evaluated among sixteen 0.1 ha ponds culturing Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Feeding treatments included hand feeding using the Standard Feeding Protocol (SFP), SFP plus 15% from 8 to 16 weeks, an automatic‐solar timer which fed SFP+15%, and an AQ1 acoustic demand feeder allowing up to 12 kg/day·pond based on shrimps feeding response. Samples were analysed at weeks 0, 4 and 8–16 for the following parameters: chlorophyll a, total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite–nitrogen, nitrate–nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, total suspended solids, total suspended volatile solids, turbidity, conductivity, salinity and biological oxygen demand. Samples were collected and shipped overnight to Auburn, Alabama for off‐site analysis. On‐site water quality was also obtained at the farm. The AQ1 acoustic demand feeder produced the most shrimp with a yield of 4,568 kg/ha; however, the AQ1 also had the highest total ammonia nitrogen and nitrite–nitrogen levels late in the growing season. The AQ1 feeder may be a viable, reduced labour and cost alternative for the shrimp commercial industry; however, such technologies must also be matched to the ability of the production system to process nutrients.     

Ionic Supplementation of Pond Waters for Inland Culture of Marine Shrimp

Saline well water used to fill ponds for inland culture of marine shrimp in Alabama often have low concentrations of potassium and magnesium. In 2002, pond waters on a shrimp farm were treated with enough muriate of potash and potassium-magnesium sulfate (K-Mag) to increase potassium concentration from 6.2 mg/L to about 40 mg/L and magnesium concentrations from 4.6 mg/L to about 20 mg/L. Salinity in ponds averaged 2.6 ppt at the time of mineral salt additions. The concentrations of potassium and magnesium remained fairly constant throughout the growing season without further applications of salts, and salinity increased to about 4 ppt mainly as a result of concentration through evaporation. Survival and production on the farm averaged 19% and 595 kg/ha, respectively, in 2001. In 2002, average survival improved to 67% and average production was 4,068 kg/ha. Ponds were stocked at similar rates and managed by similar procedures both years. Magnesium concentration was very low related to the concentration expected in normal seawater diluted to the same salinity as the pond water, while potassium was near the expected concentration. Thus, increased potassium concentration is thought to have influenced production much more than did the increase in magnesium concentration. K-Mag does not dissolve as readily as muriate of potash. Thus, K-Mag should not be dumped in shallow water areas of ponds to dissolve as can be done with muriate of potash. It should be broadcast over the pond surface, predissolved and splashed over the pond surface, or placed in porous bags suspended in front of aerators. Although a single application of mineral salts was effective, 2002 was a dry year. On a wet year, ions may be diluted or flushed out in overflow and more than one treatment with mineral salts might be necessary during the growing season.     

The effectiveness of a commercial microbial product in poorly prepared tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius), ponds

The efficacy of a commercial microbial product was tested in commercial tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius), ponds for one culture period in Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. Four ponds with replicates for treatment and control were used. The pond bottom was dried but the organic sludge was not removed as normally practised in pond preparation. The ponds were stocked with 15 post‐larvae at the rate of 31.m^?2. Physical, chemical and biological parameters of the pond were analysed every 2 weeks during the culture period. Water quality parameters remained within the optimum range for shrimp culture except for ammonia‐nitrogen being significantly higher in control ponds and silica in treated ponds. Benthic organisms were not found in any of the ponds. The average counts of different bacteria were not significantly higher in treated ponds than control. Because of poor health, the shrimp were harvested earlier (72 days) than the usual 120 days. An average of 875.60 ± 67.00 kg shrimp ha^?1 was obtained in treated ponds with a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.57 ± 0.10 and survival rate of 42.35 ± 5.37% compared with 719.50 ± 130.94 kg shrimp ha^?1, 2.99 ± 0.70 and 21.25 ± 3.26%, respectively, in control ponds. Neither the microbial product nor the frequent water exchange was effective in overcoming the problems caused by the poor pond bottom.     

