Effects of dietary protein level on spawning performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock reared at different water salinities

Effects of dietary protein level and water salinity on spawning performance of Nile tilapia broodstock and growth of their larvae were studied. Four isocaloric (400 kcal/100 g) diets containing 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% crude protein were prepared. The diets were fed to broodfish (25.7 g) reared at three water salinities (0‰, 7‰ and 14‰) at a female/male ratio of 3:1, to satiation twice a day for 195 days. The size at first maturation increased with increasing dietary protein at all salinities. At 25% and 30% protein levels, broodstock reared at 0‰ reached their sexual maturity at bigger sizes than those reared at 7‰ and 14‰. At 0‰, spawning intervals were not significantly affected by dietary protein levels. At 7‰ and 14‰, spawning intervals significantly decreased with increasing dietary protein level. Spawning frequency and number of eggs per spawn were increased with increasing dietary protein level. The total number of spawnings per female and absolute fecundity were better in fish fed 40% protein in freshwater than at 7‰ and 14‰ salinity. The relationship of dietary protein and water salinity on egg size was significant, but showed irregular patterns. The chemical composition of broodstock muscles, eggs and fry were not significantly affected by dietary protein and water salinity, except for body water and crude protein of broodstock which were significantly affected; but showed irregular trends. At each water salinity, egg hatchability was linearly increased with increasing dietary protein level. Eggs produced from broodstock fed 25% protein at 7‰ and 14‰ needed more time for hatching and yolk-sac absorption and resulted in poorer larval weight than those reared in freshwater. Fry growth was improved with increasing protein level at all salinities. This result revealed that 40% dietary protein is required for optimum spawning performance of Nile tilapia reared at 0‰, 7‰ and 14‰ salinity. It also indicated that spawning performance and larval growth were better in freshwater than at 7‰ and 14‰.     

Some effects of temperature and salinity on laboratory-reared eggs and larvae of Polydactylus sexfilis (Pisces: Polynemidae)

Effects of temperature and salinity on eggs and yolksac larvae of Polydactylus sexfilis (Cuvier and Valenciennes) were examined in laboratory experiments. Data on developmental rates as influenced by temperature are presented. Larval length at 95% yolksac absorption was maximized between 23.8 and 28.6°C. Based on the development of functional eyes and jaws, larvae were judged capable of feeding before the yolk was completely absorbed. Larvae incubated at intermediate temperatures also had larger amounts of yolk remaining when eyes and jaws were judged functional. Temperature and salinity effects on hatching success, survival at the end of the yolksac stage, and morphological abnormalities were studied in a 10 × 5 (temperature × salinity) array of treatments. In 34‰ sea water, normalized larval survival at the end of the yolksac stage was greater than 50% between temperatures of 21.9 and 28.0°C. Larval survival decreased at lower temperatures and salinities. Proportions of abnormal larvae increased at temperature and salinity extremes, and normal development was maximized between 26 and 34‰. Larvae (74 h after fertilization) were more tolerant to extreme high temperatures than were newly fertilized eggs. Upper salinity tolerance limits of 42-h larvae were greater at 26.2°C than at 23.5 or 29.2°C, and lower salinity was less tolerated at the two extreme temperatures. Based on the results, recommended temperatures and salinities for rearing P. sexfilis eggs and early larvae are 24–28°C and 26–34‰.     

Effect of water temperature on the immune response of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to Vibrio alginolyticus

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei held in 25‰ seawater at 27 °C or 28 °C were injected with TSB-grown Vibrio alginolyticus at 1 × 10⁴ colony-forming units (cfu) shrimp^− 1 or 1 × 10⁵ cfu shrimp^− 1, and then cultivated onward at water temperatures varying from 20 to 34 °C. Over 24–144 h, mortality of V. alginolyticus-injected shrimp held at 34 °C or 32 °C was significantly higher than that of shrimp held at lower temperatures. In a separate experiment, shrimp held in 25‰ seawater at 28 °C and then cultured onward at 20 to 32 °C were examined for immune parameters at 24–96 h. THC, phenoloxidase activity, respiratory burst, and SOD activity decreased significantly at 24 h after transfer to 32 °C. Shrimp held in 25‰ seawater at 27 °C and then cultured onward at 20 to 34 °C showed a significant reduction in phagocytic activity and clearance efficiency for V. alginolyticus at 24 h after transfer to 34 °C. It was concluded that transfer of shrimp from 27 or 28 °C to higher temperatures (32 and 34 °C) reduced their immune capability and decreased resistance to V. alginolyticus infection.     

Growth performance of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata in different osmotic conditions: Implications for osmoregulation and energy metabolism

The influence of three different environmental salinities (seawater, SW: 38 ppt salinity; brackish water, BW: 12 ppt; and low salinity water, LSW: 6 ppt salinity) on the growth, osmoregulation and metabolism of young gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) was studied over a period of 100 days. 480 inmature fish (20 g mean body weight) were randomly divided into six tanks of 2500 l (80 fish per tank) and maintained under three different salinities (38 ppt, 12 ppt and 6 ppt) in an open system. Every three weeks, 10 fish from each tank were anesthetized, weighed and lenghed. At the end of experiment, 10 fish from each tank were anesthetized, weighed and sampled for plasma, brain, gill and liver. Gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, plasma osmolality, ions (sodium and chloride), glucose, lactate, protein and triglyceride, and hepatosomatic index were examined. In addition, levels of glycogen, lactate, ATP and activities of potential regulatory enzymes (hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, glycogen phosphorylase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase) were assesed in liver, brain, and gill. BW-acclimated fish showed a better growth with respect to SW- or LSW-acclimated fish (12 > 38 > 6 ppt). The same relationship was observed for weight gain and specific growth rate. Osmoregulatory parameters in plasma (osmolality, Na⁺ and Cl⁻ levels) were similar in SW- and BW-acclimated fish but significantly higher than those of LSW-acclimated fish. Gill Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity showed lower values in intermediate salinity (6 > 38 > 12 ppt). No changes were observed in metabolic parameters analyzed in plasma, whereas only minor changes were observed in metabolic parameters of liver, gills and brain that could be correlated with the higher growth rates observed in fish acclimated to BW, which do not allow us to attribute the best growth rate observed at 12 ppt to lower metabolic rates in that salinity.     

Shipping studies with juvenile and adult Malaysian prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Four studies examined shipping factors of packing technique, density, duration, type of water and use of habitat material for shipping juvenile and adult prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Prawns were shipped in double polyethylene lined 38 × 38 × 20 cm deep styrofoam boxes containing oxygenated water. At temperatures of 19–20°C, 17 g prawns could be shipped safely for 42 h at a density of 10–12 prawns per box (12–15 g liter⁻¹ shipping water). Juveniles, mean size about 6 g, could be shipped at a density of 40 per box (18 g liter⁻¹) for 24 h or 20–25 per box (9–11 g liter⁻¹) for 48 h. Use of mesh material to increase surface area in the box did not appear beneficial nor did shipping in brackish water (salinity8‰). Adults packed unrestricted resulted in survival rates substantially higher than those obtained from immobilized prawns wrapped in mesh.

During the shipment, pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations decreased whereas ammonia concentrations increased. The decreased pH levels may have reduced the ammonia toxicity by decreasing the amount of toxic unionized ammonia (NH₃) in solution. In general, dissolved oxygen concentrations appeared more closely related to survival rates than did other water quality parameters which were measured.     

