Effect of UV-B solar radiation on plankton community and β-carotene of pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract EN

A study was conducted to assess the effect of UV-B solar radiation on plankton community, chlorophyll-A and β-carotene of pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in HDPE liner ponds.

There were control (ponds exposed to sunlight) and treatment (ponds shaded for 50% sunlight filtration) for the study and intensive shrimp culture was done in the ponds.

UV-B radiation, physico-chemical parameters of pond water, Chlorophyll-A in phytoplankton and plankton community were monitored during the period.

Significant (p<0.01) reduction in UV-B radiation was found in treatment ponds when compared to control with an average reduction of 23.2% at surface water due to solar filtration.

Among plankton, Chlorophytes and diatoms were found to be lowered in control ponds.

Dinoflagellate did not show significant difference between control and treatment, whereas Cyanophyte population decreased in increased solar radiation.

Chlorophyll content in phytoplankton and shrimp β-carotene was found to be increased in treatment ponds.

Significant effect was noticed on plankton growth and distribution due to UV-B radiation.

However, it did not influence growth of shrimp in culture ponds.