Integrated aquaculture Horizon 2020: carrying capacity and physiology of shrimps, oysters and algae in integrated multi-trophic system

• Grant number: 19/26801-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra da Silva Augusto
• Grantee: Alessandra da Silva Augusto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB-CLP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Guilherme Wolff Bueno ; Levi Pompermayer Machado ; Wagner Cotroni Valenti

Abstract

This project integrates Horizon 2020/Aquavitae, research and innovation program of the European Union and has the aim of evaluating the effects of climate changes in species of interest for aquaculture and the carrying capacity of multitrophic systems conducted with these species. The cultivation will be performed in hatcheries of Primar Farm, participant in H2020 in Brazil and located in Tibau do Sul, RN. The species will be cultivated in a multitrophic system integrated with shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), oysters (Crassostrea gasar) and algae (the species will be chosen after pilot experiments). Animals and algae will be cultivated in one of the four treatments: C4 = shrimp monocultivation 4/m2; 4/m2; C8 = shrimp monocultivation 8/m2; COA = shrimp 4/m2, algae and oysters; COA = 8/m2, algae and oysters. The system carrying capacity will be evaluated through oxygen consumption and excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus by animals and oxygen production and absorption of ammonia and phosphorus by algae. The effects of ocean acidification (pH 8.0 and 7.2), temperature increase (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40oC) and salinity variations (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45S) will be evaluated in shrimp L. vannamei through a range of physiological responses (energy balance, osmoregulation, hepatosomatic index, and oxidized energy substrate) after exposure for 30 days. These variations might be confronted by the species cultivated in hatcheries under ocean influence in 100 years (IPCC, 2013). The results about carrying capacity, despite being an environmental indicator, should allow to scale storage densities and biomass of every cultivated species. In addition, aspects of the physiology of L. vannamei exposed to predicted situations of climate changes will provide information about the effects of these changes in one of the most important species for aquaculture in the world. According to FAO, research that increase aquaculture productivity and sustainability is needed, but also interconnected studies showing the effects of climate changes for cultivable species and their adaptability are needed so we can plan efficient strategies of mitigation. (AU)