1. Physiological and behavioural responses of abalone to temperature and oxygen
Katharina Alter

2. Abalone aquaculture Hatchery Nursery Grow-out Farm temperature
Preferred temperature ?
H. rubra: 17°C1
H. laevigata: 19°C1
Hybrid: ?
Farm oxygen
√ High O2
Χ 100–70% O2sat
Critical oxygen
H. rubra: ?
H. laevigata: 77% O2sat2
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out
Farm temperature
√ 16–18°C
Χ 16–29°C
Χ 10–23°C
Preferred temperature ?
H. rubra: 17°C1
H. laevigata: 19°C1
Hybrid: ?
Farm oxygen
√ High O2
Χ 100–70% O2sat
Critical oxygen
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out
Farm temperature
√ 16–18°C
Χ 16–29°C
Χ 10–23°C
Preferred temperature
Farm oxygen
√ High O2
Χ 100–70% O2sat
Critical oxygen
Gilroy and Edwards (1998) Aquaculture Research.
Harris et al (1999) Aquaculture

3. Oxygen consumption rates
Oxygen consumption rate (ṀO2): oxygen uptake over time

4. Temperature and oxygen
Temperature and oxygen are key factors that influence the performance of a species
Tmax

5. Studies Hatchery Nursery Grow-out
Alter et al Journal of Shellfish Research
Alter et al. submitted Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Nursery
NMR metabolic profiling of abalone muscle tissue in response to short term warming
Grow-out
Morash and Alter 2015 Reviews in Aquaculture
Aerobic and anaerobic potential of abalone
Abalone hybrids are more tolerant to changes in oxygen level

6. Methods
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out

7. Methods
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out

8. Critical oxygen level

9. Hatchery
Oxygen level √
Density √
Light level √
Temperature √

10. Nursery
Oxygen level √ Temperature ?

11. Grow-out
Oxygen level Χ

12. Grow-out – Movement Individual level at 23°C and 70% O2sat
Relatively inactive vs. active

13. Grow-out – temperature

14. Grow-out – Movement Individual level at 23°C and 70% O2sat
Relatively inactive vs. active

15. Abalone aquaculture ! 59% O2sat √ 16–20°C √ 22% O2sat √ 47% O2sat
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out
Farm temperature
16–18°C
16–29°C
10–23°C
Preferred temperature
√ 16–20°C ?
Farm oxygen
High O2
100–70% O2sat
Critical oxygen
√ 22% O2sat
√ 47% O2sat
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out
Farm temperature
16–18°C
16–29°C
10–23°C
Preferred temperature
√ 16–20°C
Farm oxygen
High O2
100–70% O2sat
Critical oxygen
√ 22% O2sat
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out
Farm temperature
16–18°C
16–29°C
10–23°C
Preferred temperature
√ 16–20°C ? NA
! Tmax: 27°C
Farm oxygen
High O2
100–70% O2sat
Critical oxygen
√ 22% O2sat
√ 47% O2sat
! 59% O2sat
Hatchery
Nursery
Grow-out
Farm temperature
16–18°C
16–29°C
10–23°C
Preferred temperature
Farm oxygen
High O2
100–70% O2sat
Critical oxygen
Abalone were tested at very stable conditions
The farm environment is complex and may bear additional stressors that may lower the tolerance limit of abalone

16. Thank you!