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Higher nitrogen and phosphorus immobilization in bioflocs is associated with higher temperature and increased suspended solids in shrimp farming with biofloc technology
Author(s) -
Pimentel Otávio Augusto Lacerda Ferreira,
Amado André Megali,
They Ng Haig
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.14737
Subject(s) - nutrient , shrimp , effluent , biology , microorganism , aquaculture , water quality , suspended solids , total suspended solids , wastewater , phosphorus , organic matter , nitrogen , environmental chemistry , zoology , pulp and paper industry , ecology , environmental science , chemical oxygen demand , environmental engineering , fishery , chemistry , fish <actinopterygii> , bacteria , genetics , organic chemistry , engineering
High stocking density aquaculture can result in major environmental impacts such as waste disposal with high organic matter. In order to overcome this issue, biofloc technology (BFT) has arisen as an alternative to lower effluent nutrient loading by promoting dense microbial communities that control water quality through the assimilation of inorganic nutrients. Given the central role of microorganisms in nutrients storage, the aim of this study was to evaluate the elemental composition of bioflocs and free‐living microorganisms and to determine which environmental factors are associated with the variation in their stoichiometric ratios (C:N:P) in shrimp farming systems. Samples were taken in marine shrimp farms, and the stoichiometric ratios from bioflocs and free‐living microorganisms were analysed, as well as physical and chemical water quality variables. The C:N ratios were lower, and N:P ratios were higher in the free‐living microorganisms than bioflocs. The C:P and N:P ratios of the biofloc were lower at higher temperature and total suspended solids (TSS). We concluded that the elemental composition of the bioflocs is richer in C and P and that systems with higher temperature and higher TSS have a greater ability to absorb and immobilize these elements in the bioflocs.