Effects of temperature and starvation on ecophysiological performance of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Ecophysiological responses of Litopenaeus vannamei were evaluated as a function of temperature and the animal's nutritive state. Growth, routine metabolic rate (RMR), limiting oxygen concentration for the routine metabolic rate (LOCr), and marginal metabolic scope (MMS = RMR/LOCr) were measured for juvenile L. vannamei fed and starved up to 38 d at four temperatures—20, 24, 28, and 32 °C. RMR increased with increased temperature, both for fed and starved shrimp. LOCr was higher at each temperature for starved than for fed shrimp. MMS and growth appeared to be positively correlated. Growth rate of fed shrimp was positive at all four temperatures and maximal at 28 and 32 °C; starved shrimp had no significant change in weight, except at 32 °C, where they lost weight. For both fed and starved shrimp, 20 °C seemed to induce a state of torpor.