Effects of starvation and subsequent re-feeding on moulting interval, growth increment and mortality in common brown shrimp (Crangon crangon)

Specimen of the common brown shrimp, C. crangon , were deprived of food and subsequently re-fed under controlled conditions (17 ± 1.7°C, ad libitum feeding) in two sets of experimental runs (2008 and 2017), to investigate the effects of starvation with subsequent re-feeding on dry mass accumulation during intermoult period, mortality and growth. Mortality was negatively affected by starvation, and re-feeding was identified as particularly critical in animal survival, as over 90% of the observed mortality occurred after the onset of re-feeding. Starvation increased the moulting interval and decreased increments after moult, resulting in a shrinkage of up to 8% within 21 days. A correlation between weight loss during starvation and decrease in length was found. The comparison of dry weight conditions of starving animals and field samples suggested that shrinkage must be a more widespread phenomenon in C. crangon than previously assumed. Based on the observations, shrinkage could be identified as a physiological necessity after starvation. Accordingly, it could also occur in other crustacean species, in the cases where an individual’s dry mass is reduced due to starvation.