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Ecological effects of co-culturing the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus with the Chinese white shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis in an earthen pond

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An Erratum to this article was published on 07 March 2017

Abstract

Using net enclosures in an earthen pond, we established three culture treatments with the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and the Chinese white shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis: monoculture of sea cucumbers (C), monoculture of shrimp (S), and co-culture of the two species (CS). We measured levels of suspended particulate matter in the water column; total organic matter, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and carbon/nitrogen ratios in both settling particles and the sediment; and chlorophyll a levels in the sediment. We then compared these variables between the three treatments. We also examined growth, survival, and yield of the two species in the different treatments. From June to September, the mean monthly suspended particulate matter sedimentation rates in the CS and S treatments were significantly (P<0.05) greater than those in the C treatment. From August to November, the mean monthly total organic matter, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll a contents in the sediment in the CS and S treatments were significantly ( P <0.05) greater than those in the C treatment. Final wet weight, specific growth rate, survival rate, and total yield of sea cucumbers in co-culture were all significantly greater than those of sea cucumbers in monoculture. There were no significant differences among any of these variables for shrimp reared in the two systems. The bioturbation of the sediment and fecal production of the shrimp likely supplied natural food for the sea cucumbers. Co-culture of the two species is a viable option for increasing yield per unit area, maximizing use of the water body, and diversifying crop production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Shun Zhou  (周顺), Yichao Ren  (任贻超), Shuanglin Dong  (董双林), Xiangli Tian  (田相利), Qinfeng Gao  (高勤峰) & Fang Wang  (王芳)

  2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada

    Christopher M. Pearce

  3. Marine Science and Engineering College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China

    Shun Zhou  (周顺) & Yichao Ren  (任贻超)

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  1. Shun Zhou  (周顺)
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  2. Yichao Ren  (任贻超)
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  3. Christopher M. Pearce
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  4. Shuanglin Dong  (董双林)
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  5. Xiangli Tian  (田相利)
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  6. Qinfeng Gao  (高勤峰)
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  7. Fang Wang  (王芳)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuanglin Dong  (董双林).

Additional information

Supported by the National 12th Five Year Supporting Program for Science and Technology (No. 2011BAD13B03), the Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists of Shandong Province (No. JQ201009), the Promotive Research Fund for Young and Middle-aged Scientists of Shandong Province (No. BS2015HZ004), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30871931), the Natural Science Foundation of Qingdao Agricultural University (No. 1113329) and Qingdao City (No. 15-9-1-89-jch), and the Shrimp Crab Innovation Team of Shandong Agricultural Research System (No. SDAIT-15-011-06)

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00343-017-7466-6.

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Zhou, S., Ren, Y., Pearce, C.M. et al. Ecological effects of co-culturing the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus with the Chinese white shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis in an earthen pond. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 35, 122–131 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-5184-0

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