Performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei raised in biofloc systems with varying levels of light exposure

doi:10.1016/j.aquaeng.2012.07.003

Aquacultural Engineering

Volume 52, January 2013, Pages 39-44

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2012.07.003 Get rights and content

Abstract

Most research on biofloc systems has been performed in greenhouses with abundant natural light. The functionality of these systems in an environment devoid of light remains poorly understood, especially with regard to growth and survival of reared animals. This study evaluated the performance of Litopenaeus vannamei reared in a biofloc system with varying levels of light. Treatments were 24 h with light (24WL), 12 h with light/12 h without light (12WL/12WOL), and 24 h without light (24WOL), each with four replicate tanks. The 24WL and 12WL/12WOL treatments were supplied with light intensity of 10 000 lx. Shrimp with mean ± SD initial weight of 3.3 ± 0.1 g were reared in 850 L-tanks at a density of 300 shrimp m⁻³. With the exception of nitrate, TSS, VSS and chlorophyll a, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in water quality parameters among treatments. Nitrate was higher (P < 0.05) in 24WOL treatment than in 24WL but neither was significantly different from 12WL/12WOL. TSS and VSS were higher (P < 0.05) in 24WL treatment than 24WOL, but were not significantly different from 12WL/12WOL treatment. Chlorophyll a was higher (P < 0.05) in 24WL treatment than in 12WL/12WOL and 24WOL treatments. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in shrimp survival and feed conversion ratios among the treatments. However, shrimp in 24WL treatment grew at a significantly greater rate and reached a significantly greater final weight than shrimp in 24WOL treatment (P < 0.05), but neither was significantly different from 12WL/12WOL. The results demonstrate that shrimp production was higher in the treatment that were exposed to light; however Pacific white shrimp can be raised in total absence of light with acceptable performance.

Highlights

► The performance of Litopenaeus vannamei raised in a biofloc system without light was evaluated. ► Most of water quality parameters were no significant differences among treatments. ► Phytoplankton had a major role in improving shrimp growth. ► L. vannamei can be raised without light in biofloc system.

Introduction

Increasing concerns in recent years about the environmental impact of marine shrimp farms, associated with the incidence of diseases, has led to the development of production systems with little or no water exchange (Hopkins et al., 1995). Biofloc technology is a new concept in aquaculture, where manipulation of the microbial community is carried out under controlled conditions within the culture system with the raised animals (De Schryver et al., 2008). This system facilitates the production of aquatic animals at high stocking densities in a sustainable and bio-secure fashion (McAbee et al., 2003, McNeil, 2000, Vinatea et al., 2009). In some cases the protein content of feed can be reduced due to partial protein supplementation by the microbial community (Burford et al., 2004, Wasielesky et al., 2006). One of the advantages of operating a bacterial-driven system versus a conventional phytoplankton-dominated pond is that microbial production is limited by the availability of organic matter or substrate rather than light, giving rise to the potential for this system in indoor conditions (Azim et al., 2008).

Although this relatively new aquaculture technology is still developing, important research efforts have been realized to understand its operation and potential benefits (Azim and Little, 2008, Cohen et al., 2005, De Schryver et al., 2008, Wasielesky et al., 2006). The majority of research on biofloc systems has been carried out in greenhouses in tropical or subtropical regions with an abundance of natural light (Neal et al., 2010). However, little is known about the functionality of these systems in an environment without light, especially in regard to performance of farmed shrimp.

Systems operating in the absence of light may require more oxygen input during daylight hours, but the risks associated with harmful algae are reduced. By eliminating the dependence on sunlight, these systems can be housed in the controlled environment of insulated buildings, leading to a reduction in energy costs during the cold months (Ray et al., 2009).

In the presence of light algae can provide supplementary food for shrimp, nutrients for the growth of bacteria, and a basic food source for zooplankton, which can also provide supplemental nutrition for shrimp (Ju et al., 2008a). Additionally, in systems operated with light, oxygen supply can be reduced during the daylight hours, as a result of greater photosynthetic production, especially when the phytoplankton community composition is dominated by chlorophytes which are better oxygenators of the water compared to bloom-forming cyanobacteria and due to the faster growth rates of most eukaryotic types of phytoplankton (Ray et al., 2009, Schrader et al., 2011).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of L. vannamei raised in biofloc systems with varying levels of light exposure.

Section snippets

Shrimp source and nursery

The study was carried out at the Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos (LCM), Estação de Maricultura da Barra da Lagoa, in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. PL10 L. vannamei were obtained in November 2010 from a commercial hatchery (Aquatec, Barra do Cunhaú, Canguaretama, RN, Brazil).

The water used was pumped from Barra da Lagoa Beach filtered through a 125 μm geotextile bag. Before starting the experiment, a round 50 000 L (50 tons) circular matrix tank was used as a nursery. The tank was

Water quality

There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among treatments in terms of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and salinity (Table 2). Overall mean (±SD) were morning water temperature (30.3 ± 0.5 °C); afternoon water temperature (30.3 ± 0.5 °C); morning dissolved oxygen (5.5 ± 0.7 mg L⁻¹); afternoon dissolved oxygen (5.5 ± 0.7 mg L⁻¹); pH (7.8 ± 0.1); and salinity (32.6 ± 0.7‰).

With the exception of nitrate, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the concentrations of ammonia, nitrite and

Water quality

All the water quality parameters remained within the ranges reported as suitable for the culture of Pacific white shrimp (Van Wyk and Scarpa, 1999, Wickins, 1976).

The concentrations of TAN and nitrite recorded throughout the trial were maintained in adequate levels recommended for juveniles of Pacific white shrimp (Lin and Chen, 2001, Lin and Chen, 2003). The low concentrations of nitrite observed during the culture period suggest the complete oxidation of ammonia to nitrate (Cohen et al., 2005

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that shrimp production was significantly higher in the treatment that were exposed to light; however Pacific white shrimp can be raised in total absence of light with acceptable performance. Our results suggest the importance of the presence of light in culture medium. Factors such as energy, operational expenses, and production goals must be considered.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the SOED (Southern Oceans Education Development) and Programa de Pós-graduação em Aquicultura of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, for the financial support in the execution of this work and the whole team of Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos for its contributions when this work was being carried out.

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Performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei raised in biofloc systems with varying levels of light exposure

Abstract

Highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Shrimp source and nursery

Water quality

Water quality

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Bioresource Technology

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquacultural Engineering

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Aquaculture

Aquacultural Engineering

Aquaculture

Aquacultural Engineering

Aquacultural Engineering

Aquacultural Engineering

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Aquaculture

Manuel des analyses chimiques em milieu marin

Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater