Abstract: An acute toxicity test was conducted to determine the effects of water carbonate alkalinity (C_A) and pH on the survival rate of post-larval Litopenaeus vannamei. With the increase of water pH (7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10.0and 10.5), the survival rate of post-larval L. vannamei decreased. When the water pH was higher than 9.0 and the water C_A was 3 mmol·L^-1, the survival rate was significantly affected. With the increase of water C_A (0-44.43 mmol·L^-1), the survival rate decreased, and the tolerance ability decreased significantly with increasing water pH. When the water pH was 8.8, 9.2, and 9.6, the 48 h LC₅₀ of post-larval L. vannamei exposed to C_A was 36.81, 33.05, and 5.55 mmol·L^-1, respectively. Water C_A and pH acted jointly on the survival of post-larval L. vannamei, and carbonate ion was the major lethal factor.Our results indicated that L. vannamei was suitable to be cultured in saline waters.

Key words: Taxus chinensis var mairei, Clonal population, Population structure, Population dynamics