Effects of constant Ca2+ concentration in salinity fluctuations on growth and energy budget of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

A 50-day experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of constant Ca²⁺ concentration in salinity fluctuations on growth and energy budget of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. The salinity and Ca²⁺ concentration of control group S0 were kept 30‰ and 385 mg l⁻¹, respectively throughout the experiment while the ranges of salinity fluctuations of the treatment groups S5 and S5C, S10 and S10C, S15 and S15C, S20 and S20C were 5, 10, 15, and 20‰, respectively. The Ca²⁺ concentration of the treatment groups S5, S10, S15, and S20 (salinity fluctuation groups) changed with salinities, while the Ca²⁺ concentration of the treatment groups S5C, S10C, S15C, and S20C (constant Ca²⁺ concentration groups) was kept 385 mg l⁻¹ during the experiment. The results were as follows: (1) There were no significant differences in SGR of shrimp in salinity fluctuation groups (P > 0.05); But shrimp in the groups S15C and S20C had significantly higher SGR than those in the groups S5C and S0 in constant Ca²⁺ concentration groups (P < 0.05); (2) Results of the t test showed that significant differences in SGR were also found between S15 and S15C (P = 0.012), and between S20 and S20C (P = 0.013); (3) The shrimp in groups S15C and S20C deposited significantly more energy for growth and spent significantly less energy in respiration than those in groups S15 and S20 (P < 0.05), respectively. These results showed that compared with constant salinity and fluctuating salinities, the growth performance of shrimp under constant Ca²⁺ concentration in large ranges of salinity fluctuations could be better.     

Evaluation of Tilapia Effluent with Ion Supplementation for Marine Shrimp Production in a Recirculating Aquaculture System

Reuse of fish effluent for the culture of marine shrimp, such as Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, could provide an opportunity for the US shrimp farming industry to ease constraints (e.g., environmental concerns and high production costs) that have limited them in the past. In this study under laboratory‐scale conditions, the feasibility of culturing L. vannamei in effluents derived from a commercial facility raising tilapia in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), supplemented with various salt combinations, was compared to the shrimp’s survival and growth in well water supplemented with 17.6 (control) and 0.6 (freshwater treatment) g/L synthetic sea salt. Three independent trials were conducted in RAS in which survival and growth in the control, the freshwater treatment, and two effluent treatments were compared. Water quality during this study was within safe levels and no differences (P < 0.05) between treatments were observed for dissolved oxygen, nitrite, pH, total ammonia nitrogen, and temperature. However, average nitrate and orthophosphate levels were consistently more than an order of magnitude greater in the effluent treatments compared to the control and the freshwater treatments. Survival and growth of shrimp over 6‐wk periods did not vary significantly between the control and the freshwater treatments; however, shrimp tested in the tilapia effluents often exhibited significant effects (P < 0.05) depending on the salts added. In the low‐salinity waters, correlations (P < 0.05) were observed between Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺ : K⁺ and Ca²⁺ : K⁺, and shrimp survival and growth. The results of this study revealed that L. vannamei can be raised in tilapia effluent when supplemented with synthetic sea salt (0.6 g/L), CaO (50 mg/L Ca²⁺), and MgSO₄ (30 mg/L Mg²⁺).     

Effects of frequency and amplitude of salinity fluctuation on the growth and energy budget of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone)

The effects of salinity fluctuation on the growth, intermoult period and energy budget of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. Salinity fluctuation regimes were set in different frequencies of 2, 4 and 8 days and different amplitudes of ±2, ±5 and ±10 g L^?1 from a control salinity of 20 g L^?1. After a 48‐day feeding trial, the intermoult period of shrimp became shorter with increasing amplitude and frequency of salinity fluctuation (P<0.05). Both the frequency and the amplitude of salinity fluctuation had a significant effect on the growth rate of L. vannamei juveniles (P<0.05). At the frequency of 4 days, the highest growth rates occurred at amplitudes of 5–10 g L^?1, whereas the growth rate was the lowest at 10 g L^?1 when the frequency was reduced to 2 days. Feed intake (FI) and assimilation efficiency (AE) of shrimp were also significantly affected by the salinity fluctuation (P<0.05) and matched the growth rate response. The energy expenditures for growth (G), respiration (R), excretion (U) and exuviae (E) to the energy consumed as food (C) were not affected by salinity fluctuation. However, salinity fluctuation significantly affected the percentage of C as faeces (F), with the lowest value occurring at salinity amplitudes of 5–10 g L^?1 and frequencies of 4–8 days. Therefore, salinity fluctuations (every 4 days by ±5–10 g L^?1) result in higher growth rates than constant salinity conditions (20 g L^?1) through greater FI, enhanced feed assimilation and reduced faecal energy loss.     

