Impact of elevated temperature on physiological energetics of Penaeus monodon post larvae: A mesocosm study

Global climate change induced warming has profound repercussion on physiological performances of marine animals. The Indian Sundarban is one of the best nursery grounds for various shrimp populations which need estuarine realm to complete their bipartite life cycle. From last couple of decades, a clear indication of temperature escalation has been identified in Sundarban. In the present study, we have assessed the physiological energetics of Penaeus monodon post larvae from Indian Sundarban under different temperatures, 28 °C (annual average habitat temperature) and elevated temperatures 30 °C, 32 °C, 34 °C in a month long mesocosm experiment. Significant alterations were observed in growth performances as well as physiological energetics. The length, weight, survival percentages, ingestion rates were reduced, howbeit respiration and ammonia excretion rate had been increased in elevated temperature treatments culminating in a negative Scope for Growth. PERMANOVA results showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) variation in different physiological performances of shrimp post larvae both in different temperature treatments and days of exposure. The present results clearly highlighted the detrimental effect of elevated temperature on physiological energetics of shrimp larvae that might potentially reduce shrimp population and affect the coastal fishery.