Effect of dissolved oxygen and temperature on growth, survival and body composition of juvenile Farfantepenaeus californiensis (Holmes)

Survival, growth and proximal body composition of juvenile Farfantepenaeus californiensis (Holmes) were examined at two dissolved oxygen concentration s (mean 5.8 and 2.6 mg L-1) and three temperatures (19 degrees C, 23 degree s C and 27 degrees C) for 50 days. Three replicate experiments were perform ed with a 12h light/dark photoperiod. Survival was 68-55% at the lower diss olved oxygen level and 77-82% at the higher level and was not significantly affected by the treatments (P > 0.01), Growth at the lower oxygen concentr ation was significantly less (P < 0.01) than at the higher concentration, w ith growth rates of 2, 12 and 24 mg day(-1) from the lowest to the highest temperature and 4, 17 and 26 mg day(-1) for the three temperatures at the h igher dissolved oxygen level. Body lipids were 1.2% wt/wt at the higher tem perature and 2.1% wt/wt at the lower temperature, while proteins were 15.1% wt/wt at the higher temperature and 12.5% wt/wt at the lower temperature. These results indicate that low oxygen levels and low temperature significa ntly depress growth at this particular stage of life.