Effects of Thermal Stress on Growth and Reproduction of Procambarus clarkii and Aquaculture Best Practices

TL;DR

This paper reviews how temperature affects red swamp crayfish and suggests best practices to improve aquaculture resilience under climate change.

Contribution

The paper links TRP channel mechanisms to practical aquaculture strategies for thermal stress mitigation in Procambarus clarkii.

Findings

TRP channels like TRPA1 help crayfish sense and respond to thermal stress.

Optimal growth occurs at 20–25 °C, and reproduction at 18–22 °C.

Practices like co-culture and RAS can reduce thermal stress impacts.

Abstract

Temperature strongly influences the growth, reproduction, and survival of aquatic animals, especially ectothermic species such as the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), which is widely farmed. Seasonal temperature fluctuations and extreme thermal events caused by climate change increasingly threaten crayfish production and sustainability. Understanding how crayfish sense and respond to temperature changes is therefore essential for improving aquaculture management. This review summarizes current knowledge on the effects of temperature on growth performance, reproductive development, and the physiological health of Procambarus clarkii. Particular attention is given to transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, including transient receptor potential ankyrin (TRPA), transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV), and transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM), which act as key temperature sensors and initiate downstream cellular responses. The activation of these channels can regulate calcium signaling, stress-related pathways, antioxidant defenses, and immune responses, helping crayfish adapt to thermal stress. In addition to biological mechanisms, this review discusses practical strategies to reduce temperature-related risks in crayfish farming. These strategies include rice–crayfish co-culture systems, improved water temperature management, selective breeding for thermal tolerance, and nutritional interventions. By linking molecular mechanisms with aquaculture practices, this review provides valuable insights for developing more resilient and sustainable crayfish farming systems under changing environmental conditions.

Temperature is a critical abiotic factor regulating the physiology, growth, and reproduction of ectothermic aquatic animals. In China, the rapid expansion of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii) industry faces significant challenges due to seasonal temperature fluctuations (optimal growth at 20–25 °C and reproduction favored at 18–22 °C). This review focuses specifically on TRP channels, particularly TRPA1 as a key thermosensor in crayfish, and on downstream signaling pathways involving heat shock proteins (HSPs) and antioxidant defenses. We further link these biological mechanisms to aquaculture applications by evaluating best management practices for mitigating thermal stress, including integrated rice–crayfish co-culture, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), molecular marker-assisted breeding for thermal tolerance, and nutritional modulation (e.g., probiotics and immunostimulants). By maintaining thermal stability within the optimal range and directly enhancing physiological resilience through genetic and nutritional interventions, these practices provide a foundation for more sustainable and climate-resilient crayfish aquaculture.

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