Effects of salinity on growth and mortality of migratory and resident forms of Eurasian perch in the Baltic Sea

Abstract – In the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, there are two forms of perch (Perca fluviatilis). One of the forms is migratory and spawns in streams entering the Baltic Sea. The other form is resident and spawns in brackish water. Both forms utilise the coastal habitat for foraging. We examined the spawning success of the two forms in fresh and brackish water (7‰, equal to salinity in the south Baltic Sea). The experiments showed that hatching success was equally high in freshwater and in brackish water despite female origin. The survival of yellow‐sac and free swimming fry was significantly reduced in brackish water, which was independent if the fish was of migratory or brackish resident origin. Further, growth rate of perch fry was severely reduced in brackish water. The results indicate that perch has not developed any tolerance to brackish water in the young life stages. The migratory life strategy of perch can thus be explained by higher survival of fry in freshwater.     

A simple test to estimate the salinity resistance of fish with specific application to O. niloticus and S. melanotheron

In order to develop a simple and accurate index of the salinity resistance of tilapia, batches of 10 juveniles (5 to 20 g) of two different species Oreochromis niloticus and Sarotherodon melanotheron reared in freshwater were subjected to gradual increases in salinity until 100% mortality. Seven daily increments of salinity were tested with 4 replicates: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹, while control batches were kept in fresh water. The temperature was maintained at 27 °C. The concentration of oxygen, ammonia and the pH were not limiting factors. The mortality, monitored on a daily basis, appeared after 2–51 days and was spread out over 1–20 days, depending on the increment of salinity. The higher the daily rate in salinity increase, then the shorter the time lapse before total mortality occurred. The cumulative mortality as a function of salinity fit well with simple linear regressions. The criterion of the resistance to salinity was the index MLS (median lethal salinity) defined at each daily rate as the salinity at which 50% of fish died. For S. melanotheron, the mean MLS was 123.7±3.5 g l⁻¹ whatever the daily rate in salinity. For O. niloticus, the MLS was 46.3±3.4 g l⁻¹ for daily increases in salinity ranging from 2 to 8 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹ and decreased significantly (P<0.05) above this level. The MLS-8 g l⁻¹ day⁻¹ ,which takes into account the full capacity of the fish to adapt to the increasing salinity, appeared to be a simple, optimized and efficient criterion for assessing the resistance to salinity for O. niloticus and S. melanotheron. This criterion can be a useful tool for ranking the different parental strains and hybrids of different genus and species of tilapia used in programmes of genetic selection for growth and salinity tolerance.     

The effects of the decomposition of mangrove leaf litter on water quality, growth and survival of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798)

An experiment was conducted for 8 weeks at the Cantho University, Vietnam, to determine the acceptable level of mangrove leaf litter load and its effect on water quality, growth and survival rate of tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Shrimps were cultured in plastic tanks containing 50 L of brackish water (salinity of 15‰). Leaf litter of Rhizophora apiculata, Avicennia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha and Acacia auriculiformis were loaded to tanks at rates of 0.0 (control), 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g L^− 1 with and without aeration. Tiger shrimp post-larvae (PL; 0.05 ± 0.01 g) obtained from the shrimp hatchery of Cantho University were stocked at a density of 20 PL per tank and fed with pelleted feed containing 38% protein at a rate of 10% body weight (BW) day^− 1.

The high leaf-loading rates significantly reduced dissolved oxygen (DO) and survival rates of shrimp in the non-aerated treatments, and all shrimps died after 2 days in the treatments with loading rates above 0.5 g L^− 1. Leaf litter loads significantly increased tannin content, chemical oxygen demand (COD), H₂S and pH in the aerated treatments. Stepwise regression analysis showed COD, tannin and H₂S concentrations had negative effects on shrimp growth in the aerated treatments. Tannin concentration was found to be highest in the treatments with Excoecaria (32 mg L^− 1) and Avicennia (24 mg L^− 1) leaves. However, there were no significant differences in growth and survival rates of shrimp among the aerobic treatments loaded with different leaf types. The results of this study showed that moderate load of mangrove leaves could play an important role in promoting shrimp growth and survival in aerobic condition. Mangrove leaves at a loading rate of 1 g L^− 1 positively influenced both the survival and growth rate of shrimps.     

