Salinity preferences of Fundulus heteroclitus and F. diaphanus (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae): their role in geographic distribution

1 August 1974

journal article
Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Journal of Zoology

Vol. 52 (8) , 997-1003
https://doi.org/10.1139/z74-133

Abstract

Salinity preferences and the effect of salinity acclimation on salinity preferences were determined for both the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, and banded killifish, F. diaphanus. Experiments were conducted in a vertical salinity gradient consisting of layers at 0, 8, 14, 20, 26, and 31‰ salinity and at about 19C. Vertical-gradient tests were corroborated by retesting fishes in a two-compartment horizontal comparator. Mummichogs show a moderate preference for water of intermediate salinity (20‰) and a slight preference for 8‰. Banded killifish show a strong preference for fresh water. Neither species is affected by salinity acclimation. The differing preferences agree with their rarely overlapping natural habitat distributions.

Keywords

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