Water quality and plankton densities in mixed shrimp-mangrove forestry farming systems in Vietnam

Water quality and plankton densities were monitored in shrimp ponds at 12 mixed shrimp‐mangrove forestry farms in Ca Mau province, southern Vietnam, to detail basic water chemistry and assess whether conditions are suitable for shrimp culture. In general, water quality was not optimal for shrimp culture. In particular, ponds were shallow (mean ± 1SE, 50.5 ± 2.8 cm), acidic (pH < 6.5), had high suspended solids (0.3 ± 0.03 g l^?1), low chlorophyll a/phytoplankton concentrations (0.2 ± 0.05 µg l^?1 and 8600 ± 800 cells l^?1 respectively) and low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels (3.7 ± 0.15 mg l^?1). Eight out of the 12 farms sampled had potentially acid sulphate soils (pH < 4.2). Salinity, DO and pH were highly variable over short time‐periods (hours); DO in particular was reduced to potentially lethal levels (1–2 mg l^?1). Seasonal variations in water chemistry and plankton communities (i.e. salinity, DO, phosphate, temperature, phytoplankton and zooplankton densities) appear to be driven by differences in rainfall patterns. The presence or absence of mangroves on internal pond levees (‘mixed’ versus ‘separate’ farms) and the source of pond water (rivers versus canals) were of lesser importance in determining water quality patterns and plankton biomass. Zooplankton and macrobenthos densities were sufficient to support the current (low) stocking densities of shrimp. However, natural food sources are not adequate to support increases in production by stocking hatchery reared post larvae. Increasing productivity by fertilization and/or supplemental feeding has the potential for adverse water quality and would require improvements to water management practices. Some practical strategies for improving water quality and plankton densities are outlined.     

Pond-to-pond variability in post-larval shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, survival and growth in inland low-salinity waters of west Alabama

Despite the recent success of Alabama shrimp farmers in culturing the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei , in inland low-salinity waters there is large variability in growth and survival among ponds. Farmers suspect that high mortality occurs during the first weeks of culture following stocking of postlarvae (PL). In order to determine the effect of pond ionic composition on PL growth and survival, three trials were carried out at a shrimp farm. Trials 1 and 2 evaluated PL growth and survival over 21- and 28-day periods, respectively, using static water from different production ponds. Trial 3 evaluated growth and survival over 7, 14, 21 and 28 days using water from one production pond. Results suggest that initial mortality (8–10%) is attributed to the acclimation process and occurs immediately following stocking. Pond-to-pond variations in ionic profiles could be a contributing factor but are not likely the major reason for variable 'survival'. Mortalities after stocking appear to occur quickly as there were no differences in survival from 7 to 28 days post stock. Variable survival is likely due to a combination of reasons including environmental factors, but is largely due to poor handling of PL and stocking errors that produce perceived reductions in survival.     

Effects of Major Water Quality Variables on Shrimp Production in Inland,Low‐Salinity Ponds in Alabama

Common water quality variables in nine, inland low‐salinity shrimp ponds in Alabama exhibited wide variation in concentrations among ponds and over time. Shrimp performance also varied considerably among ponds in 2008 as follows: survival, 16–128%; production, 928–5950 kg/ha; feed conversion ratio (FCR), 1.18–2.89. Measured water quality variables were not at concentrations high enough to be lethal to shrimp; but water temperature, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, total ammonia nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium were occasionally outside optimum ranges for shrimp production and may have stressed shrimp. Survival and production both were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with increasing concentrations of methyl orange alkalinity, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Negative correlations (P < 0.05) between production and higher pH and water temperature may have resulted from lower water temperature and pH during final days of the crop in ponds harvested in October rather than from an actual effect of temperature and pH on growth. Nevertheless, those variables that were outside optimal ranges or correlated with shrimp survival or growth should be further investigated to ascertain whether or not excursions outside optimum ranges are harmful and to determine if observed correlations are causal.     

The effects of variation in feed protein level on the culture of white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in low-water exchange experimental ponds

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying dietary protein level on pond water quality and production parameters of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone). Experimental units consisted of nine 400‐m² earthen ponds with a low water exchange. Two treatments were tested: treatment HP consisted of shrimp fed a high‐protein diet (40%) during the whole grow‐out, and treatment LP consisted of the use of a low‐protein diet for the complete farming period. No differences on any of the water quality parameters were observed among treatments. Excellent survival (over 85%) and feed conversion ratios (around 1.6), and acceptable growth (over 12 g) and biomass (from 1721 to 1793 kg ha^?1) were recorded in all experimental ponds. No significant differences in any of the production parameters were found among treatment groups.     

