Comparison of temperature adaptability of Babylonia areolata at different growth stages from the perspective of physiological energetics

Temperature is a critical factor influencing the physiological performance of shellfish. This study investigated the physiological responses of Babylonia areolata (B.areolata) at different growth stages (juveniles and adults) to varying temperatures (20 ℃, 25 ℃, 30 ℃) by analyzing changes in feeding rate, faecal production rate, oxygen consumption rate, and ammonia excretion rate. Results showed that temperature significantly affected the physiological parameters of B.areolata (P<0.05). Feeding physiology and metabolic levels of juveniles and adults exhibited a positive correlation with temperature. At 20 ℃ and 25 ℃, feeding rates differed significantly between juveniles and adults (P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed at 30 ℃. Faecal production rate, oxygen consumption rate, and ammonia excretion rate of both juveniles and adults increased with rising temperatures, with significant differences across all temperatures (P<0.05). Two-way ANOVA revealed that both temperature and growth stage significantly influenced all physiological indices, with a significant interaction effect. Energy budget equations at different temperatures indicated that adults achieved the highest growth energy proportion (51.327%) at 30 ℃, described by the equation: 100C=42.861F+6.239R+0.817U+50.081G Juveniles showed the highest growth energy proportion (50.081%) at 25 ℃, with the equation: 100C=42.861F+0.410R+0.072U+48.658G. These findings demonstrate that juveniles of B. areolata exhibit optimal growth at 25 ℃, while adults display better high-temperature adaptability. This study enriches our understanding of the physiological temperature adaptability of invertebrates and provides data support for the precision aquaculture of B. areolata.