Effects of acute change in salinity and moulting on the infection of white leg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) with white spot syndrome virus upon immersion challenge

In the field, moulting and salinity drop in the water due to excessive rainfall have been mentioned to be risk factors for WSSV outbreaks. Therefore, in this study, the effect of an acute change in environmental salinity and shedding of the old cuticle shell on the susceptibility of Penaeus vannamei to WSSV was evaluated by immersion challenge. For testing the effect of abrupt salinity stress, early premoult shrimp that were acclimated to 35 g L^?1 were subjected to salinities of 50 g L^?1, 35 g L^?1, 20 g L^?1, 10 g L^?1 and 7 g L^?1 or 5 g L^?1 and simultaneously exposed to 10^5.5 SID₅₀ mL^?1 of WSSV for 5 h, after which the salinity was brought back to 35 g L^?1. Shrimp that were transferred from 35 g L^?1 to 50 g L^?1, 35 g L^?1 and 20 g L^?1 did not become infected with WSSV. Shrimp became infected with WSSV after an acute salinity drop from 35 g L^?1 to 10 g L^?1 and lower. The mortality in shrimp, subjected to a salinity change to 10 g L^?1, 7 g L^?1 and 5 g L^?1, was 6.7%, 46.7% and 53.3%, respectively (P < 0.05)_. For testing the effect of moulting, shrimp in early premoult, moulting and post‐moult were immersed in sea water containing 10^5.5 SID₅₀ mL^?1 of WSSV. The resulting mortality due to WSSV infection in shrimp inoculated during early premoult (0%), ecdysis (53.3%) and post‐moult (26.72%) demonstrated that a significant difference exists in susceptibility of shrimp during the short moulting process (P < 0.05). The findings of this study indicate that during a drop in environmental salinity lower than 10 g L^?1 and ecdysis, shrimp are at risk for a WSSV infection. These findings have important implications for WSSV control measures.     

Preliminary evaluation of the seaweed Gracilaria cervicornis (Rhodophyta) as a partial substitute for the industrial feeds used in shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Gracilaria cervicornis meal as a partial substitute for the industrial feeds used in shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming. A total of 90 L. vannamei juveniles (0.34 g) were assigned randomly into nine experimental units at a stocking density of 10 shrimp tank⁻¹ and fed a commercial shrimp feed (CSF; 35% crude protein) as a control treatment, a feed made entirely of G. cervicornis (GCM), and a mixture of equal parts of the commercial shrimp feed and the Gracilaria meal (MIX) for 30 days. Over the first 2 weeks of the experiment, the survival was high (100%) in all dietary treatments. However, at the termination of the feeding trial survival decreased to 40% in shrimp fed GCM, significantly lower (P<0.05) than survival of shrimp fed the commercial diet control (CSF) or MIX treatments (100%). The highest growth performance was obtained in the CSF or MIX treatment groups. The absolute growth increase in these groups was significantly higher than for shrimp fed GCM. Similarly, the specific growth rates (SGRs) of shrimp given feeds containing CSF (5.11% day⁻¹) and MIX (4.71% day⁻¹) were significantly greater (P<0.05) than that of shrimp fed GCM pellets (0.44% day⁻¹). The feed efficiency ratios (FERs) were 64 for CSF, 54.3 for MIX and 3.3 for GCM. The results obtained in this study indicated the effectiveness of using G. cervicornis as a partial substitute for shrimp feeds. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the concept that macroalgae can partially substitute for the industrial feeds used in shrimp (L. vannamei) farming has been demonstrated.     