Impact of farm management on expression of early mortality syndrome/acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (EMS/AHPND) on penaeid shrimp farms in Thailand

Asian shrimp farming industry has experienced massive production losses due to a disease caused by toxins of Vibrio bacteria, known as early mortality syndrome/acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (EMS/AHPND) for the last 5 years. The disease can cause up to 100% cumulative pond mortality within a week. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with AHPND occurrence on shrimp farms. A case–control study was carried out on shrimp farms in four provinces of Thailand. Factors related to farm characteristics, farm management, pond and water preparation, feed management, post‐larvae (PL) shrimp and stock management were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified factors affecting AHPND occurrence at the pond level. Chlorine treatment, reservoir availability, use of predator fish in the water preparation, culture of multiple shrimp species in one farm and increased PL stocking density contributed to an increased risk of AHPND infection, while delayed first day of feeding, polyculture and water ageing were likely to promote outbreak protection. Additionally, the source of PL was found to be associated with AHPND occurrence in shrimp ponds, which requires further study at the hatchery level. Identification of these factors will facilitate the development of effective control strategies for AHPND on shrimp farms.     

Salt Discharge from an Inland Farm for Marine Shrimp in Alabama

The total salt input in saline well water, mineral amendments, feed, and rainfall and runoff to ponds of an inland shrimp farm in Alabama was 1980.8 tonnes over a 5‐yr period. A residual of 270.4 tonnes of salt remained in pond water and 38.3 tonnes in bottom soil. Only 8.0 tonnes of salt were removed in harvested shrimp. A total of 1588.0 tonnes of salt or 80.2% of the input was lost to the environment with about equal amounts exiting the ponds in seepage and in overflow and harvest effluent. About 4.2% of the salt input (84.1 tonnes) could not be accounted for because of errors in assumptions and measurements. Salt concentration was elevated in a small stream passing through the farm and in the shallow aquifer beneath it. Needham Creek, the receiving water body for runoff and base flow from the farm watershed, had elevated salt concentrations when ponds were partially drained for harvest in the fall. At this time, chloride concentration exceeded 230 mg/L, the maximum concentration allowed by Alabama Department of Environmental Management regulations. Greater water reuse or more gradual release of pond effluent during harvest would reduce the peak in‐stream chloride concentration and avoid noncompliance with the in‐stream chloride criterion.     

Characterization of bacterial community in intestinal and rearing water of Penaeus monodon differing growth performances in outdoor and indoor ponds

Penaeus monodon provides a high‐quality protein source for humanity, and pond cultured shrimp often presents asynchronous growth. Microbial communities are important for the digestion and immunity of shrimp. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the bacterial characteristics of the intestine and rearing water of asynchronously growing P. monodon that were cultured in outdoor and indoor pond respectively. The results showed that the bacterial community of the rearing water was more complex than that of the intestine; the fast‐growing shrimp in the indoor pond had higher intestinal bacterial diversity. Besides, the dominant bacterial composition of the water was more complex than that of the intestinal. Specifically, the abundance of Proteobacteria in the intestine was consistent with the growth performance of shrimp in the outdoor pond, which was exactly the opposite in the indoor pond. At the genus level, two cyanobacteria, Limnothrix and Cyanobium PCC‐6307, were dominant in the indoor and outdoor water respectively. In the outdoor pond, Bacillus was dominant in the slow‐growing shrimp intestines, while Vibrio was dominant in the fast‐growing shrimp. The intestinal microbes of the fast‐growing shrimp had higher proteasome metabolic capacity. These results can provide new insights into microbiome characteristics involved in the asynchronous growth of shrimp.     

Magnesium Budget for Inland Low‐Salinity Water Shrimp Ponds in Alabama

A magnesium budget was prepared for a commercial low‐salinity shrimp farm in the Blackland Prairie region of Alabama for one production cycle. Ponds had previously been used for production and fertilized with magnesium; two ponds (S‐5 and S‐6) for four previous years and one pond (N‐9) for one previous season. Fertilization with sulfate of potash magnesia (K₂SO₄·2MgSO₄ or K‐Mag^®) was applied to these ponds to obtain the concentrations of 20 mg/L, averaging 1274 kg Mg²⁺/ha. Additional inputs of magnesium included groundwater, rainfall, and runoff averaged 441.5 kg/ha. A water budget for ponds indicated that 292.6 kg/ha of magnesium in outflows. The difference in inputs and magnesium outputs resulted mainly from adsorption of magnesium by pond bottom soils. However, the increase in exchangeable magnesium in the upper 15‐cm layer of pond bottom soils was not great enough to account for the difference in total magnesium inputs and magnesium outputs in water and shrimp. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are magnesium precipitation, nonexchangeable fixation of magnesium by clay minerals, incomplete extraction of magnesium, and analytical error. The decreased uptake of magnesium by older ponds, S‐5 and S‐6, indicate that the soils had a diminishing affinity for the cation or an equilibrium concentration is being established.     

