ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Elimination of Nitrogen by Oysters
in Litopenaeus Vannamei Mariculture Ponds
More details
Hide details
1
Yantai Engineering and Technology College, Yantai, 264006, Shandong, China,
No. 186, Hongqi Middle Road, Yantai, Shandong, China
2
Dongying Research Institute for Oceanography Development, No. 129, Huanghe Road, Dongying, Shandong, China
Submission date: 2025-08-28
Final revision date: 2025-12-14
Acceptance date: 2026-04-21
Online publication date: 2026-06-18
Corresponding author
Haimei Li
Yantai Engineering and Technology College, No. 2018, Binhai Middle Road, Laishan District, 264006, Yantai, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Mariculture of white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, provides a crucial protein source
for humans. Aquaculture of this species also generates significant nitrogen (N) pollution, which
can trigger harmful algal blooms in coastal environments. Although mariculture typically has low
profitability, it is essential to establish ecologically and economically sound ways to minimize the
release of N into the environment. Oyster polyculture within L. vannamei ponds presents a promising
approach for reducing the release of N because oysters have a strong capacity to filter N from the
environment while producing a marketable commodity. This study investigated spatiotemporal
variations in dissolved N forms (NH4+, NO2−, NO3−, and total N) in shrimp pond water with and without
oyster co-cultivation. The results demonstrated that the oyster-integrated pond exhibited significantly
lower N pollutant concentrations when compared with the control pond. Specifically, NH4+, NO2−, NO3−,
and total nitrogen content decreased by 39.8%, 52.6%, 27.3%, and 51.4%, respectively. Notably, these
reductions lowered N concentrations below local regulatory thresholds for the discharge of mariculture
wastewater. These findings highlight the potential for the use of oyster polyculture as an effective
and dual-purpose method that can be used to mitigate N pollution while maintaining shrimp production
yields for L. vannamei mariculture.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
REFERENCES (40)
1.
LIU L.J., ANDERSON J.L., CHE B., CHU J.J., GARLOCK T.M., XU J.T. An analysis of China's aquaculture sector for the three pillars of sustainability. Aquaculture Economics & Management, 29 (2), 231, 2025.
2.
CAI J.N., LEUNG P. Popularity and parity assessment for more inclusive and balanced aquaculture development. Scientific Reports, 14 (1), 25317, 2024.
3.
OFICIALDEGUI F.J., SOTO I., BALZANI P., CUTHBERT R.N., HAUBROCK P.J., KOURANTIDOU M., MANFRINI E., TARKAN A.S, KURTUL I., MACEDO R.L., MUSSEAU C.L., ROY K., KOUBA A. Non-native species in aquaculture: burgeoning production and environmental sustainability risks. Reviews in Aquaculture, 17 (3), e70037, 2025.
4.
ZHENG L.N., LIU Q., LIU J.J., XIAO J.N., XU G.J. Pollution Control of Industrial Mariculture Wastewater: A Mini-Review. Water, 14 (9), 1390, 2022.
5.
AZMI N.F.M., HII K.S., LIU M.L., BAHARUDIN S.N., KASSIM N.S., LEE L.K., DIN M.M., MUSTAPA N.I., RAZALI R.M., GU H.F., LEAW C.P., LIM P.T. Temporal bloom dynamics of the marine dinoflagellate Tripos furca in the Penang Strait. Harmful Algae, 142, 102799, 2025.
6.
FRICKE E., SLATER M.J., SABOROWSKI R. Brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) processing remains enhance growth of Pacific Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Aquaculture, 569, 739367, 2023.
7.
WANG Y.M., GUO X.H., WANG G.Z., WANG L.F., HUANG T., LI Y., WANG Z., DAI M.H. Assessment of nutrient cycling in an intensive mariculture system. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 209N (Part A), 117085, 2024.
8.
WANG Z.A., TANG S.X., CHEN K.K., FU Y.X., ZHENG M., YANG C.Y. Carbon and nitrogen accumulation characteristics of sediment in higher-place shrimp pond. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 39 (2), 635, 2020.
9.
HOU D.W., LI H.Y., WANG S., WENG S.P., HE J.G. Ammonia nitrogen stress induces dysbiosis of the intestinal bacterial community and facilitates the enrichment of pathogenic bacteria in intestines of shrimp. Aquaculture, 595 (Part 1), 741510, 2025.
