Effects of stocking density on the nutrient budget and growth of the western king prawn (Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouye) in a recirculating aquaculture system

Intensification in the commercial culture of prawns can have a significant impact on the water quality and hence on the survival, growth and the surrounding environment. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of stocking density on the water quality and performance of the western king prawns (Penaeus latisulcatus) and the nutrient budget of the culture environment. Four stocking densities of 4, 8, 16 and 32 prawns m^?2 were tested in 12 recirculating systems. Prawn weight and specific growth rate increased with decreasing stocking density, while the survival rate showed the reverse trend. The mean total ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus were significantly higher (P<0.05) at the higher stocking density. The nutrient budget revealed that the prawns could assimilate only 9.34–20.13% nitrogen and 4.97–11.25% phosphorus of the total nutrient inputs. The drained water at harvest was the major sink of phosphorus and nitrogen at stocking densities of 4, 8 and 16, which accounted for 45.59–64.82% and 44.28–65.62% of the total inputs, respectively, while a significant proportion of nitrogen sunk into the sediment at 32 prawns m^?2. The study suggested that the stocking densities of western king prawns can be up to 16 prawns m^?2 in the recirculating water environment.     

Effects of a partitioned aquaculture system on water quality and growth of Penaeus vannamei

The effects of system partition on the water quality were studied using three shrimp ponds (Ts), and each one of the shrimp pond was connected individually with a fish pond by piping and pump. Three other isolated shrimp ponds were designated as the Cs treatment. The results showed that the implementation of the system can improve the water quality in the shrimp ponds. Particulate organic matter (POM), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrite nitrogen (NO₂–N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃–N) in the Ts were lower than those in the Cs during the experiment, and in some cases, they were significantly lower (p < 0.05). Throughout most of the experimental period, the soluble reactive phosphorus in the Ts treatment were greater than that in the Cs treatment (p < 0.05), and N/P ratio of the water column was lower in the Ts treatment than in the Cs treatment throughout most of the experimental period (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the partitioned system contributed to the stability of water quality and N/P ratio in the water. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was dominant in the third to seventh weeks in Cs, and the dominant condition was found only in seventh week in Ts. The result indicated that system may contribute to the slowing down of the breakout of V. parahaemolyticus in the shrimp pond. According to the redundancy analysis, COD, chlorophyll a and POM were mainly positively related to the dominance index of V. parahaemolyticus, and maybe POM can serve as an indicator to reflect the trend of V. parahaemolyticus.     

循环水养殖罗非鱼氮收支及对水质影响的初步研究

为提供实际生产理论依据,改良系统水处理工艺,开展循环水养殖系统中吉富罗非鱼氮收支和对水质情况的初步研究。起始养殖密度8 kg/m3,投饲率2%,系统循环量1 m3/h,总水量0.8 m3。试验期间溶解氧大于6 mg/L,pH 7.0～7.2,水温23～25℃。每周监测水质2～3次,监测指标包括氨氮、亚硝酸盐氮、硝酸盐氮,每2周检测1次水中总氮。用凯氏定氮法测定实验前后饲料、试验鱼体、粪便、悬浮颗粒的氮含量。结果显示,摄食氮有50.00±1.50%转化为生长氮,32.61±1.38%转化为排泄氮,17.39±4.0%转化为粪氮;58%的粪氮为悬浮颗粒物,42%为可沉淀颗粒物。     

投喂频率对工厂化循环水养殖星康吉鳗生长、生理指标及其水质的影响

本研究采用生理学和实验生态学方法探究了工厂化循环水养殖模式下,不同投喂频率对星康吉鳗(Conger myriaster)生长、生理指标以及水质因子的影响。选用初始体重为(150.64±5.43) g的星康吉鳗为研究对象,实验共设2组,分别为1次/天(T1组)、2次/天(T2组),每组3个重复,实验周期为70d。实验每14d检测各养殖池实验鱼平均体重和循环水系统水质指标;实验结束时,采集星康吉鳗血液、组织相关样品,用于生长、生理指标的测定与分析。结果显示,T2组终末体重(FBW)、终末体长(FBL)、增重率(WGR)、特定生长率(SGR)显著高于T1组(P<0.05),T1组饲料系数(FCR)显著高于T2组(P<0.05)。T1组血清丙二醛(MDA)显著高于T2组(P<0.05),T2组肝脏谷草转氨酶(AST)、肝脏谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、肠道胰蛋白酶(TPS)显著高于T1组(P<0.05)。T1组、T2组出口水NH₄⁺-N、NO₂^--N 24 h变化中分别有1处(24:00)和...     

