Effects of Temperature on the Decomposition of Pacific Coast Shrimp ( Pandalus jordani )

Shrimp ( Pandalus jordani ) were allowed to decompose at five temperatures (0, 5.6, 11.1, 16.7 and 22.2°C). Mean aerobic plate counts on the shrimp as received at the laboratory were 1.6 × 10 6 /g. The most rapid growth was obtained at the higher temperatures but the highest maximum population was obtained at 0°C. A total of 638 bacteria were isolated and tested for identification. The heterogenous population at day 0 was composed of 38% Gram positives. The population changed becoming predominantly Gram negative by day 13. At the higher temperatures the indole producing Proteus emerged by day 7 and became an important component of the flora. Volatile base (N) and indole increased both with increasing time and temperature during storage.