Integrated Evaluation of Productivity Factors in Intensive White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Aquaculture in Ecuador

The Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is a key species in global aquaculture due to its high economic value and adaptability to intensive farming. In Ecuador, the intensification of shrimp production has created challenges related to environmental control and production efficiency. This study evaluated the influence of environmental and management variables on shrimp productivity across different farming systems. The parameters assessed included farming system, water source, feeding frequency, feed type, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia concentration, and vibriosis incidence. Statistical analyses using factorial ANOVA, Spearman’s correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed no significant effects of individual factors; however, a significant three-way interaction was identified among farming system, water source, and feeding frequency (P= 0.0251), indicating synergistic effects on productivity. Dissolved oxygen exhibited a strong positive correlation with productivity (P= 0.78), while vibriosis incidence showed a moderate negative correlation (P= –0.29). PCA further revealed two dominant environmental gradients—health stress and physicochemical quality—associated with distinct farming profiles. These findings suggest that optimizing shrimp production in intensive systems requires integrated monitoring and management strategies that account for interactions among farming practices and environmental conditions.