Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, serves as a cornerstone of global aquaculture. Its rapid growth and adaptability have made it a highly sought-after species. However, to maximize production and ensure sustainable practices, a deep understanding of its growth patterns is essential.
A recent study published by scientists at Guangdong Ocean University delved into the growth performance of L. vannamei in two main farming systems: pond and industrial cultivation. By analyzing data collected over seven months, the researchers aimed to identify the most suitable growth models for each farming method.
Genetic Advances and Environmental Considerations
To address these issues, Chinese scientists have embarked on a genetic breeding program, resulting in the development of new varieties, such as “Xinghai No. 1.” This variety exhibits superior traits, including rapid growth, high ammonia tolerance, and resilience to low-oxygen conditions.
While genetic advances play a crucial role, the environment significantly influences shrimp growth. As poikilothermic animals, shrimp are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which can affect their metabolic rates, feeding behavior, and overall development. Optimal temperature conditions are essential to maximize growth and minimize stress.
Understanding Growth Patterns: A Comparative Analysis
To better understand shrimp growth dynamics, researchers employed various nonlinear growth models, including the Brody, Logistic, Von Bertalanffy, and Gompertz models. These models help describe shrimp growth trajectories under different farming conditions.
In this study, the growth performance of “Xinghai No. 1” shrimp was compared between pond and industrial cultivation systems. By analyzing data collected over seven months, the researchers aimed to identify the most suitable growth models for each farming method. The findings revealed that the Gompertz model was the most appropriate for describing both body length and weight growth in both farming systems.
Growth Models and Data Analysis
The researchers applied four nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, and Brody) to fit growth data (body length (BL) and body weight (BW) measured monthly over seven months).
The best-fitting models were selected based on R², adjusted R², Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), evidence weight for model i (Wi), root mean square error (RMSE), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC).
Results and Discussion
The results showed that both BL and BW growth were better in pond cultivation compared to industrial cultivation (P < 0.05). Additionally, shrimp in both farming modes displayed positive allometric growth throughout their lives.
The Gompertz and Logistic models were the optimal models for BL data in pond and industrial cultivation, respectively, while the Gompertz model was most suitable for BW data for both farming methods.
Inflection Point and Implications
The BL and BW inflection points in pond farming occurred earlier than in industrial farming. These findings carry important implications for small-scale producers and fishers who may adjust the balance between pond and industrial farming to better meet China’s shrimp market demand.
Implications for Aquaculture Practices
These findings have significant implications for the aquaculture industry:
- Customized Management Strategies: By understanding shrimp-specific growth patterns in different farming modes, producers can implement tailored management strategies to optimize growth and yield.
- Informed Decision-Making: Identifying optimal growth models provides valuable insights for predicting growth trajectories and making informed decisions regarding stocking densities, feeding regimes, and harvest schedules.
- Market-Driven Production: The study highlights the potential for adjusting the balance between pond and industrial farming to meet the growing demand for shrimp in markets such as China.
Conclusion
This study highlights the importance of understanding L. vannamei growth performance in different farming methods. The results demonstrate that pond cultivation is more suitable for shrimp growth, and the Gompertz model is most appropriate for describing body weight growth in both farming systems.
The findings of this study can help small-scale producers optimize their farming practices and improve their capacity to meet China’s shrimp market demand.
The study was funded by the Key Special Program on Science and Technology Innovation in Marine Agriculture and Freshwater Fisheries, the Construction Project of the Modern Seed Industry Park for Whiteleg Shrimp of Guangdong Province, the Special Funds for Science and Technology Innovation Strategy of Guangdong Province in 2022, the Open Competition Program of the Top Ten Critical Priorities of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation for the 14th Five-Year Plan of Guangdong Province, the Scientific and Technological Innovation of Marine Agriculture and Freshwater Fishery, the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, China, and the Research and Development and Industrialization of Key Technologies of Shrimp in Zhanjiang.
Contact
Jianyong Liu
College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University
Zhanjiang 524088, China.
Email: liujy70@126.com
Reference (open access)
Zhang, Y., Zhuo, H., Fu, S., & Liu, J. (2024). Growth performance and growth model fitting of Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in pond and factory modes. Aquaculture Reports, 39, 102483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2024.102483
