Haimei Wang

Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 3   
Received: 10 Mar., 2026    Accepted: 17 Apr., 2026    Published: 02 May, 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Temperature variation is a critical environmental factor influencing the physiological performance, growth, and survival of abalone in aquaculture systems. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the effects of temperature fluctuations on abalone culture by integrating biological characteristics, environmental temperature dynamics, growth performance responses, survival outcomes, and underlying metabolic mechanisms. Results indicate that abalone exhibits a relatively narrow optimal temperature range, within which growth rate, feeding efficiency, and energy allocation are maximized. Deviations from this optimal range, particularly under elevated temperature conditions, significantly reduce growth performance and increase mortality risk due to intensified metabolic demand, oxygen limitation, and physiological stress. Low-temperature stress similarly suppresses metabolic activity and feeding behavior, leading to reduced growth and delayed development. At the molecular level, temperature fluctuations influence enzyme activity, respiratory metabolism, and gene expression associated with stress response pathways. Seasonal and climate-driven temperature variability further exacerbates these effects in intensive aquaculture systems. A case study of commercial abalone farms demonstrates that extreme temperature events can cause substantial production losses, while effective temperature regulation strategies such as water cooling, depth adjustment, and environmental monitoring can mitigate adverse impacts. Overall, this study highlights the importance of precise temperature management for maintaining abalone health, improving production efficiency, and ensuring the sustainability of aquaculture operations.

Abalone; Temperature variation; Growth performance; Survival rate; Aquaculture management