Effect of contaminated sediments on nitrogen excretion of shrimp, Penaeus paulensis

Physiological response (ammonia excretion) of the shrimp Penaeus paulensis exposed to contaminated sediments of Guanabara Bay and Sepetiba Bay (Rio de Janeiro - Brazil), was monitored for 52 days. The toxicity tests were cond ucted in aquarium with a water feedback system and a sediment layer of 2 cm . The sediment from Saco do Engenho (Sepetiba Bay) was the most toxic, affe cting the excretion of P. paulensis. In sediment from Sepetiba Bay the ammo nia excretion was significantly enhanced after 10 days (S. Engenho) and 52 days (I. Madeira) of exposition.