Effects of salinity and temperature conditions on the reproductive success of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in the Baltic Sea

In the Baltic Sea, a large brackish water area, turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) occurs at the border of its distribution with respect to salinity. Using turbot caught in ICES subdivision (SD) 28 (mid-Baltic), salinity requirements for successful egg development were evaluated by assessment of spermatozoa mobility, fertilisation and egg survival at different salinities. Further, to evaluate potential effects of temperatures, egg survival at different temperatures was assessed. Spermatozoa activity and fertilisation rate decreased with decreasing salinity with a significant drop at <7 psu. The viable hatch was significantly lower at <7 psu compared to at 7–15 psu. Hence, due to decreasing salinity this implies lower egg survival in SD 29 and 30 compared to in SD 24–28, and that salinity conditions in SD 31 are insufficient for egg development. Further, following a long period without major inflows of saline water into the Baltic Sea, salinity has decreased. From 1995 onwards salinities <7 psu prevail in SD 27–28 suggesting decreased reproductive success and potentially weaker year-classes in this area. Egg survival was high at 12–18 °C and considerably lower at 9 and 21 °C. Comparing the results with environmental data suggested that spawning time of turbot is adapted to optimum temperatures for egg development, but that occasions with temperatures involving increased egg mortality may occur, e.g. during upwelling situations.     

The effect of salinity on growth and survival of juvenile black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)

Growth and survival of juvenile black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) were determined at salinities from 0 to 60 ppt (in 12-ppt increments) and from 0 to 12 ppt (in 4-ppt increments) in two separate trials of 6 and 4 months duration, respectively. Juvenile black bream were able to survive and grow at salinities ranging from freshwater (0 ppt) to 48 ppt. Osmotic stress was evident at 60 ppt, however, survival was not significantly affected. Fish reared at 24 ppt in trial 1 had a specific growth rate of 2.34±0.03%/day, a rate significantly higher only to those fish reared at 60 ppt (2.16±0.04%/day). Growth was greater at 24 ppt in association with the highest food intake and most efficient FCR. Although both food intake and FCR were not significantly higher than those obtained with fish reared at 12, 36 and 48 ppt, the combination of the two factors being optimised at 24 ppt lead to the greatest growth. Analysis of data from the second trial found no significant difference in the growth rate of black bream reared at salinities ranging from freshwater to 12 ppt, with SGR ranging from 1.92±0.05%/day to 2.05±0.02%/day. Variable results in freshwater between the two trials suggested that total hardness of freshwater may influence survival and/or an ontogenetic change in salinity tolerance may occur.     

Effects of dietary protein to energy ratios on growth and body composition of juvenile Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus

A growth experiment was conducted to determine the optimal dietary protein to energy (P/E) ratio for juvenile Japanese seabass (initial average weight 6.26±0.10 g). Nine practical diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (36%, 41% and 46%), each with three lipid levels (8%, 12% and 16%), in order to produce a range of P/E ratios (from 19.8 to 28.6 mg protein kJ⁻¹). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 60 fish in sea floating cages (1.5×1.5×2.0 m). Fish were fed twice daily (06:30 and 16:30) to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. The water temperature fluctuated from 26.5 to 32.5 °C, the salinity from 32‰ to 36‰ and dissolved oxygen content was approximately 7 mg l⁻¹ during the experimental period. The results showed that the growth was significantly affected by dietary P/E ratio (P<0.05). Fish fed the diets with 46% protein (12% and 16% lipid, P/E ratio of 26.7 and 25.7 mg protein kJ⁻¹) had the highest specific growth rates (SGR) (4.26 and 4.24% day⁻¹). However, fish fed the diet with 41% protein and 12% lipid showed comparable growth (4.20% day⁻¹), and had higher protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein productive value (PPV) and energy retention than other groups (P<0.05). No significant differences in survival were found among dietary treatments. Carcass lipid content positively correlated with dietary lipid level irrespective of protein level and inversely correlated with carcass moisture content. Carcass protein and ash contents increased with increasing dietary lipid at each protein level. These results suggest that the diet containing 41% protein and 12% lipid with P/E of 25.9 mg protein kJ⁻¹ is optimal for Japanese seabass.     