Effects of adding sucrose on Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) growth performance and water quality in a biofloc system

A 60‐day indoor growth trial was conducted to study the effects of biofloc on the growth performance of a Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798), water quality and biological indicators including biofloc volume, chlorophyll‐a, heterotrophic bacteria and Bacillus quantity. Two concentrations of sucrose (0 and 75%) were added daily to the P. monodon culture systems (2.94 ± 0.11 g), which were conducted indoors in fibre‐glass tanks (500 L). Results showed that the final body weight and weight gain of the adding 75% sucrose group were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control, as well as significantly (P < 0.05) improved specific growth rates and survival rates, and reduced feed coefficient. Adding 75% sucrose promoted heterotrophic bacteria, Bacillus and phytoplankton reproduction, and significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the concentration of ammonia‐N (NH₄‐N), nitrite‐N (NO₂‐N) and nitrate‐N (NO₃‐N). The changes of water quality indicators in the two groups showed the similar trend at the end of the experiment, and the ammonia‐N, nitrite‐N, nitrate‐N and phosphate‐P concentrations in the 75% sucrose group were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group, Chlorophyll‐a concentrations peaked at 389.12 μg/L in the biofloc sucrose group at 18:00 h, and heterotrophic bacteria peaked 8 h after sucrose was added. The addition of sucrose also reduced the pH of the water. Our research showed that adding sucrose promoted biofloc formation and shortened the formation time; increased the number of heterotrophic bacteria and algae which might play a role in improving water quality by assimilating ammonia‐N and other harmful substances in the water; supplemented food for P monodon growth; and reduced the feed coefficient.     

Effects of feeding rate and frequency on growth performance,digestion and nutrients balances of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)

A 10‐week study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding rate and frequency on growth performance, digestion and nutrients balances of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in replicated recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Replicated groups of juvenile salmon weighing 90 ± 2.5 g (mean ± SD) were fed a commercial feed (21.63 MJ kg^?1 gross energy) to designed feeding rate (1.4%, 1.6% and 1.8% body weight day^?1, BW day^?1) and feeding frequency (2 and 4 meals day^?1) combinations. Specific growth ratio varied between 1.15 ± 0.02 and 1.37 ± 0.16% day^?1, and feed conversion ratio ranged from 0.96 ± 0.03 to 1.16 ± 0.02. The nitrogen and phosphorus retention rates were from 36.50 ± 1.94 to 47.08 ± 5.23% and from 20.42 ± 1.05 to 38.59 ± 2.80%. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) in dry matter, protein, lipid and energy showed no significant differences for all groups. However, fish fed at 1.6% BW day^?1 and 4 meal day^?1 groups had relatively better growth and nutrient retention efficiency compared to other groups. In addition, concentrations of nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds were also detected in this study. These results suggested that salmon of 100–200 g in RAS could in practice be fed at 1.6% BW day^?1 and 4 meals day^?1, taking environmental impacts into account.     

Effects of probiotics (Pseudomonas synxantha and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) on the growth, survival and immune parameters of juvenile western king prawns (Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouye, 1896)

The effects of two selected probiotics ( Pseudomonas synxantha and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) on the specific growth rate (SGR), survival and immune parameters of juvenile western king prawns ( Penaeus latisulcatus ) were examined for 84 days. Pseudomonas synxantha and P. aeruginosa were either applied into the rearing medium or supplemented in the formulated feed at a concentration of 10⁵ colony forming unit (CFU) mL⁻¹ for each probiotic. The results showed that applications of the probiotics resulted in no significant difference ( P >0.05) in the SGR and survival of the prawns, but significantly decreased the food conversion ratios ( P <0.05) compared with the control where no probiotics were applied. The supplement of the probiotics with the formulated feed enhanced the probiotic numbers in the intestines of the prawns and low bacteria numbers in the haemolymph. The prawns were significantly ( P <0.05) healthier, as indicated by the immune response obtained when both probiotics were given in combination compared with when individual probiotics were used. When applied singly, P. aeruginosa resulted in a higher health status of the prawns compared with P. synxantha . Overall, equal combinations (10⁵ CFU mL⁻¹) and volumes of P. synxantha and P. aeruginosa used as a supplement in the formulated feed resulted in an improvement in the health of the juvenile western king prawns.     

