The Effect of Copper on the Color of Shrimps: Redder Is Not Always Healthier

Resumen

The objective of this research is to test the effects of copper on the color of pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in vivo. Forty-eight shrimps (L. vannamei) were exposed to a low concentration of copper (1 mg/L; experimental treatment) and forty-eight shrimps were used as controls (no copper added to the water). As a result of this experiment, it was found that shrimps with more copper are significantly redder than those designated as controls (hue (500–700 nm): P = 0.0015; red chroma (625–700 nm): P,0.0001). These results indicate that redder color may result from exposure to copper and challenge the commonly held view that highly pigmented shrimps are healthier than pale shrimps.

Descripción

Citación

Martínez, A., Romero, J., Castilllo, T., Mascaró, M., López-Rull, I., Simoes, N., Arceaga-Cabrera, F., Gaxiola, G and Barbosa, A. 2014. The effect of copper on the color of shrimps: redder is not always healthier. PlosOne 9: e107673