Bacterial diversity of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in brackish water in Saudi Arabia

The bacterial flora occurring in brackish pond water, sediment, gills and intestine of healthy tilapia cultured in Saudi Arabia were estimated both quantitatively and qualitatively, and the isolates were identified to genus or species level. Total viable count of bacteria ranged from 1.4±1.5×10³ to 8.6±2.7×10³ cfu ml⁻¹; 1.2±3.1×10⁶ to 7.3±1.1×10⁷ cfu g⁻¹; 8.7±1.9×10⁵ to 2.1±0.9×10⁶ cfu g⁻¹; and 2.8±2.4×10⁷ to 1.0±1.6×10⁸ cfu g⁻¹ in the pond water, sediment, gills and intestine of brackish water tilapia, respectively. In total, 19 bacterial species were identified. The bacteria were predominantly Gram-negative rods (87%). Pond water and sediment bacteria influenced the bacterial composition of gills and intestine of tilapia. In contrast to gill bacteria, more diversification was observed in intestinal bacteria. The predominant (prevalence >10%) bacterial species were Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio carchariae, Vibrio alginolyticus, Chryseomonas sp., Vibrio vulnificus, and Streptococcus sp. in all the populations with the exception of the sediment population where Streptococcus sp. was replaced by Shewanella putrefaciens. Vibrio spp. (58% of the total isolates) dominated the total bacterial population.     

Effects of salinity on standard metabolic rate and critical oxygen tension in the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

The extensively farmed giant freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, can survive salinities up to 26 g L^?1, but the commercially important grow‐out occurs exclusively in freshwater areas. Recent studies suggest the shrimp equally capable of growing in brackish as fresh water and a better understanding of how this species responds to changing salinity could significantly impact freshwater prawn farming in deltas and coastal areas. Here, the effect of salinity (0 and 15 g L^?1) on standard metabolic rate (SMR) and critical oxygen tension (P_crit) was measured in adult M. rosenbergii using intermittent closed respirometry. SMR was 79.8 ± 3.1 and 72.7 ± 2.9 μmol kg^?1 min^?1 in fresh and brackish water, respectively, with no significant difference between the two salinities (P = 0.122). During hypoxia M. rosenbergii maintained oxygen uptake down to a P_crit of 26.3 ± 1.4 mmHg in fresh and 27.2 ± 2.0 mmHg in brackish water (P = 0.682), showing that salinity had no overall effect on oxygen conductance in the animals. These findings are in agreement with recent growth studies and provide further evidence that grow‐out phase could be accomplished in brackish water areas. Thus, the predicted intrusions of brackish water in tropical deltas as a consequence of future global warming may not impact this important production.     

Salinity During Early Development Influences Growth and Survival of Florida Red Tilapia in Brackish and Seawater

Growth of juvenile Florida red tilapin (1.57 g average weight) spawned and sex-reversed (monosex male) at salinities of 4 ppt and 18 ppt was compared at rearing salinities of 18 ppt and 36 ppt in 200 L aquaria under controlled photoperiod (12 L:12 D) and temperature (28 C). Growth was significantly higher for progeny spawned at 18 ppt than those spawned at 4 ppt under both rearing salinities with no difference observed between 18 ppt and 36 ppt.
In another experiment, growth of juvenile progeny (0.98 g average weight) spawned and sex-reversed at salinities of 2 ppt and 18 ppt was compared in 24 m³ outdoor pools at 36 ppt. When water temperatures exceeded 27 C, growth and survival were not significantly different between these groups. However, when temperatures fell below 25 C, growth and survival were significantly higher among progeny spawned at 18 ppt.
The results showed that progeny spawned and reared through early ontqenetic development in brackishwater are better adapted for growth in brackish and seawater and suggested that these fish may have higher resistance to cold-stress in seawater than progeny spawned in freshwater.     

