The effect of ambient ammonia, hypoxia and combination of both on survival and the physiological and immunological response of the blue shrimp Litopenaeus stylirostris in relation to molt stage was studied. Shrimp were submitted to 44.0-71.5 mg 1(-1) total ammonia-N corresponding to 2.0 mg 1(-1) unionized ammonia NH3-N and/or to 1.5 mg O-2 1(-1) (4.3 kPa) for 24 hours. Survival was recorded and the molt stages of both dead and surviving shrimp determined. Only shrimp in intermolt and premolt stages were sampled for analysis of haemolymph. Haemolymph was assayed for osmoregulatory capacity (OC), magnesium ion (Mg2+), calcium ion (Ca2+), total proteins, oxyhaemocyanin, lactate, glucose and total haemocyte count (THC). Low mortalities were recorded for... |