Physiological responses of abalone (Haliotis spp.) to abiotic stress and diseases: a review

Abstract

Abalone (Haliotis spp.) is a vital marine resource, offering numerous ecological and economic benefits. Global abalone aquaculture production has significantly increased over the past decade. Abalone farms rely on seawater sourced from coastal regions, which are susceptible to alterations caused by climate change and pollution. These environmental changes can induce abiotic and biotic stress, impacting the physiological responses of abalone. Numerous abalone farms have reported significant mortality linked to these adverse conditions. Understanding how marine organisms respond to global environmental changes is essential for accurately predicting their consequences. This paper aims to highlight the potential mechanisms underlying stress responses and examines the effects of various abiotic stressors, including temperature, salinity, hypoxia, and pH, as well as disease on the physiological stress response parameters of abalone. Research indicates that abiotic stress and disease can diminish growth rates by diverting energy towards stress mitigation rather than promoting growth. Environmental alterations can also impair immune function and increase the prevalence and severity of disease in abalone. These adverse effects arising from alterations in biotic and abiotic factors can disturb the abalone population in nature, decreasing aquaculture production and leading to financial losses. Further studies investigating the synergistic effects of multiple stressors are essential to enhance understanding and inform management strategies for abalone aquaculture.