Determination of Salinity Tolerances in Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) Larvae Obtained from Hormone-Induced Spawning

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Adult mummichog,Fundulus heteroclitus, collected well after the spawning season were induced to spawn in the laboratory by intraperitoneal injections of APL (Anterior Pituitary-like Hormone). Hatching occurred nine days after spawning at a temperature of 22° C. Newly hatched mummichog larvae were subjected to salinity tolerance experiments carried out over a period of 50 days. In the low salinity regime, mortalities did not occur until the water reached 0.39‰ salinity which by definition is considered fresh. Mortalities in the high salinity experiment did not occur until the salinity of the water exceeded 100‰ salinity. These results show that newly hatched larvae and early juvenile stages of this species have a very broad range of tolerance to salinity. As no mortalities occurred in the controls throughout the 50 day period, experimental mortalities can be ascribed to salinity extremes. Growth of the larvae in the high salinity experiment was retarded as compared to the controls.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: