The Thermal Performance and Tolerance of Tropical cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)

Abstract

This thesis explores the theoretical and experimental applications of ecophysiological research for the management of aquatic organismal health within the ornamental trade. Ecophysiology investigates the interactions between an organism’s physiology and its environment, and offers a promising approach to improving the management of health outcomes for traded species. Chapter One presents a comprehensive and critical literature review that explores the potential of ecophysiology to redefine our understanding of health, by integrating ecophysiological perspectives into practice. Using Hatch’s (1962) theoretical framework as a foundation to define health, the review discusses the importance of understanding species-specific responses to key physio-chemical parameters for traded ornamental shrimp. It concludes, stating that ecophysiological knowledge can support more systematic, evidence-based approaches to health, ultimately, reducing stress and mortality in traded organisms. Chapter two investigates the thermal performance and tolerance of the tropical cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) under thermal warming and cooling scenarios, providing insight into how a tropical species of shrimp responds to thermal change. Overall, this species showed a broad thermal tolerance similar to other tropical shrimp studied. Cardiorespiratory system failure coincided with the upper thermal limit (CTmax = 35.25°C), but it failed to explain the complete collapse of ventilation at critically low limits (CTmin = 7.5°C), and anaerobic metabolism was not exclusive to temperatures near CTmax or CTmin. Chapter Three is a call for collaborative research initiatives that align scientific inquiry with industry goals to produce pragmatic outcomes, based on the results of the first two chapters. It recommends the development of standardised health indicators, and species-specific guidelines to bolster the management of traded species. While this thesis contributes to a relatively understudied area of the thermal biology of tropical species, it serves as a test case for integrating scientific study with ornamental industry-driven agendas, and the development of evidence-based strategies to optimise the health of traded shrimp.