Institution: | a Department of Aquaculture, University of Tasmania, PO Box 1214, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia b Department of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, PO Box 1214, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia |
Abstract: | Juvenile greenlip abalone, Haliotis laevigata, (mean whole weight 4.48±1.9 g, mean±s.d., n=953) were highly sensitive to ammonia as indicated by depressed growth rate and food consumption measured over 2–3 months in bioassay tanks. For growth rate expressed on a whole weight basis, the EC5 and EC50 values (5 and 50% growth reductions) were 0.041 mg FAN l−1 (Free Ammonia–Nitrogen) and 0.158 mg FAN l−1, respectively. Shell growth rates declined over the entire experimental range (0.006–0.188 mg FAN l−1). At the end of the bioassay, groups of abalone were transferred to respiratory chambers. Oxygen consumption rate increased to a maximum of 188% of control values at 0.235 mg FAN l−1 and decreased slightly at the highest concentration of 0.418 mg FAN l−1. |