Effects of water exchange and abiotic factors on zooplankton and epibenthic fauna in shrimp ponds

Assemblages of zooplankton and epibenthic invertebrates were collected from a commercial Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) pond at fortnightly intervals over an entire grow‐out season. The pond inlet and outlet water were also sampled intensively over three 1‐week periods throughout the season. Before stocking the ponds with shrimp postlarvae, copepods dominated the zooplankton. Immediately after the ponds were stocked, there was a rapid decline in zooplankton numbers, particularly the dominant larger copepods, suggesting heavy predation by shrimp postlarvae. For the rest of the season, barnacle nauplii were the dominant zooplankton component in the pond. Pond water exchanges had little detectable influence on the composition or density of the zooplankton assemblage. Instead, the dominance of barnacle nauplii appeared to have been maintained by steady recruitment due to barnacle reproduction in the pond. While changes in the biomass of pond zooplankton were not correlated with physico‐chemical characteristics, changes in density were positively correlated with temperature, and negatively correlated with pH, dissolved oxygen and secchi disc readings. Epibenthic faunal density peaked at the end of the season, while the biomass peaked during the middle part of the season. Sergestids (Acetes sibogae Hansen) were the most abundant epibenthic taxa. No correlations were found between physico‐chemical parameters and epibenthic fauna biomass or density. Abundances of epibenthic fauna were not related to zooplankton densities, suggesting that trophic interactions between these assemblages is not important. No Acetes were captured in samples of outlet water, and only on a single occasion were large numbers captured in the inlet water; after this, there was a notable increase in the number of Acetes in the pond. This evidence, together with the lack of an increase in the size of Acetes during the season, suggests that water exchange is an important but unpredictable source of recruitment of epibenthic fauna into the pond. The results emphasize the benefits of ensuring that appropriate zooplankton assemblages have been introduced into the ponds, when they are filled, to support the shrimp immediately after stocking. This will depend on the initial inoculum and may be difficult to manipulate with water exchanges once established. Assemblages of epibenthic fauna appear more likely to change with exchanges and may need to be monitored across the season, particularly if their presence reduces production through adverse impacts such as competition with postlarvae, introduction of disease or deteriorated water quality.     

Possible Potassium and Magnesium Limitations for Shrimp Survival and Production in Low‐Salinity,Pond Waters in Thailand

Low‐salinity waters of inland shrimp ponds in Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Prachin Buri, and Samut Sakhon Provinces of Thailand often had concentrations of potassium and magnesium below those expected for normal seawater diluted to the same salinity. However, in Samut Sakhon Province – where the sampling area was nearer the coast – ponds typically had higher concentrations of these two cations than did ponds in the other three provinces. Studies of inland, shrimp ponds at Banglane in Nakhon Pathom Province revealed that magnesium additions to maintain a target concentration near 100 mg/L resulted in greater (P < 0.05) shrimp survival, size, and production than obtained in control ponds. Although potassium additions to ponds (75 mg/L target concentration) did not improve shrimp survival or production, the control ponds had potassium concentration higher than those previously reported for ponds in Alabama where potassium treatment was highly beneficial to shrimp survival and production. A study conducted using laboratory, soil‐water systems with soil from one site did not remove potassium and magnesium from the water, while soil from two other sites removed potassium and magnesium from water – but at different rates.     

Pond production of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,fed grain distillers dried yeast

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of four diets formulated to contain increasing levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 g kg^?1 of diet) of grain distillers dried yeast (GDDY) in production diets for Litopenaeus vannamei, reared in outdoor tanks or production ponds. The production pond trial was carried out in 16, 0.1‐ha ponds using four replicates per diet. Juvenile shrimp (38.1 ± 4.26 mg, initial weight) were stocked at 30 shrimp m^?2 for a 16‐week period. The same four diets and a commercial reference diet were offered to shrimp maintained in outdoor tanks over a 12‐week period. A total of 20 tanks were stocked with juvenile shrimp (3.05 ± 0.22 g, initial weight) obtained from production ponds at a density of 30 shrimp per tank (40 shrimp m^?2). At the conclusion of these trials, mean final weight ranged from 19.77 to 23.05 g, yield ranged between 4760 and 5606 kg ha^?1, survival ranged from 69.6% to 89.4%, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was between 1.02 and 1.23. Shrimp reared in the outdoor tanks confirmed the results of the pond trial. Mean final weight ranged between 18.12 and 18.97 g, survival ranged from 93.3% to 98.3%, and FCR was between 1.25 and 1.29. In both trials, there were no significant differences regarding mean final weight, FCR and survival among dietary treatments. Based on this study, GDDY up to 150 g kg^?1 of diet can be used in L. vannamei commercial feed formulation.     