Stocking strategies for production of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in amended freshwater in inland ponds

The performance of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) under various stocking strategies was evaluated in earthen ponds filled with freshwater amended with major ions. Six 0.1‐ha earthen ponds located in Pine Bluff, AR, USA, were filled with freshwater in 2003 and 2004, and potassium magnesium sulphate added to provide 50 mg K⁺ L^?1 and stock salt added to provide 0.5 g L^?1 salinity. In 2003, three ponds either were stocked with PL₁₅ shrimp (39 PL m^?2) for 125 days of grow out or with PL₂₅ shrimp for 55 days (23 PL m^?2) followed by a 65‐day (28 PL m^?2) grow‐out period. In 2004, ponds were stocked with 7, 13 or 30 PL₁₅ m^?2 for 134 days of grow out. Salinity averaged 0.7 g L^?1 during both years, and concentration of SO₄^?2, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ was higher, and Na⁺ and Cl^? was lower in amended pond water than in seawater at 0.7 g L^?1 salinity. Potassium concentration in amended water was 52–61% of the target concentration. Shrimp yields ranged from 3449 kg ha^?1 in 2003 to 4966 kg ha^?1 in 2004 in ponds stocked with 30–39 PL₁₅ m^?2 for a 125–134‐day culture period. At harvest, mean individual weight ranged from 17.1 to 19.3 g shrimp^?1. In ponds stocked with PL₂₅ shrimp, yields averaged 988 and 2462 kg ha^?1 for the 1st and 2nd grow‐out periods respectively. Gross shrimp yield in 2004 increased linearly from 1379–4966 kg ha^?1 with increased stocking rate. These experiments demonstrated that L. vannamei can be grown successfully in freshwater supplemented with major ions to a final salinity of 0.7 g L^?1.     

A diet of fructose‐enriched Artemia improves the response of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp to acute low‐salinity challenge

The Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), as an economically important species, has been reared in low‐salinity water during the last decade. To investigate how juvenile L. vannamei shrimp fed with fructose‐enriched Artemia respond to acute low‐salinity stress, the shrimp were randomly divided into four treatment groups, three groups were fed with Artemia enriched with either 100, 200 and 300 mg L^?1 of fructose and a control group fed with Artemia with no enrichment for 10 days. The results showed that the 300 mg L^?1 fructose group demonstrated the maximum survival rate and glycogen content. Additionally, the 300 mg L^?1 fructose group showed significantly higher Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase activity, total antioxidant capacity, and expression levels of Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase α‐subunit, V‐H ATPase α‐subunit, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPX) and Hsp70 mRNA when compared with the control group. Furthermore, after exposure to low salinity, the mRNA levels of phosphofructokinase, V‐H ATPase α‐subunit, GPX, p38, JNK and Rac1 stayed constant in shrimp fed with fructose‐enriched Artemia but changed significantly in the control group. Thus, a diet of fructose‐enriched Artemia can improve the osmoregulation and survival of juvenile L. vannamei shrimp exposed to low salinities.     

Effect of salinity on survival, growth, oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion of juvenile whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

In this study, we tested the lower salinity tolerance of juvenile shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) at a relatively low temperature (20 °C). In the first of two laboratory experiments, we first abruptly transferred shrimps (6.91 ± 0.05 g wet weight, mean ± SE) from the rearing salinity (35 000 mg L^?1) to salinities of 5000, 15 000, 25 000, 35 000 (control) and 40 000 mg L^?1 at 20 °C. The survival of L. vannamei juvenile was not affected by salinities from 15 000 to 40 000 mg L^?1 during the 96‐h exposure periods. Shrimps exposed to 5000 mg L^?1 were significantly affected by salinity, with a survival of 12.5% after 96 h. The 24‐, 48‐ and 96‐h lethal salinity for 50% (LS₅₀) were 7020, 8510 and 9540 mg L^?1 respectively. In the second experiment, shrimps (5.47 ± 0.09 g wet weight, mean ± SE) were acclimatized to the different salinity levels (5000, 15 000, 25 000, 35 000 and 40 000 mg L^?1) and then maintained for 30 days at 20 °C. Results showed that the survival was significantly lower at 5000 mg L^?1 than at other salinity levels, but the final wet weight under 5000 mg L^?1 treatment was significantly higher than those under other treatments (P<0.05). Feed intake (FI) of shrimp under 5000 mg L^?1 was significantly lower than those of shrimp under 150 00–40 000 mg L^?1; food conversion efficiency (FCE), however, showed a contrasting change (P<0.05). Furthermore, salinity significantly influenced the oxygen consumption rates, ammonia‐N excretion rates and the O/N ratio of test shrimps (P<0.05). The results obtained in our work provide evidence that L. vannamei juveniles have limited capacity to tolerate salinities <10 000 mg L^?1 at a relatively low temperature (20 °C). Results also show that L. vannamei juvenile can recover from the abrupt salinity change between 15 000 and 40 000 mg L^?1 within 24 h.     

