is mainly distributed in coastal waters off southern China and is a warmwater, economically important shellfish. is characterized by rapid growth, a short breeding cycle, suitability for high density cultivation, and is nutritious, so there is high demand among consumers. Guangdong is often affected by typhoons, so more rain falls there than in other provinces. Sea salinity drops when rainfall increases, and the osmotic pressure in aquatic animals varies because of salinity changes, which can result in massive mortalities of abalone. is a local species in Guangdong, making it particularly susceptible. Response surface methodology (RSM) is a collection of statistical and mathematical techniques to optimize a process. This methodology generates an empirical mathematical model that defines the effect of an inde-pendent variable on a response of interest to optimize the response. RSM has been applied in ecotoxicological studies of marine bivalve larvae and to investigate the effects of environmental variables on embryonic and larval develop-ment. RSM has not been used in any gastropod nutritional studies. In this study, the synergistic effects of salinity and stress duration on alpha-amylase gene expression were assessed using central composite design and RSM. The results show that the linear effects of salinity on alpha-amylase gene expression were not significant (P<0.05), suggesting that expression of the amylase gene was affected by stress duration. In addition, the quadratic effects of salinity on amylase gene expression were significant (<0.05), but the quadratic effects of stress duration on amylase gene expression were not significant (>0.05). No synergism was detected between salinity and stress duration. The RSM model equation for the relationship between amylase gene expression and the two factors was established ( value was 65.80%, and the Pre. values was 50.18%, suggesting a good model fit for prediction. Maximal amylase gene expression was observed when salinity was 31, and stress duration was 36 h. is affected by many factors, as it is cultured in a marine environment. Additional factors should be studied in the future.