Magnetic field effects on the behavior of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Penaeidae)

Abstract

Abstract It is known that several animals are sensitive to magnetic fields. Magnetoreception in animals is the ability to sense the geomagnetic field of the Earth and to use their vectorial properties for navigation and terrestrial location. Animals can also show magneto-sensitivity, unrelated to navigation and show changes in behavior during the application of magnetic fields. The aim of the present study was to analyze the behavior of the shrimp Litopennaeus vannamei under the presence of artificial magnetic fields of different intensities under laboratory conditions. Shrimps were chosen because of their economic importance and because they have been neglected in the study of magneto-sensitivity in animals. The laboratory experiments were performed with the use of a pair of circular coils and four aquariums (three treatments and a control, with 20 shrimps each). Our results show for the first time that L. vannamei shrimps are magneto-sensitive, showing a preference to swim against the magnetic field lines direction as is done by magnetotactic bacteria from the Southern Hemisphere. Also, it was observed that the shrimps remain still after the application of magnetic field intensities from 44 to 237 µT, which could be useful for maintaining shrimps in their captive areas.

Keywords

• Magneto-biology
• magneto-sensitivity
• physical oceanography
• shrimp behavior
• South seeking behavior