10.
CHEN Z., LI J., ZHAI Q.Q., CHANG Z.Q., LI J.T. Nitrogen cycling process and application in different prawn culture modes. Reviews In Aquaculture, 16 (4), 1580, 2024.
11.
YAO S.N., LIU H.L., ZHANG D.X., CHEN Y.P., LI S., HE J., XU W.J. The potential influence of clams on water quality improvement in mariculture ponds: a comprehensive assessment utilizing single-factor and water quality index (WQI) methods. Aquaculture International, 33, 143, 2025.
12.
WANG Z.H., LIU K. Nutrients transport behavior in inlet river in the Yellow River Delta in winter. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 197, 115815, 2023.
13.
KHANJANI M.H., SHARIFINIA M., EMERENCIANO M.G.C. Biofloc Technology (BFT) in Aquaculture: What Goes Right, What Goes Wrong? A Scientific-Based Snapshot. Aquaculture Nutrition, 2024, 7496572, 2024.
14.
KHANJANI M.H., ZAHEDI S., SHARIFINIA M., HAJIREZAEE S., SINGH S.K. Biological removal of nitrogenous waste compounds in the biofloc aquaculture system: a review. Annals of Animal Science, 25 (1), 3, 2025.
15.
LUO G.Z. Review of waste phosphorus from aquaculture: Source, removal and recovery. Reviews in Aquaculture, 15 (3), 1058, 2023.
16.
BAKSHI B., BOUCHARD R.W.J., DIETZ R., HORNBACH D., MONSON P., SIETMAN B., WASLEY D. Freshwater mussels, ecosystem services, and clean water regulation in Minnesota: formulating an effective conservation strategy. Water, 15 (14), 2560, 2023.
17.
MAAR M., LARSEN J., SCHOURUP-KRISTENSEN V., TAYLOR D. Nutrient extraction and ecosystem impact by suspended mussel mitigation cultures at two contrasting sites. Science of the Total Environment, 888, 164168, 2023.
18.
CHENG P.F., ZHOU C.X., CHU R.R., CHANG T., XU J.L., RUAN R., CHEN P., YAN X.J. Effect of microalgae diet and culture system on the rearing of bivalve mollusks: Nutritional properties and potential cost improvements. Algal Research, 51, 102076, 2020.
19.
MAHARI W.A.W., RAZALI W.A.W., MANAN H., HERSI M.A., ISHAK S.D., CHEAH W., CHAN D.J.C., SONNE C., SHOW P.L., LAM S.S. Recent advances on microalgae cultivation for simultaneous biomass production and removal of wastewater pollutants to achieve circular economy. Bioresource Technology, 364, 128085, 2022.
20.
MANAN H., KASAN N.A., IKHWANUDDIN M., KAMARUZZAN A.S., JALILAH M., FAUZAN F., SULOMA A., AMIN-SAFWAN A. Biofloc technology in improving shellfish aquaculture production - a review. Annals of Animal Science, 24 (4), 983, 2024.
21.
ZHAI F.G., LIU Z.Z., LI P.L., GU Y.Z., SUN L.Y., HU L.Y., LIU X.C.A., WU W.F. Physical controls of summer variations in bottom layer oxygen concentrations in the coastal hypoxic region off the northeastern Shandong Peninsula in the Yellow Sea. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 126 (5), e2021JC017299, 2021.
22.
LIU K., GAO W., YU Z.Z., HU Y.C., ZUO M., SUN C., ZOU X.T., WANG L.Z. The effect of Sesuvium portulacastrum for reducing inorganic nitrogen pollution in coastal mariculture wetland. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11, 1460727, 2024.
23.
JOHNSON J.W., JACOBSON M., COLE S., KAMINSKI A., KARSTEN H., SYAPWAYA M., STAUFFER J., JENSEN L., LUNDEBA M. Strategies for feeding tilapia in smallholder aquaculture systems: a study of aquaculture feed access and availability in two districts of Northern Province, Zambia. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 49 (3), 351, 2025.
24.
PATIL P.K., ANTONY L., AVUNJE S., VISWANATHAN B., LALITHA N., JANGAM A.K., KUMAR D., SOLANKI H.G., REDDY M.A., ALAVANDI S.V., VIJAYAN K.K. Bioaugmentation with nitrifying and denitrifying microbial consortia for mitigation of nitrogenous metabolites in shrimp ponds. Aquaculture, 541, 736819, 2021.