Encapsulation capacity of Artemia nauplii with customized probiotics for use in the cultivation of western king prawns (Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouye, 1896)

The encapsulation capacity of Artemia nauplii with customized probiotics Pseudomonas synxantha and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for use in the cultivation of western king prawns (Penaeus latisulcatus) was investigated. Seven trials were conducted to investigate this encapsulation capacity in terms of Artemia survival and probiotic load in Artemia. Newly hatched Artemia nauplii at 250 nauplii mL^?1 were fed individual probiotics at 0, 10³, 10⁵ and 10⁷ colony‐forming units (CFU) per millilitre, and mixtures of these two probiotics (10⁵ CFU mL^?1) at 30:70, 50:50 or 70:30 v/v in a medium of ozonated water (OW), tryptone soya broth (TSB), and a mixture of these media. The appropriate medium for encapsulation of probiotics by Artemia nauplii was the mixture of OW and TSB at 75:25 v/v; whereas, the use of OW or TSB alone was not effective. Artemia nauplii most effectively encapsulated the customized probiotics at 10⁵ CFU mL^?1. The results indicates that the encapsulation of Artemia nauplii is optimized by using a combination of P. synxantha and P. aeruginosa at 50:50 v/v in a media mixture of OW and TSB at 75: 25 v/v. Artemia should be harvested at 48 h when survival is still high (78%) and the probiotic load in Artemia is high (3 × 10⁴ CFU nauplius^?1).     

Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production and stable isotope dynamics in clear‐water recirculating aquaculture systems versus biofloc systems

Closed recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offer advantages over traditional culture methods including enhanced biosecurity, the possibility of indoor, inland culture of marine species year‐round and potential marketing opportunities for fresh, never‐frozen seafood. Questions still remain regarding what type of aquaculture system may be best suited for the closed‐system culture of marine shrimp. In this study, shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) were grown in clear‐water RAS and in biofloc‐based systems. Comparisons were made between the system types with respect to water quality, shrimp production and stable isotope dynamics used to determine the biofloc contribution to shrimp nutrition. Ammonia and nitrite concentrations were higher, and shrimp survival was lower in the biofloc systems. Although stable isotope levels indicated that biofloc material may have contributed 28% of the carbon and 59% of the nitrogen in shrimp tissues, this did not correspond with improved shrimp production. Overall, the water column microbial communities in biofloc systems may be more difficult to manage than clear‐water RAS which have external filters to control water quality. Biofloc does seem to offer some nutritional contributions, but exactly how to take advantage of that and ensure improved production remains unclear.     

Effect of stocking density on soil,water quality and nitrogen budget in Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) culture under zero water exchange system

Soil and water interactions and their influence on growth and production in different densities (SD8 & SD16) under zero water exchange were studied in two successive crops of Penaeus monodon in Tamil Nadu, India during 2007 and 2008. Scraping and tilling during pond preparation increased the mineralization rate than scraping only. During crop, there was no significant difference in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen between the SDs. However, as the crop progressed, organic carbon and total nitrogen content of the soil showed significant difference under both the SDs. Between the SDs, nitrate and phosphate content in water significantly differed, whereas the progress of the crop significantly increased both available and total nutrients. Mass balance of nitrogen indicated that applied feed contributed to 97.4–98.5% of input nitrogen, of which nitrogen in sediment accounted for 16.5–27.3%, nitrogen recovery in shrimp was 34.2–43.6% and the nitrogen lost through denitrification and volatilization varied from 4.7% to 34.7%. Zero water exchange system is highly efficient as nitrogen recovery is higher in shrimp and lower in discharge water. Lack of significant difference in metabolites between the SDs indicates the role of aeration and probiotics in sustaining SD16 cultures.     