A comparison of the biological characteristics of Sarotherodon niloticus (L.) with those of S. aureus (Steindachner) and other tilapia of the delta and lower Nile

The tilapia species occurring in the lower Nile are Sarotherodon niloticus, S. aureus, S. galiaeus and Tilapia zillii. The distinguishing characteristics between the previously confused S. niloticus and S. aureus are summarised; from these there is no evidence of hybridization of the two species in natural populations in Egypt. The scales are used to estimate the growth rates of tilapia species in two coastal lakes and in both, S. niloticus grows faster than S. aureus after the first year. The possible factors causing the growth checks on the scales are considered.

The spawning season of S. niloticus appears to attain a discrete peak in April–May, whilst the spawning season of S. aureus extends from May to September with at least two actual spawnings within this period. Natural spawning cycles are compared with those observed in fish ponds.

A more extended spawning period of S. aureus may explain the reduced growth rate of the species after the first year. The spawning cycle of all species coincides with the temperature regime of the water bodies. The fecundities of S. aureus and S. niloticus are similar and are described by log F = log 1.33 + 2.23 log L, which suggests that small fishes produce more eggs per g body weight than large.

The salinity tolerance of the Nile tilapia can be ranked as T. zillii > S. galilaeus > S. aureus > S. niloticus. Evidence on chronic and acute effects of salinity are reviewed and upper estimates for salinities giving unimpeded growth are deduced as being, T. zillii 29‰, S. galilaeus 15–20‰, S. areus 10–15‰ and S. niloticus 5–10‰.     

Effect of increasing salinity on physiological response in juvenile scallops Argopecten purpuratus at two rearing temperatures

Argopecten purpuratus can be cultivated using Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) as a method to increase production. In order to determine physiological response of A. purpuratus under different salinities and temperature conditions, two groups of juvenile scallops (small: h = 6.5 mm and large: h = 25.5 mm) were acclimated and close-cultured at salinities of 34, 38, and 42 g/l, at 16 and 22 °C and fed on Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros calcitrans. Survival, shell growth and scope for growth were determined at the end of the trials. Survival showed an inverse relationship with temperature and ammonia levels. In small scallops an increase in salinity at 16 °C increased survival. However, this relationship was not evident at 22 °C. On the other hand, salinity did not affect survival of large juveniles. Small juveniles had a lower survival (approximately 40%) than larger scallops (up to 85%) throughout the trials. Oxygen consumption was not affected by salinity. Small scallops showed similar oxygen consumption at 16 and 22 °C but in large juveniles higher values were registered at 22 °C. In large juveniles routine consumption at 16 °C was higher (up to 35%) than standard consumption. This pattern was not evident at 22 °C, suggesting that oxygen demand is higher regardless of feeding condition. NH₄⁺–N excretion rate is inversely related to salinity. Only small juveniles showed a higher NH₄⁺–N excretion rate at 22 °C. Scope for growth was positive in all treatments, although the upper limit of salinity should not be based only in this index. Higher scope for growth values at 38 and 42 g/l was related with a reduction in ammonia excretion and high absorption efficiency. In addition, an increase in salinity produced a reduction in NH₃–N proportion and under hypersaline conditions scallops tended to decrease excretion as a way of osmoconformation. This explains our findings of higher survival rates at higher salinities. Even though the scope for growth is positive at 42 g/l, the osmotic stress reduces the survival chances. The data obtained can be considered useful information for A. purpuratus culture under controlled conditions.     

Calculation of pH in fresh and sea water aquaculture systems

A procedure for the calculation of pH in fresh and salt waters has been developed. The method is based on a fourth-order polynomial relationship between hydrogen ion concentration and other (conservative) water quality parameters. The method avoids trial and error estimations and results in a direct calculation procedure that can be implemented in models developed in various modeling environments, such as spreadsheets, conventional programming languages (BASIC, C, FORTRAN, PASCAL, etc.) or specialized modeling languages (Extend^™, Stella^™).