25.
ZHANG L., LIAO K., SHI P., GUO J.D., XIE F.J., XU J.L. Dietary inclusion of microalgae meal for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei): Effects on growth performance, flesh quality, and immunity. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 320, 116205, 2025.
26.
PINTON D., CANESTRELLI A. Bank erosion drastically reduces oyster reef filtration services in estuarine environments. Scientific Reports, 14 (1), 15812, 2024.
27.
RENNIE B., NOWLAND S.J., COOKE I.R., STRUGNELL J.M. Filtration rate and bioremediatory potential of the tropical blacklip rock oyster Saccostrea lineage J. Aquaculture Environment Interactions, 16, 133, 2024.
28.
MARKS A.N., GRAY M.W., NICHOLS K., ZACHERL D.C. In situ habitat clearance rates and particle size preference of indigenous Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) and non-native Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) in North American Pacific coast estuaries. Science of the Total Environment, 912, 169127, 2024.
29.
PAN H.Z., WANG F., YANG L., JIANG T.J., XU M.B., LU J.C., LAI J.X., JIANG T. Convergent food sources: Sympatric Magallana gigas and Mytilus edulis select similar phytoplankton groups via morphological and nutritional value. Aquaculture Reports, 44, 103041, 2025.
30.
WU H., PENG R.H., YANG Y., HE L., WANG W.Q., ZHENG T.L., LIN G.H. Mariculture pond influence on mangrove areas in south China: Significantly larger nitrogen and phosphorus loadings from sediment wash-out than from tidal water exchange. Aquaculture, 426-427, 204, 2014.
31.
LI H.M., LI X.M., LI Q., LIU Y., SONG J.D., ZHANG Y.Y. Environmental response to long-term mariculture activities in the Weihai coastal area, China. Science of the Total Environment, 601-602, 22, 2017.
32.
ZHOU X., SONG Z.G., CHEN C.Q., ZHU Q.M., CHEN F.J. Oyster cultivation regulating seasonal nitrate cycling in the estuarine water. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 220, 118435, 2025.
33.
LACOSTE E., GAERTNER-MAZOUNI N. Nutrient regeneration in the water column and at the sediment-water interface in pearl oyster culture (Pinctada margaritifera) in a deep atoll lagoon (Ahe, French Polynesia). Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 182, 304, 2016.
34.
PATHAK A., MARQUEZ M., STOTHARD P., CHUKWUJINDU C., SU J.Q., ZHOU Y.Y., ZHOU X.Y., JAGOE C.H., CHAUHAN A. A seasonal study on the microbiomes of Diploid vs. Triploid eastern oysters and their denitrification potential. iScience, 27 (7), 110193, 2024.
35.
LIU R.X., JI Q.X., CHEN Z.P., ZHANG H. Quantitative assessment of oysters' multiple nitrogen removal pathways in a subtropical bay. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13 (1), 21, 2025.
36.
KUANG C.Y., HONG Y.G., SUN W., WU J.P., CHEN R.X., WEI M.K., CHEN L.Z., ZHU Z.D. Particle associated denitrification in coastal aquaculture water. BMC Microbiology, 25 (1), 396, 2025.
37.
HOEL P., BIANCHI D., CAVANAUGH K.C., FREIDER C.A., KESSOURI F. Influence of anthropogenic nutrient sources on kelp canopies during a marine heat wave. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 216, 117788, 2025.
38.
PAN K., LAN W.L., LI T.S., HONG M., PENG X.Y., XU Z.F., LIU W.J., JIANG H. Control of phytoplankton by oysters and the consequent impact on nitrogen cycling in a Subtropical Bay. Science of the Total Environment, 796, 149007, 2021.
39.
AYVAZIAN S., MULVANEY K., ZARNOCH C., PALTA M., REICHERT-NGUYEN J., MCNALLY S., PILARO M., JONES A., TERRY C., FULWEILER R.W. Beyond bioextraction: the role of oyster-mediated denitrification in nutrient management. Environmental Science & Technology, 55 (21), 14457, 2021.
40.
JIANG H., LAN W.L., LI T.S., XU Z.F., LIU W.J., PAN K. Isotopic composition reveals the impact of oyster aquaculture on pelagic nitrogen cycling in a subtropical estuary. Water Research, 187, 116431, 2020.