全封闭循环水养殖系统中养殖密度对钝吻黄盖鲽生长的影响

为了评估全封闭循环水养殖系统中养殖密度对钝吻黄盖鲽生长的影响及水质变化情况,将体质量为(250.00±50.83)g的钝吻黄盖鲽分成8个试验组(放养密度分别为18、22、26、30、34、38、42、46 kg/m³),进行了3个月的饲养试验,检测不同养殖密度下鱼的成活率、体质量增长率及饲料系数,同时对试验期间氨氮、亚硝酸盐和溶解氧等各项水质指标的动态变化进行监测。试验结果显示,各试验组鱼的成活率均达到96%以上,但随着养殖密度的增加,钝吻黄盖鲽的成活率总体呈现降低的趋势;低密度组(18 kg/m³)的体质量增长率最高,为36.1%,高密度组(46 kg/m³)的体质量增长率最低,为24.8%,且体质量增长率随着养殖密度的增加而逐渐降低;随着养殖密度的增加,饲料系数呈逐渐升高的趋势;养殖期间各项水质指标均保持在适宜钝吻黄盖鲽生长的范围内。结果表明,在本试验的循环水养殖系统中,综合考量养殖生长指标及单位面积产量,钝吻黄盖鲽规模化生产的最适养殖密度为42～46 kg/m³。     

封闭循环水养殖系统中池塘覆膜对水质的影响

2005—2010年,对天津市天祥水产有限公司封闭循环水养殖系统水质进行了检测。结果显示:养殖池塘是否覆膜、覆膜面积大小,均会使整个养殖系统中的总硬度(TH)、总碱度(AT)、NH3-N和PO4-P在时空上产生差异。时间上,它们年份间差异极显著(P<0.01);空间上,各采样点的AT和NH3-N差异显著(P<0.05)。覆膜使系统的TH和AT稳定性减弱,CV上升了166.5%～241.7%,这种情况在养殖中期尤为突出,但对NH3-N和PO4-P稳定性的影响并不明显。养殖系统中较大面积的覆膜(43.65%)对养殖池塘TH、AT和NH3-N稳定性的影响比非覆膜池塘的大,CV分别高出了75.9%、135.6%和21.6%;而小面积(19.2%)覆膜的养殖池塘相对非覆膜池塘稳定,CV分别降低了71.9%、41.5%和91.4%。导致它们间差异及稳定性变异的原因主要归结于覆膜影响了物质与土壤间的物质交换及其间的生物活性强度。     

Water quality,nutrient budgets and growth performance in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco Richardson) and lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) co‐culture systems

An experiment was conducted to determine the growth efficiency of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) on nutrient capture in farming systems of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco Richardson). Three treatments, a control treatment of N. nucifera alone (T1), a treatment of N. nucifera‐P. fulvidraco co‐culture (T2) and a treatment of P. fulvidraco alone (T3), were conducted in triplicate. Except pH, conductivity and chemical oxygen demand (COD_Mn), most of the water quality parameters were significantly lowered by N. nucifera cultivation. Total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the T2 system were 62.2% and 71.6% higher than those in the T1 system respectively; and 31.8% and 59.2% lower than those in the T3 system respectively. The nitrogen and phosphorus release rates were 41.2% and 36.8% in the T2 system, respectively, and 95.6% and 99.1% in the T3 system respectively. 7.31%–21.4% of nitrogen and 3.35%–15.9% of phosphorus were unaccounted. N. nucifera can effectively remove nutrients from water and sediments and may promote the outflow of nutrients. No significant difference in fish or N. nucifera growth performance was observed among the systems. This study indicates that the co‐culture of N. nucifera with P. fulvidraco is an optimal culture system that can increase food production and reduce waste discharge.     

Influence of social factors on the nocturnal activity pattern of the noble crayfish,Astacus astacus (Crustacea,Decapoda) in recirculating aquaculture systems

The social environment plays a major role in the control of growth in many crustaceans, but little is known on the mechanisms involved. Two‐ and three‐year‐old noble crayfish, Astacus astacus are strictly nocturnally active. In the present article, we studied social effects on the pattern of nocturnal activity, represented by the time which the animals spent outside shelters. For this purpose, the activity of groups of uniformly large (‘dominant’) and uniformly small (‘subordinate’) individuals were recorded at different densities both separately and in mixed set‐ups. In crowded laboratory cultures, the presence of larger (dominant) conspecifics was found to reduce the time which smaller (subordinate) individuals spent outside shelters in search of food and feeding by about one‐third. It is suggested that this asymmetric inhibitory effect is an element of the functional chain which ultimately results in an extremely wide variation in individual growth rates of communally reared A. astacus. The relevance of the findings to crayfish aquaculture is discussed.     

