title: Effects of temperature, salinity, body length, and starvation on the critical swimming speed of whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.
abstract: The critical swimming speed (U(crit), cms⁻¹) of whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, exposed to various temperatures (17, 20, 25, and 29 °C), salinities (20, 25, 30, 35, and 40), and starvation days (1, 4, and 8d), was determined in a flume tank. Body length (5.5, 6.6, 7.3, 9.4, and 10.0 cm) was also studied in relation to the U(crit). Temperature, salinity, body length and starvation significantly affected the U(crit) of whiteleg shrimp. The U(crit) increased as temperature increased from 17 to 29 °C. The relationship between temperature (t, °C) and U(crit) can be described by the linear model as U(crit)=1.5916t+0.8892, R²=0.9992 (P<0.01). The U(crit) increased and then decreased as salinity increased from 20 to 40. The optimum salinity and the corresponding maximum U(crit) are 36.17 and 42.87 cms⁻¹, respectively. The relationship between salinity (s) and U(crit) can be described by the quadratic model as U(crit)=-0.0171s²+1.2371s+20.497, R²=0.7667 (P=0.234). The U(crit) increased as body length increased from 5.5 to 10.0 cm, whereas relative critical swimming speed (U(crit)', BLs⁻¹) decreased. The relationship between body length (l, cm) and U(crit) or U(crit)' can be described by the quadratic model as U(crit)=-0.6233l²+12.302l-20.264, R²=0.9942 (P<0.01) or U(crit)'=-0.0514l²+0.5351l+3.8132, R²=0.9862 (P<0.05). The U(crit) decreased as starvation days increased from 1 to 8d. The relationship between starvation day (d, d) and U(crit) can be described by the quadratic model as U(crit)=-0.1262d²-0.0395d +40.979, R²=1. Low temperatures and salinity and starvation can reduce the swimming speed of whiteleg shrimp. Results can be of value in evaluating the locomotive ability, understanding ecological processes, and improving the capture and stock enhancement of whiteleg shrimp.
authors: The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China.
authors: Xiaoming
authors: X
authors: Yu
authors: Xiumei
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Duan
authors: Peidong
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Zhenqing
authors: Z
authors: Miao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D054712:Salinity; D013217:Starvation; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature