Abstract:
The respiratory rates of Litopentieus stylirostris were measured at three different salinities (20, 30, and 40) and temperatures (20, 30, and 35 degreesC). Equations of routine oxygen consumption (VO2) and weight-specific oxygen consumption (QO(2)) were obtained for the nine combinations and regression models for the effects of temperatures and salinities were derived from the data. Temperature, salinity, and combinations of salinity and temperature had a significant effect on oxygen consumption rate (p>0.05). The lowest values were found at a salinity of 30, suggesting that the iso-osmotic point may be at about this value. The thermal coefficient (Q(10)) did not vary with salinity, but did vary with temperature. Q(10) was 0.62 between 20 and 30 degreesC, 2.5 between 30 and 35 degreesC, and 1.88 over the full temperature range. The partial coefficients and the multiple regression equation were highly significant suggesting that culture of this species would be optimum at salinities between 25-38 and temperatures of 20-30 degreesC. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.