An ecophysiological approach to improving health outcomes of ornamental shrimp during aquarium trade and transportation

Ecophysiology examines the interactions between an organism’s physiology and its environment. It seeks to understand how an organism functions and adapts under changing conditions. This has direct applications to live-trade aquaculture sectors, including the ornamental aquarium trade, where traded animals experience a variety of changing, and often stressful, environmental conditions that can threaten their health and survival. This review proposes a role for ecophysiology in managing organismal health, using Hatch (1962) theoretical framework of disease and dysfunction as a foundation for defining and distinguishing health. We focus on tropical (marine and freshwater) ornamental shrimp as an exemplar group to highlight critical research gaps and demonstrate how ecophysiological principles can translate into improved health management strategies for animal during trade and transport. Specifically, we (i) show how ecophysiology can be used to inform an operational definition of health, using Hatch (1962) scheme as originally applied to occupational health, (ii) consider how ecophysiological approaches could be applied to ornamental management to improve health outcomes for traded animals, (iii) review current knowledge of how key physico-chemical parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, carbonate chemistry and nitrogenous waste) affect the physiology of tropical ornamental shrimp and (iv) identify knowledge gaps and research opportunities that will inform evidence-based management of these species. We conclude that integrating species-specific ecophysiological knowledge into the ornamental aquarium trade offers a critical pathway towards improving evidence-based health management. By moving beyond disease-centric assessments and addressing fundamental ecophysiological knowledge gaps, we can improve health outcomes and enhance the sustainability and economic viability of this vast global industry. These findings are intended to be of value to researchers across ecophysiology, conservation biology and aquatic animal health, as well as to industry stakeholders responsible for husbandry and transport protocols.