Sea Grant Program: Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Title: The interaction of salinity and temperature on growth of native and non-native shrimp species cultured in Alabama
Start Date: 02/01/08
Duration: 2 years
Project Leader: Davis, D. A.
Affiliation: Auburn University
Sea Grant Funds (2 years): $139,998
Matching Funds: $71,538
Keywords: bait shrimp, white shrimp, temperature, salinity
Objectives:
1) Provide west Alabama shrimp farmers with much needed information pertaining to salinity and temperature tolerance of post-larval and early juvenile stage shrimp in order to increase survival, growth, and thus production of inland low salinity farms. 2) Provide the coastal bait shrimp industry with much needed information pertaining to temperature and salinity tolerances of post-larval and early stage juvenile shrimp. 3) Determine growth rates and survival for juvenile native shrimp at various salinities and temperatures.
Methodology:
A series of growth trials will be conducted with Pacific white shrimp and brown shrimp to determine the interaction of salinity and temperature. Research with white shrimp will be conducted at the E.W. Shell Fisheries Research Station in Auburn, Alabama and will evaluate post-larval and juvenile growth and survival at a combination of temperature and salinity (Na:K ratio) regimes commonly found during the early production cycle in low salinity west Alabama waters. Research with brown shrimp will be conducted at the Claude Peteet Mariculture Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama and will also evaluate post-larval and juvenile growth and survival at a combination of temperature and salinity regimes commonly found during the early production cycle along the coast. In addition, a six large 35 m3 circular tanks will be utilized to produce bait shrimp at two test salinities and serve as a demonstration system for extension and outreach.
Rationale:
In Alabama, both the inland shrimp industry and the coastal bait shrimp industry lack information pertaining to salinity and temperature interactions in post-larval and early juvenile life stages. The lack of information has lead to reduced survival, growth, and overall production, thus severely reducing profits for Alabama farmers. While both the inland shrimp industry and coastal bait shrimp industry in Alabama have plenty of potential for growth, data concerning the interaction of salinity and temperature on early life stages is a barrier to development of the industry. Consequently, the objectives of this research are targeted at providing data to local farmers in order to increase production and assist with the development of these exciting new industries.
For More Information Contact: the MASGC Research Coordinator, Loretta Leist (Loretta.leist@usm.edu).
Please reference the project number R/SP-20.
(Annual Report)
