Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Shrimp Aquaculture Systems Through Microbial Resource Management

本研究旨在回答与美国室内对虾养殖发展有关的几个问题。水产养殖是一个快速增长的粮食生产系统，是解决全球过度捕捞和渔业枯竭的潜在解决方案。两种相互竞争的室内对虾养殖系统，循环水养殖系统（RAS）和生物絮团系统（BFS），将使用实验室规模的系统进行评价和比较。技术将包括先进的分子生物学和稳定同位素方法，并将解决以下问题：促进更多样化的硝化菌微生物群落是否会创造更稳定的RAS？RAS生物滤池产生的废物能否循环再造至生产池，以提高饲料利用效率？通过控制固相滞留时间，BFS的性能会得到改善吗？在两种系统中饲养的虾对机会性细菌病原体有多敏感？此外，将使用生命周期评估进行全面的成本效益分析。该研究成果有望提高美国对虾养殖的竞争力。代表性不足的群体学生将参与研究。

This research seeks to answer several questions pertaining to development of indoor shrimp aquaculture in the United States. Aquaculture is a rapidly growing food production system that is a potential solution to overfishing and fisheries depletion worldwide. Two competing systems for indoor shrimp culture, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and bio-floc systems (BFS), will be evaluated and compared using lab-scale systems. Techniques will include advanced molecular biology and stable isotope methods and will address the following questions: Will the promotion of a more diverse microbial community of nitrifiers create a more stable RAS? Can the waste produced on RAS biofilters be recycled back into the production tanks to improve feed utilization efficiency? Will the performance of BFS be improved by manipulating solids retention times? How susceptible are shrimp raised in the two systems to an opportunistic bacterial pathogen? Additionally, a comprehensive cost benefit analysis using life cycle assessment will be performed. The research outcomes are anticipated to enhance the competitiveness of American shrimp aquaculture. Under represented group students will be involved in the research.