Effects of diatom concentration in prepared feeds on growth and energy budget of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

Eight test diets were used in the experiment: seven fresh diatom (Cylindrotheca fusiformis) diets in which diatom occupied 100%, 83.3%, 50%, 33.3%, 20%, 14.3% and 11.1% in dry matter of the feeds (marked as D100, D83, D50, D33, D20, D14 and D11), and a formulated diet (70% Sargassum thunbergii powder, 20% sea mud and 10% fish meal, based on dry weight, marked as ST). The results showed that the specific growth rates (SGRs) of the animals fed diets D33, D20, D14 and D11 were not significantly different from the SGR of those fed diet ST. However, the energy allocated to growth for the animals fed with diet D14 was twice that of diet ST. For sea cucumbers fed diet D14 the largest expenditure part was allocated to respiration (55.4%), but for those fed diet ST, the largest part was allocated to faeces (62.7%). The organic content of diet D14 was also much lower than that of diet ST. Frozen diatom diets containing 14% (dry matter weight) fresh diatom could be an environmentally friendly feed as an alternative option for macroalgae powder.     

Effects of water exchange protocols on water quality,sedimentation rate and production performance of Penaeus monodon in earthen ponds

This study was carried out in farmers' fields to quantify the total water and consumptive water use in grow‐out culture of Penaeus monodon under recommended package of practice with two different water management protocols: T₁, with no water exchange and T₂, with regulated water exchange. Treatment‐wise estimated total water use, was 2.09 and 2.43 ha‐m 122 day^?1, while the computed consumptive water use index (m³ kg^?1 biomass) was 5.35 and 6.02 in T₁ and T₂ respectively. Lower rates of water exchange (T₂) showed significantly improved (P < 0.05) crop performance in terms of performance index (19.75 ± 0.75), production‐size index (74.1 ± 3.4), survival rate (80.13 ± 1.7%) and productivity (2.44 ± 0.08 t) over the zero water exchange. The shrimp pond water quality suitability index (WQSI) infers that regulated water exchange (T₂) improved the overall suitability of water quality for shrimp culture. WQSI up to 90 days of culture ranged between 7.5–9.0 in T₂, needs little management while in the last month of rearing, it was good with moderate management requirements. Treatment‐wise sediment load ranged between 50.4–56.3 m³ t^?1 shrimp biomass. High intensity of water exchange and low apparent feed conversion ratio influenced in lowering the sedimentation rate. Regulated water exchange protocol (T₂) performed well (higher net total water productivity and net consumptive water productivity) against no water exchange (T₁). A higher OV:CC ratio (ratio of the output value to the cost of cultivation) indicated that T₂ had a distinct edge over the T₁ protocol.     

Effect of different biofloc system on water quality,biofloc composition and growth performance in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

The experiment was conducted with three biofloc treatments and one control in triplicate in 500 L capacity indoor tanks. Biofloc tanks, filled with 350 L of water, were fed with sugarcane molasses (BFT_S), tapioca flour (BFT_T), wheat flour (BFT_W) and clean water as control without biofloc and allowed to stand for 30 days. The postlarvae of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) with an Average body weight of 0.15 ± 0.02 g were stocked at the rate of 130 PL m^?2 and cultured for a period of 60 days fed with pelleted feed at the rate of 1.5% of biomass. The total suspended solids (TSS) level was maintained at around 500 mg L^?1 in BFT tanks. The addition of carbohydrate significantly reduced the total ammonia‐N (TAN), nitrite‐N and nitrate‐N in water and it significantly increased the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) population in the biofloc treatments. There was a significant difference in the final average body weight (8.49 ± 0.09 g) in the wheat flour treatment (BFT_W) than those treatment and control group of the shrimp. Survival of the shrimps was not affected by the treatments and ranged between 82.02% and 90.3%. The proximate and chemical composition of biofloc and proximate composition of the shrimp was significantly different between the biofloc treatments and control. Tintinids, ciliates, copepods, cyanobacteria and nematodes were identified in all the biofloc treatments, nematodes being the most dominant group of organisms in the biofloc. It could be concluded that the use of wheat flour (BFT_W) effectively enhanced the biofloc production and contributed towards better water quality which resulted in higher production of shrimp.     