The method developed is based on the solution of the full alkalinity-pH equation. Because of the need for simplification of the equations to yield explicitly solvable polynomial equations, the accuracy of the solutions depends on the simplification made and varies with water properties. Three simplifications are tested based on a second-, a third-and a fourth-order polynomial equation for hydrogen ion concentrations. the equations have been tested for salinities ranging from 0 to 35‰ (fresh to sea water), for temperatures ranging from 0 to 35°C, for total carbonate carbon concentrations of 0·1 and 5·0 mmol/liter, and for total ammonia nitrogen concentrations of 0 and 10 mg/liter. Approximations are most accurate in waters of high total carbonate carbon and low ammonia concentrations, where the fourth-order approximation yields results that are within 0.05 pH units for the full range of pH values tested (5–10).     

Manipulation of ploidy in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) by heat shock, hydrostatic pressure shock, and spermatozoa inactivation

Heat shocks, hydrostatic pressure shocks, and ultraviolet radiation were evaluated for their efficacy as methods of manipulating ploidy in yellow perch (Perca flavescens). The most effective methods of inducing triploidy were heat shocks of 28–30°C applied at a time of initiation (TI) of 5 min postfertilization for durations of 10 or 25 min, and hydrostatic pressure shocks of 9000 or 11 000 psi applied at a TI of 5 min for a duration of 12 min. These treatments resulted in triploidy induction rates that ranged from 54–100%, and embryonic survival rates of 16–80%. Cold shocks of 0°C had no effect on the ploidy or survival of embryos. For perch, hydrostatic pressure shock offered several advantages over heat shock as a method of manipulating ploidy. The most effective methods of inducing tetraploidy were hydrostatic pressure shocks of 9000 psi applied at a TI of 192 min for durations of 16 or 24 min. Ultraviolet radiation of perch sperm with doses of 3240–6480 ergs/mm² resulted in 100% inactivation of paternal chromosomes, and perch eggs fertilized with inactivated sperm had survival rates of > 50%, thereby establishing methods for producing gynogenetic perch. Studies comparing the growth and performance of diploid vs. triploid perch are underway. Tetraploid perch are being reared to sexual maturity to evaluate their potential as brood fish.     

Use of Underground Brackish Water for Reproduction and Larviculture of Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Broodfish were reared for 6 months in underground brackish water (11 ppt), and the quality of eggs and semen was evaluated in comparison to broodfish held in fresh water. Fry produced by the broodfish in brackish water (S) and freshwater (F) were then reared in different salinities (1, 4, 7, and 10 ppt). Broodfish successfully matured and spawned in underground brackish water, and gonad quality was better than of the broodfish in fresh water (p < 0.01). Growth indices of fry produced by both groups decreased with increasing salinity (p < 0.01). Survival was not affected by the salinities tested. Underground brackish water can be used as a source to induce successful sexual maturation and to produce high-quality gonads.     

High salinity tolerance in eggs and fry of a brackish Esox lucius population

Abstract Knowledge on the biology and physiology of pike, Esox lucius L., populations inhabiting saline environments is scarce. An experimental setup was used to examine egg development and fry behaviour and growth under varying salinity levels in a brackish‐water pike population from the western Baltic Sea. Eggs and fry developed at 8.5 psu, which is higher than hitherto reported for other populations. Fry exhibited stress behaviour and reduced growth when subjected to salinities above 13 psu. This indicates that early life stages of E. lucius tolerate ambient salinity conditions equivalent to the natural environment in its nursery area in the Stege Nor lagoon. The population should therefore not be dependent on access to freshwater environments during spawning. However, the results also suggest that the population’s natural environment is on the margin of its physiological capacity. The results have significance for management of brackish‐water E. lucius populations, e.g. in relation to stocking strategies.