Effect of different total suspended solids levels on a Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) BFT culture system during biofloc formation

In a Biofloc Technology System (BFT), there is constant biofloc formation and suspended solids accumulation, leading to effects on water quality parameters that may affect the growth performance of cultured shrimp. This study aimed to analyse during biofloc formation the effect of different total suspended solids (TSS) levels on water quality and the growth performance of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp in a BFT system. A 42‐day trial was conducted with treatments of three ranges of TSS: 100–300 mg L^?1 as low (TL), 300–600 as medium (TM) and 600–1000 as high (TH). The initial concentrations of 100 (TL), 300 (TM) and 600 mg L^?1 (TH) were achieved by fertilization before starting the experiment. Litopenaeus  vannamei juveniles with an average weight of 4.54 ± 1.19 g were stocked at a density of 372 shrimp m^?3. Physical and chemical water parameters and shrimp growth performance were analysed. After 6 weeks, TSS mean concentrations were 306.37, 532.43 and 745.2 mg L^?1 for, respectively, TL, TM and TH treatments. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in TSS, settleable solids, pH, alkalinity and nitrite, especially between the TL and TH treatments. Similarly, differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the growth performance parameters, specifically final weight, survival, feed conversion and productivity. The water quality parameters at lower range of total suspended solids concentration (TL) treatment resulted in a better performance of L. vannamei in the BFT system. The maintenance at range of 100–300 mg L^?1 TSS is thus important to the success of shrimp culture.     

Effect of Cryoprotectants on Suppression of Protein Structure Deterioration Induced by Freeze-thaw Cycle in Pacific White Shrimp

This study aimed to elucidate the changes in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) myofibrillar protein as influenced by multiple freeze-thaw cycles as well as the stabilization effects of sucrose and trisodium citrate on shrimp myofibrils. Shrimp myofibrils in 0.1 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) were mixed individually with sucrose and citrate at concentrations of 0.05 M and were evaluated for Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, salt solubility, total and reactive sulfhydryl, and surface hydrophobicity during three freeze-thaw cycles. Sucrose and citrate had strong cryoprotective effects against freeze denaturation by retaining higher Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and salt-soluble myosin and actin, by slowing the reduction of reactive sulfhydryl (SH) and by exposing less hydrophobic groups at the surface of the protein compared with the no-additive sample. Results indicated that both cryoprotectants had suppressive effect against protein denaturation and helped stabilize white shrimp myofibrillar protein during the freeze-thaw process. This study suggests that sucrose and citrate stabilized the protein structure by retarding the unfolding of protein; thus, the native protein could be protected during frozen storage.     

