Influence de la temperature sur la croissance et la mue de Palaemon serratus en fonction de leur taille

The effects of temperature on growth and on the duration of the molt cycle and inter-molt stages of Palaemon serratus were examined in relation to body size under controlled conditions in the laboratory.Over the size range studied, the best temperature for growth is 22° C, but when the temperature differs from this optimum, young shrimps are less affected than old ones. Growth of the smallest shrimps is depressed especially by extremely low temperatures; on the contrary, high temperatures act negatively on the growth of old animals.The duration of the molt cycle is directly and linearly related to shrimp length; increasing temperature shortens it according to a hyperbolic curve, with a greater effect on the largest animals.Neither body size nor temperature affects significantly the relative durations of the molt stages.