Water and intestinal microbiota in the artificial seawater group and the natural seawater group of Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

This study addresses key challenges in artificial seawater larval rearing of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, including asynchronous development and low survival rates. We investigate the underlying mechanisms from a microbial ecology perspective. By establishing parallel culture systems with artificial and natural seawater, and employing methods such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing, microbial network analysis, and functional prediction, we systematically compared larval growth performance, the structure of water and intestinal microbiota, and their interactions between the two groups. The results clarify how artificial seawater influences prawn health by modulating microbial interactions along the "water-gut axis." This work provides important theoretical and practical support for optimizing artificial seawater rearing practices and promoting sustainable prawn aquaculture.