Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of juvenile pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus paulensis) in culture: temperature effects

We evaluated oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion by juveniles of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis at three different temperatures (15, 20 and 25 degrees C). The shrimp were collected in the coastal region of Cananeia, SAo Paulo State, Brazil. The selected temperatures are the limits recorded in aquaculture tanks in the coastal region of Cananeia. We measured oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion as proxies for metabolic activity. Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion increased with increasing temperature, but no change was observed at 15 and 20 degrees C. It is possible that within this temperature range, there is thermal independence in juvenile F. paulensis do not need to allocate additional energy to compensate for temperature changes because they are physiologically adapted for this range.