Water quality,Vibrio density and growth of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) in an integrated biofloc system with red seaweed Gracilaria birdiae (Greville)

An indoor trial was conducted for 42 days to evaluate water quality, Vibrio density and growth of Litopenaeus vannamei in an integrated biofloc system (IBS) with Gracilaria birdiae. Four treatments were used, each in triplicate: Control (monoculture shrimp); IBS 2.5 (L. vannamei and 2.5 kg wet weight seaweed m^?3); IBS 5.0 (L. vannamei and 5.0 kg wet weight seaweed m^?3) and IBS 7.5 (L. vannamei and 7.5 wet weight seaweed m^?3). Shrimp individuals (0.34 ± 0.01 g) were stocked at a density of 500 shrimp m^?3. No water exchange was carried out during the experimental period. Molasses was added once a day as an organic carbon source to maintain the C:N ratio at 12:1. The IBS significantly decreased (P < 0.05) dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) ranging from 19% to 34% (3.12–3.83 mg L^?1), NO₃‐N ranging from 19% to 38% (2.40–3.16 mg L^?1), Vibrio density ranging from by 8–83% (0.40–2.20 log 10³ colony‐forming units mL^?1), and FCR ranging from by 20–30% (1.20–1.37), as compared to the control (4.73 mg L^?1, 3.93 mg L^?1, 2.40 log 10³ colony‐forming units mL^?1, and 1.74 respectively). Moreover, the IBS significantly increased (P < 0.05) crude protein in whole body shrimp, ranging from 8% to 13% (13.2–13.7% wet weight basis); as well as final weight, ranging from 25% to 32% (3.90–4.12 g), weekly growth ranging from 25% to 34% (0.59–0.63 g), and shrimp yield by 22–39% (1.72–1.96 kg m^?3), as compared to control (12.1% wet weight basis, 3.12 g, 0.47 g, and 1.41 kg m^?3 respectively). It can thus be concluded that cultivating Gracilaria birdiae in an IBS with L. vannamei can contribute to DIN and NO₃‐N removal, lower Vibrio density, increased crude protein in whole body shrimp, higher growth and yield parameters in shrimp culture.     

pH值和Ca2＋浓度对日本沼虾生长和能量收支的影响

本文报道了不同ｐＨ值（６．５、７．５和８．５）和不同Ｃａ＾２＋浓度（３８．８、６１．１和７８．８ｐｐｍ）对日本沼是生长和能量收支的影响，实验结果表明，ｐＨ值对该虾的生长有一定的影响，Ｃａ＾２＋和ｐＨ值在影响其生长的过程中可能有一定的交互作用，ｐＨ值和Ｃａ＾２＋对该虾生长的影响主要是通过影响其能量摄入量实现的，本实验条件下，该虾摄入的能量平均有１５．８％用于生长，１．８％作为粪便排出体外，其余用于呼     

Effect of promoted natural feed on the production,nutritional, and immunological parameters of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) semi‐intensively farmed

The effect of promoted biota on the production parameters, water quality, nutritional and immunological condition of Litopenaeus vannamei was assessed in semi‐intensive ponds. Earthen ponds were used as experimental units: three with formulated + natural promoted feed + shrimp (T1), three with formulated feed + shrimp (T2), and three with promoted natural feed without shrimp (Control). The dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were optimal for all treatments (≥6 mg L^?1) as well as the pH (8.4–8.6). Total ammonia nitrogen was greater in T2 (0.10 mg L^?1) than T1 (0.07 mg L^?1) and the Control (0.06 mg L^?1). Phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthos were more abundant in T1 and the Control. The promotion of natural feed had a positive effect on all the production parameters of shrimp with an increase of 19.0%, 3.5% and 23.9% in weight gain, survival, and final biomass, respectively; also it was observed a decrease of 13.9% in feed conversion ratio. No differences in haemolymph parameters were observed for nutritional indicators (glucose, cholesterol, proteins, and triglycerides) nor for immunological response (phenoloxidase and prophenoloxidase). The results indicate that the promotion of biotic communities enhances the production parameters of farmed shrimp, without affecting the nutritional and immunological status. Also the water quality was improved by the presence of biota.     