Dynamic stock model for analysing semi‐intensive production of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus (Penaeus) vannamei affected by the acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease: Assessment of disease severity indicators and relationships with pond water quality parameters

The production of Litopenaeus vannamei was analysed when affected by the acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease using a dynamic stock model and primary data of seven production cycles from a shrimp farm in Mexico from 2013 to 2016. Significant results (p < .05) of the correlation analysis indicated that during those years mortalities by the disease were more severe when water salinity was high and productivity was low. Significant results from ANOVA showed that throughout the period, disease severity and salinity diminished while pond productivity initially declined but subsequently improved. Significant results from regression analyses conducted for each production cycle also indicated the importance of salinity and productivity on disease severity and showed that early mortality by the disease occurred in ponds with warmer water. Within the observed range of water quality parameters, increases of 1 cm in water transparency and 1 g/L in salinity resulted in increments within 0.17%–0.25% and 1.7%–3.1% in shrimp mortality by the disease. When increases of 1°C in water temperature were recorded, outbreaks occurred 0.2–1.57 weeks earlier. In conclusion, the disease strongly determines the dynamics of shrimp production, and the role of salinity, productivity and temperature is worthy of further delving.     

Economics of risk and uncertainty of alternative water exchange and aeration rates in semi‐intensive shrimp culture systems

Abstract

Reducing water exchange in shrimp aquaculture to minimize discharge of pollutants is a search for sustainability. In desert regions, like most of northwest Mexico, low water exchange must be complemented with artificial aeration to compensate for low levels of oxygen in warm and highly saline water. The economic yield of a low‐water‐exchange production system is compared against yield from a typical water‐exchange‐without‐aeration system for Penaeus vannamei culture. The difference between two systems is centered on pumping and aeration rates for a 100 ha semi‐intensive farm in northwest Mexico.

A bioeconomic model was built to compare the systems. Risk analysis is adopted to account for uncertainty of seed price, shrimp growth rate, survival rate, and shrimp prices.

The typical system was slightly more profitable than the low‐water‐exchange, aerated system. The latter used less electricity than the former in all of the three mortality‐rate scenarios. However, the difference in profitability is so small that for practical purposes both production systems provide similar economic yield. For a typical system, the probability of reaching a positive net present value (NPV) is high, therefore under the assumed risks, a 100 ha semi‐intensive shrimp farm in northwest Mexico is a good investment choice.     

Modelling growth rate of Penaeus monodon Fabricius in intensively managed ponds: effects of temperature,pond age and stocking density

Records of shrimp growth and water quality made during 12 crops from each of 48 ponds, over a period of 6.5 years, were provided by a Queensland, Australia, commercial shrimp farm. These data were analysed with a new growth model derived from the Gompertz model. The results indicate that water temperature, mortality and pond age significantly affect growth rates. After 180 days, shrimp reach 34 g at constant 30 °C, but only 15 g after the same amount of time at 20 °C. Mortality, through thinning the density of shrimp in the ponds, increased the growth rate, but the effect is small. With continual production, growth rates at first remained steady, then appeared to decrease for the sixth and seventh crop, after which they have increased steadily with each crop. It appears that conservative pond management, together with a gradual improvement in husbandry techniques, particularly feed management, brought about this change. This has encouraging implications for the long-term sustainability of the farming methods used. The growth model can be used to predict productivity, and hence, profitability, of new aquaculture locations or new production strategies.     

Comparison of microbial community structures in intensive and extensive shrimp culture ponds and a mangrove area in Thailand

ABSTRACT:   A pelagic bacterial community structure was examined in experimental intensive shrimp culture ponds that have a shrimp–mangrove complex aquaculture system, an extensive shrimp culture pond and a mangrove area in Thailand by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of polymerase chain reaction amplified partial 16S rRNA genes. Bacterial community structure in the intensive shrimp culture ponds was distinguishable from that of the mangrove area. In the extensive shrimp culture pond, the bacterial community structure resembled that in the mangrove area, but bacterial abundance was as great as that in the intensive shrimp culture ponds. Among the intensive shrimp culture ponds, the bacterial community structure was different between a closed culture system and a shrimp–mangrove complex culture system. Moreover, the bacterial community structure in mangrove planted ponds was close to those in the intensive shrimp culture ponds when shrimp culture was conducted, but it was close to those in the mangrove areas without shrimp culture. These results suggest that intensive shrimp culture with shrimp feed input affects the bacterial community structures in pond water.