Growth and mortality rates of larval American shad,Alosa sapidissima,at different salinities |
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Authors: | Karin E Limburg Robert M Ross |
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Institution: | 1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, 12545, Millbrook, New York 2. National Biological Survey, Research and Development Laboratory, Route 4, Box 63, 16901, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
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Abstract: | The tolerance of post yolk-sac American shad Alosa sapidissima larvae to salinities typically seen in estuaries was assessed experimentally. Sixteen-day-old Hudson River (experiment I) and 35-d-old Delaware River (experiment II) larvae were held for 8 d and 9 d respectively in low (0–1‰), medium (9–11‰), and highly (19–20‰) brackish water, and mortality and growth rates were measured. Growth rates did not vary significantly among salinity treatments. Mortality in experiment I did not vary significantly among salinity treatments however, in experiment II, mortality was zero at 10‰ but higher and statistically indistinguishable between 0‰ and 20‰ In experiment II relative condition increased with salinity. These results imply that estuarine salinities neither depress growth rates nor elevate mortality rates of larval American shad when compared with freshwater conditions. We conclude that ecological factors other than the physiological effects of salinity have played more important roles in the evolution of the upriver spawning and nursery preference shown by this species. |
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