Aquaculture Nutrient Dynamics and Microbial Interactions
Summary
Aquaculture systems depend on the careful management of nutrient inputs, transformations and losses to maintain water quality, animal health and production efficiency. Feed and organic wastes serve as the primary sources of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, which are rapidly processed by diverse microbial communities. In biofloc and recirculating aquaculture systems, heterotrophic bacteria, nitrifiers and microalgae form aggregates that assimilate dissolved nutrients, stabilise pH and compete with pathogens. In sediment‐based or pond cultures, sedimentary microbes mediate mineralisation and denitrification, influencing nutrient fluxes between benthic and pelagic zones. Probiotics and targeted microbial inocula can modulate community composition, suppress opportunistic pathogens and enhance nutrient retention. These interactions underpin sustainable intensification of aquaculture, reducing water use, minimising effluent loads and supporting food security at a global scale.
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Aquaculture Nutrient Dynamics and Microbial Interactions publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in aquaculture nutrient dynamics and microbial interactions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biofloc: A suspension of microbial aggregates, including bacteria and algae, that assimilate nitrogenous wastes and improve water quality in intensive aquaculture systems.
Probiotic: A live microbial inoculum added to a culture system or host organism to promote beneficial community balance and inhibit pathogens.
Microbial antagonism: Inhibitory interactions between microorganisms, often mediated by specific metabolites, that suppress the growth of competing or pathogenic species.
References
- Selective Antagonism of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici against Vibrio and Aeromonas in the Bacterial Community of Artemia nauplii. Microbiology Spectrum (2023).
- Nematodes Can Substitute Artemia in a Co-Feeding Regime for Pacific White Shrimp Post-Larvae Reared in a Biofloc Nursery System. Animals (2024).
- Biofloc and green water condition improves reproductive traits and fatty acid composition of Artemia franciscana cultured under limited algal conditions. Aquaculture Fish and Fisheries (2022).
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