Effects of temperature and salinity on the standard metabolic rate (SMR) of the caridean shrimp Palaemon peringueyi

The standard metabolic rate (SMR) of the caridean shrimp Palaemon peringueyi to changes in temperature (15-30 degrees C), salinity (0-45 parts per thousand) and a combination thereof was investigated. The rate of oxygen consumption of the shrimp was determined using a YSI oxygen meter. At a constant salinity of 35 parts per thousand the respiration rate of P. peringueyi increased with an increase in temperature and ranged between 0.260 and 0.982 mu l O-2 mg wwt(-1) h(-1). The Q(10) value over the temperature range 15-25 degrees C was estimated at 3.13. At a constant temperature of 15 degrees C the respiration rate of P. peringueyi also increased with an increase in salinity and ranged between 0.231 and 0.860 mu l O-2 mg wwt(-1) h(-1). For combination experiments the absence of any significant difference in the respiration rate of P. peringueyi at the four temperatures over the salinity range 15-35 parts per thousand suggests that the shrimp is well adapted to inhabiting environments characterised by variations in salinity and temperature such as those encountered within the middle and lower reaches of permanently open estuaries with substantial freshwater inflow. On the other hand, the total mortality of the shrimp recorded at salinities < 5 parts per thousand at all four temperatures suggests that the upper distribution of the shrimp may reflect physiological constraints. Similarly, the increase in the respiration rate of the shrimp at the four temperatures at salinities > 35 parts per thousand suggests that the shrimp may experience osmotic stress in freshwater deprived permanently open and intermittently open estuaries where hypersaline conditions may develop. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.