循环水养殖半滑舌鳎成鱼摄食活动对主要水质因子的影响

在封闭循环水养殖条件下,半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis Günther)的平均养殖密度(15.07±0.22)kg/m3,观测半滑舌鳎的呼吸频率,检测养殖水体中溶氧、氨氮、亚硝酸氮等24 h内摄食和代谢的变化规律。结果表明:(1)半滑舌鳎摄食前、后的呼吸频率平均值分别为27.3次/min和34.7次/min,摄食后的呼吸频率显著高于摄食前;(2)投喂前、后2.5 h内,水中溶氧一直处于下降趋势,在摄食2.5 h后,水中溶氧处于稳定的上升趋势;(3)投喂后,氨氮、亚硝酸氮浓度显著增高,2.5 h后达到峰值,随后缓慢降低,在下次投喂前0.5 h达到最低值。说明半滑舌鳎摄食活动对循环水养殖水质的影响呈现规律性,也说明循环水养殖模式可以满足半滑舌鳎对水质的基本要求。     

Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)–plant (Hydrilla verticillata) co‐culture system improves water quality,prawn production and economic benefit through stocking density and feeding regime manage

The effects and commercial implications of aquatic plant addition, and variable prawn stocking density and supply of commercial aquafeed on water quality, prawn production and economic benefit, are investigated in a prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) + plant (Hydrilla verticillata) co‐culture system. Our experimental design includes a control (PM, prawn monoculture without H. verticillata, with 30 prawns/m²) and four treatments with 15% plant cover of total pond area in each replicate. Dissolved oxygen, pH, N, P, total ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrite and nitrate in this co‐culture system were significantly lower than those of PM. Prawn survival (96.2 ± 14.9%), average final weight (68.5 ± 4.9 g) and yield (879.1 ± 102.4 kg/ha) in treatment 20W80%A (20 prawns/m², 80% of control aquafeed) were obviously greater than in PM and other treatments. Despite small males (SM) and immature females (IF) being predominant in prawn + plant cultures, more than 77.2% of prawns reached or exceeded 40 g on completion of trials, and by six months were of appropriate size for market. We report culture of M. rosenbergii with H. verticillata to be both feasible and profitable. The optimal treatment, a stocking density of 20 prawns/m² with these plants, enabled reduction of commercial aquafeed to 20% conventional culture levels. For this optimal treatment, we estimate total gross revenue, profit and internal rate of return to be US$ 6,593.3 ± 103.3 ha^?1, US$ 3,095.5 ± 42.6 ha^?1 and 127.5 ± 20.7% for 20W80%A respectively; we estimate U.S. Dollar (US$) invested generates 3.87 times conventional culture revenue. Co‐culture of M. rosenbergii and plants renders prawn production ecologically and economically feasible on larger farms.     

Effect of vitamin E on spermatophore regeneration and quality of pond‐reared,black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effects of different levels of vitamin E in feed on the spermatophore regeneration and quality of male Penaeus monodon. The experiment was carried out with the four following treatments: the basal diet no added vitamin E, the diet added 200, 600 and 1,000 mg/kg respectively. Spermatophore regeneration and quality were evaluated by spermatophore weight, sperm count and spermatophore absence rates, which male P. monodon were extruded spermatophore for feeding 20 and 40 days. In the experiment, the weight of the twice regenerated spermatophore of the males added to the vitamin E group was higher than that of the untreated control group. The weight of the first regenerated spermatophore with the addition of 1,000 mg/kg group was the highest and significantly higher than the control group (p < .05), but there was no significant difference among the three groups with different levels of vitamin E. The weight of the second regenerated spermatophore with the addition of 600 mg/kg group was the highest, followed by 1,000 mg/kg group, both of which were higher than the control group and the addition of 200 mg/kg group. Within the same group, the regeneration spermatophore weight showed overall upward trend as the feeding time, twice regenerate experiment spermatophore weight with added to the vitamin E groups were significantly higher than the initial value (p < .05), but three spermatophore weight of male shrimp at the control group had no significant difference. The sperm quantity and the percentage of normal sperm of the twice regenerated spermatophore of the males with added to the vitamin E group was higher than that of the untreated control group, and those of the addition of 200 mg/kg group was significantly higher than that of control group (p < .05). The total number of sperm and the percentage of living sperm of male shrimp in the experimental group decreased with the increase of vitamin E in the feed. Within the same group, the total number of sperm and the percentage of living sperm of male shrimp with added to the vitamin E groups showed overall upward trend as the feeding time and were significantly higher than the initial value (p < .05), but the control group was slightly down and had no significant difference. Comprehensive sperm weight, sperm quantity and living sperm percentage of three indicators, that adding 200 mg/kg of vitamin E in feed could effectively promote the spermatophore regeneration in the male P. monodon and improve the sperm quantity. The experimental results provide a scientific basis for the breeding of P. monodon.