亚硝态氮胁迫下凡纳滨对虾体内亚硝态氮的积累与能量代谢响应

为探究亚硝态氮胁迫下凡纳滨对虾[体长为(6.8±0.3) cm,体质量为(4.0±0.6) g]体内亚硝态氮的时空分布与能量代谢相关酶活性的响应,实验设置0(对照组)、0.8、4.0和8.0 mmol/L 4个处理组,进行持续96 h的亚硝态氮胁迫实验和12 h的恢复实验。结果显示,凡纳滨对虾死亡率与胁迫浓度呈现显著的正相关性。胁迫6 h内,亚硝态氮在凡纳滨对虾鳃、血淋巴、肠道、肝胰腺和肌肉组织中明显积累,且积累量与胁迫浓度呈现正相关。相同胁迫浓度组,亚硝态氮在对虾鳃中积累最多,肌肉中最少,鳃中的积累量约为肌肉的3倍。Na~+-K~+-ATP酶活性在0.8和4.0 mmol/L组对虾肝胰腺和肌肉中显著升高,而在8.0 mmol/L组的肌肉中显著降低。胁迫各组对虾肝胰腺AMPK活性显著上升,且与胁迫浓度呈现正相关性。恢复期间,除血淋巴(8.0 mmol/L组)外,各组织中亚硝态氮1 h恢复效率均超过50%,且肝胰腺和鳃的恢复效率最高,达到74%以上。血淋巴、鳃、肠道中亚硝态氮恢复到对照组水平的时间最短,均在6 h以内,而水体中亚硝态氮含量显著升高。以上研究表明,胁迫下亚硝态氮会在对虾组织中迅速积累,并引起能量代谢进程的加快;胁迫解除后,积累在体内的亚硝态氮能够迅速排出体外,以减轻毒性影响。本研究结果将为缓解亚硝态氮对养殖对虾毒性效应的研究提供参考。     

Effect of hypo- and hyper-saline conditions on osmolarity and fatty acid composition of juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) fed low- and high-HUFA diets

Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) grown in ponds are exposed to salinities of less than 5 g L^?1 during inland shrimp culture or to more than 40 g L^?1 from evaporation and reduced water exchange in dry, hot climates. However, dietary requirements for shrimp grown in low or high salinities are not well defined, particularly for fatty acids. Feeding shrimp postlarvae with highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) enhances tolerance to acute exposure to low salinity, as a result of better nutritional status, or/and specific effects of HUFA on membrane function and osmoregulation mechanisms. This study analysed the effect of HUFA supplementation (3% vs. 34%) on L. vannamei juveniles reared for 21 days at low (5 g L^?1), medium (30 g L^?1) and high salinities (50 g L^?1). Juveniles grown at 5 g L^?1 had lower survival compared with controls (30 g L^?1) or shrimp grown at 50 g L^?1, but no significant effect on survival was observed as a result of HUFA enrichment. In contrast, growth was significantly lower for shrimp grown at 50 g L^?1, but this effect was compensated by the HUFA‐enriched diet. Osmotic pressure in haemolymph was affected by salinity, but not by HUFA enrichment. Shrimp fed HUFA‐enriched diets had significantly higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in hepatopancreas and gills. These results demonstrate that growth at high salinities is enhanced with diets containing high HUFA levels, but that HUFA‐enriched diets have no effect on shrimp reared at low salinities.     

Effects of dietary chitosan on growth,survival and stress tolerance of postlarval shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

The effect of chitosan, a polymer of glucosamine obtained by the deacetylation of chitin, on growth, survival and stress tolerance was studied in postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei. An experiment was performed with postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 1.2 mg) fed five isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing five supplemented levels of chitosan (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g kg^?1 diet, respectively). The five compound diets (C0, C0.5, C1, C2 and C4) sustained shrimp growth throughout the experiment. Growth performance (final body weights; weight gain; SGR: specific growth rate) in shrimp fed diet C2 was significantly higher than that in shrimp fed diets C0, C0.5 and C1 (P < 0.05), diet C4 treatment provided intermediate growth result. The survival in shrimp fed diet C1 was significantly higher than that in shrimp fed C0 diet (P < 0.05), other diets treatments gave the intermediate survival results. No significant differences were found in growth and survival between diet C2 and C4 treatments. After 9 days of a stress tolerance test, survival in shrimp fed diets C1, C2 and C4 was significantly higher than that in shrimp fed diets C0 and C0.5. We concluded from this experiment that the incorporation of a moderate dietary chitosan was beneficial to the development of postlarval L. vannamei. Considering the effect of chitosan on both growth and survival of postlarval L. vannamei, second‐degree polynomial regression of SGR and survival indicated optimum supplement of dietary chitosan at 2.67 and 2.13 g kg^?1, respectively, so the level of chitosan supplemented in the diet should be between 2.13 and 2.67 g kg^?1.     

