By Latif Tabanli and Quang La
Image by Yash Gupta from Unsplash
Background on Shrimp Treadmill Research
Examining the ‘toughness’ and ‘vulnerability’ limits of these marine crustaceans like the shrimp and their response mechanisms to stressors posed problems for the investigators. These study issues were solved by Pacific University scientists who have developed a special procedure that included a small aquatic treadmill designed for shrimp. Major Assistance for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation; a Government body that provided a grant of $ 559, 681 for the study of “Impaired Metabolism and Performance in Crustaceans exposed to Bacteria." The group was able to test the performance and activity of a live shrimp exercising on a treadmill. This pertained to the aspect of monitoring the shrimps’ oxygen levels, speed among other physiological responses.
Shrimp Treadmill Experiments
In this treadmill the researchers thought that fit shrimp swim and even run for couple of ours at the rate of 20 meters per minute without dozing off. The shrimp must be able to carry additional weights like a small backpack made of duct tapes they attached at the shrimp’s back, and still be active for an hour; another test the researchers created. The shrimp with infections, however, exhibited poor aerobic function, as well as greater blood lactate concentration, implying that they were less capable of recovering following exercise than apparently healthy shrimp. Based on these findings, pathogenic or stressed shrimp will possibly move slowly, possibly to locate food and escape predators in their natural environment.
Impressive Findings from Shrimp Treadmill Experiments
While it is quite bizarre to see shrimp being taken through treadmill training, the general findings of the study offered new insights on the features and activities of shrimp, the marine crustaceans. When the researchers employ the treadmill, they can determine the oxygen levels, and their activities as well as the endurance of healthy shrimp. The test results indicated that the shrimp was capable to swim at the rate of 20 meters per minutes with out getting tired for long time. The shrimp were pressed even more when the researchers placed a small backpack on them to weigh them down, thus the interaction, and yet the latter were moving, even eating in a way that the researchers claimed they could stay active for an hour. On the other hand, the shrimp when infected or subjected to different stress factors, had reduced their aerobic power output and struggling in recovery as depicted by high blood lactic acid concentrations. These insights proved very useful in understanding the effects diseases and environmental aspect have on the physical strength, and chances of survival of the marine organisms.
Significant Funding for Shrimp Treadmill Research
The source of funding for the shrimp treadmill research project was the National Science Foundation which supports the research process through financing it; in this case the amount close to $3,000,000 was received by the object of the study during ten years. This much expenditure shows the concern of the scientific society in studying the behavior and physiological aspects of crustaceans squarely considering the different impacts on ecology and economy. The purpose of the study was to determine the specific modality of effects of the existing environmental challenges like water pollution and ocean warming on the overall immunity and productiveness of shrimp, which in turn can pose a threat to the sustainability of the commercial shrimp farming.
Controversy over Funding for Shrimp Treadmill Research
The shrimp treadmill physical exercise was at the center of concern in relation to the $3 million raised from the taxpayers’ money wasted in the project over a decade. Critics, including legislators and talking heads on TV, blew the project as the best example of the government’s extravagant spending on what looks like shallow scientific research. For instance, the above discussed shrimp treadmill was published in a Wastebook by the senator Tom Coburn who complained the National Science Foundation for devoting the government funds on such a misconstrued science as this. There was as well the feeling that this was a rather absurd and wasteful use of taxpayers’ money instead of valuable scientific study, this opinion was further augmented by the viral video of shrimp jogging on the treadmill.
Defending the Shrimp Treadmill Research
However, Dr. David Scholnick of Pacific University and other researchers who submitted their papers protested against the allegations of useless research emphasizing their papers’ importance and validity. They argued that conservation of the marine ecosystems and the security of food supply required the understanding of how shrimp and other marine species respond to stress or diseases. The treadmill tests provided useful data on the differences in immunology and physical attributes between healthy and diseased shrimp that may be of applied value to suppliers of shrimps and fisheries. Some detractors stated that the paper failed to look at the big picture and potential benefits of the study while the author recognized multifaceted research complexities but offered simple tones and conclusions.
References:
Andrzejewski, A. (2021, March 26). $1.3 Million Paid to Put Running Shrimp on Treadmills. RealClearPolicy. https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2021/03/26/13_million_paid_to_put_running_shrimp_on_treadmills_769049.html
Murse, T. (2022, July 4). Shrimp Treadmill Study Paid for With Taxpayer Money. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/taxpayers-paid-for-shrimp-treadmill-study-3321445
Goudarzi, S. (2022, July 13). Scientists Put Shrimp on a Treadmill. livescience.com. https://www.livescience.com/4221-scientists-put-shrimp-treadmill.html
Oregonian/OregonLive, B. H. (2014, November 17). Shrimp on a treadmill? Pacific University professor defends his research, excoriates Republican critics. Oregonlive. https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2014/11/shrimp_on_a_treadmill_worthwhi.html
Staff, S. (2023, May 21). Shrimp on a Treadmill: The Quirky Quest to Unravel Crustacean Stamina. SuchScience. https://suchscience.net/shrimp-on-treadmill/
Perkins, S. (2019, December 3). Shrimp on treadmills? Some science only sounds silly. Science News Explores. https://www.snexplores.org/article/shrimp-treadmills-some-science-only-sounds-silly
Zoom, D. (2014, November 17). You Will Be Outraged By The Tax Dollars Not Spent On This Dumb Science Thing! Wonkette. https://www.wonkette.com/p/you-will-be-outraged-by-the-tax-dollars-not-spent-on-this-dumb-science-thing