Resource Use Assessment of Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon,Production in Thailand and Vietnam

Resource use was investigated at 34 Litopenaeus vannamei and five Penaeus monodon farms in Thailand and 30 L. vannamei and 24 P. monodon farms in Vietnam. Farms varied in water surface areas for production, reservoirs, canals, and settling basins; in pond size and depth; and in water management, stocking density, feeding rate, amendment input, aeration rate, crop duration, and crops per year. Production of L. vannamei averaged 17.3 and 10.9 m.t./ha/yr, and feed conversion ratio averaged 1.49 and 1.33 in Thailand and Vietnam, respectively. On average, production of 1 m.t. of L. vannamei required 0.58 ha land, 5,400 m³ water, 60 GJ energy, and 1218 kg wildfish in Thailand and 1.76 ha land, 15,100 m³ water, 33.7 GJ energy, and 1264 kg wildfish in Vietnam. Resource use per metric ton of shrimp declined with greater production intensity. In Thailand, P. monodon was produced at 0.2–0.4 m.t./ha/yr, with no inputs but water and postlarvae. In Vietnam, P. monodon production averaged 3.60 m.t./ha/yr. Production of 1 m.t. of P. monodon required 0.80 ha land, 36,000 m³ water, 47.8 GJ energy, and 1180 kg wildfish, and resource use per ton production declined with increasing production intensity.     

Moult cycle of laboratory-raised Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei and P. monodon

This study was carried out to gather quantitative data on the moult cycle and stages in laboratory-raised shrimp, kept at a constant temperature of 27°C. The stages of the moult cycle were differentiated and characterised by microscopic analysis of cuticle, epidermis and moulting processes in the uropods of P. vannamei and P. monodon. Five major moult stages were defined: early- and late post-moult (A and B), inter-moult (C) and early- and late pre-moult (D1 and D2). Total moult cycle duration was around 5 and 6.5 days for 2-g P. vannamei and P. monodon and 11 and 12 days for 15-g P. vannamei and P. monodon, respectively. Overall, the relative duration of the moult stages within the cycle was 5–10% for A, 9–16% for B, 12–20% for C, 28–36% for D1 and 30–38% for D2 stage. It was concluded from this study that the pre-moult stages comprised the dominant phase of the cycle and that P. monodon moulted at a significantly slower rate than P. vannamei, under the given conditions. Without the use of invasive techniques, the moult process was charted in laboratory-raised shrimp in Europe, providing a tool for taking into account this important physiological factor in further experiments.     

Study of zooplankton communities in shrimp earthen ponds, with and without organic nutrient-enriched substrates

Zooplankton communities were studied in shrimp ponds using different strategies to enhance natural productivity. The traditional treatment consisted of performing the strategy of simple fertilization (TT); for the alternative treatment (AT), fertilization was combined with the use of organic substrates enriched with nutrients; both treatments were stocked with shrimp post-larvae (Litopenaeus vannamei). Additionally, ponds with substrates but without shrimp were also studied (C). Total zooplankton concentration was greater in C ponds (1,002 org L^?1) followed by AT (309 org L^?1) and TT (124 org L^?1), respectively. Copepods were the most abundant organisms in all treatments (≥65 %), but their concentration decreased when shrimp were present in ponds. Such decline of copepods enhanced the proliferation of other zooplankton organisms such as polychaetes, protozoans, barnacles, ciliatea and others. Contents of shrimp stomachs exhibited a shrimp preference for copepods, polychaetes and protozoans; in addition, stomach contents of shrimp revealed their higher consumption of zooplankton when these organisms are abundant in the culture. Finally, shrimp reared in AT had a better growth performance than those from TT. It is concluded that enriched substrates are useful to improve and maintain high concentrations of zooplankton; copepods seem to suppress the proliferation of other zooplankton populations; however, they are preferred preys by shrimp.