环境因子对卵形鲳鲹幼鱼耗氧率和排氨率的影响

运用封闭流水式实验方法研究温度、盐度、pH和流速对卵形鲳鲹(Trachinotus ovatus)幼鱼耗氧率和排氨率的影响.实验结果表明,随着温度的升高,耗氧率和排氨率均是先增大后减小,当温度为27℃时,耗氧率和排氨率达最大值,温度对卵形鲳鲹幼鱼耗氧率和排氨率的影响显著(P＜0.0l);耗氧率和排氨率随着盐度的升高均出...     

胁迫时间与非毒性离子对重金属抑制拟南芥种子发芽及幼苗生长的影响

测定了Hg²⁺、Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺、Pb²⁺单一重金属胁迫对拟南芥种子发芽和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明,重金属对幼苗生长的毒性大于对种子发芽的毒性,以抑制种子发芽的IC₅₀为指标,4种重金属的毒性顺序为Hg²⁺＞Cd²⁺＞Pb²⁺/Cu²⁺,以幼苗生长为指标,则毒性顺序为:Cu²⁺＞Hg²⁺＞Cd²⁺/Pb²⁺,并随着胁迫时间延长,种子萌发率下降.此外,不同重金属在不同发芽时段对种子的毒性也不尽相同,Cd²⁺的毒性在种子吸水后的0～12 h大于12～24 h,而Hg²⁺毒性在12～24 h大于0～12 h,其中,种皮对减轻重金属毒性起着十分重要的作用.通过非毒性离子(Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺、Na⁺)与重金属离子(Hg²⁺、Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺、Pb²⁺)交互作用对拟南芥种子发芽及幼苗生长效应的研究发现, mmol·L^-1的Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺、Na⁺可以增强Hg²⁺对种子发芽的毒性,但对Cd²⁺的毒性却没有影响.对于幼苗来说,Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺、Na⁺可以显著增强Hg²⁺的毒性,Ca²⁺可以缓解Cd²⁺的毒性,但却增加Cu²⁺的毒性,K⁺可以缓解Pb²⁺对幼苗的毒害作用.最后,本文对重金属的毒害机理进行了探讨.     

不同炭化温度制备的蚕丝被废弃物生物炭对重金属Cd2+的吸附性能

以蚕丝被废弃物为原料,在300、500和700 ℃高温缺氧条件下热解炭化制备成3种生物炭(BC300、BC500和BC700).利用扫描电镜(SEM)、傅里叶红外光谱仪(FT-IR)、X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、比表面积分析仪等对其理化性质进行表征,并研究了不同温度下制备的生物炭对溶液中Cd²⁺的吸附特性.结果表明: 随着炭化温度上升,BET比表面积、pH、灰分均增大,生物炭表面形态结构越来越不规则.XRD结果显示:不同温度下获得的生物炭中均含有一定量的方解石,FT-IR光谱图上的峰主要为-OH和方解石典型的吸收峰;pH对生物炭吸附Cd²⁺的影响不大;Langmuir方程能更好地拟合3种生物炭对Cd²⁺的吸附等温过程,其最大吸附量分别为25.61、52.41和91.07 mg·g^-1.3种生物炭对Cd²⁺吸附过程均更符合准二级动力学方程,且BC700对Cd²⁺的吸附效果最佳.进一步研究离子浓度及阳离子共存对BC700吸附Cd²⁺的影响,结果显示: NaCl浓度越高,对Cd²⁺的吸附抑制越明显;共存阳离子中,Ca²⁺和Mg²⁺对Cd²⁺的吸附抑制更明显,而K⁺几乎无影响.因此,以蚕丝被废弃物制备的生物炭作为去除水体中Cd²⁺的吸附剂具有较强的应用潜力.     

重金属离子对凡纳滨对虾肝胰脏、鳃丝和血液SOD活力的影响

研究了3种重金属离子(Cu²⁺、Zn²⁺、Cd²⁺)在96 h内对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)对肝胰脏、鳃丝和血液超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力的影响.结果表明,凡纳滨对虾SOD活力在3种重金属离子作用下随取样时间变化显著(P＜0.0),Cu²⁺在实验浓度范围内(0.1～1 mg·L^-1),肝胰脏、鳃丝和血液的SOD活力随时间延长呈一峰值变化,Zn²⁺在10 mg·L^-1时对肝胰脏表现为显著抑制作用,Cd²⁺在0. mg·L^-1时对肝胰脏和鳃丝起显著抑制作用,0.2 mg·L^-1对鳃丝SOD活力无显著变化(P＞0.0),其他浓度Zn²⁺(＜10 mg·L^-1)、Cd²⁺(＜0.2 mg·L^-1)对各组织器官SOD活力的影响随时间延长均呈现先升高后下降的趋势.3种重金属离子对凡纳滨对虾肝胰脏、鳃丝、血液SOD活力的影响呈现明显的剂量-时间效应关系.其SOD活力大小顺序为肝胰脏＞鳃丝＞血液,3种重金属离子对凡纳滨对虾伤害大小顺序为Cd²⁺＞Cu²⁺＞Zn²⁺.     

镉在黑土和棕壤中吸附行为比较研究

比较研究了重金属镉在黑土和棕壤中的吸附热力学和动力学行为.结果表明,在实验设定的浓度范围内,黑土和棕壤对Cd²⁺吸附量随溶液中Cd²⁺浓度的增加而增加.黑土对Cd²⁺的吸附固定能力明显强于棕壤.在平衡液浓度为20 mg·kg^-1时,黑土对Cd²⁺的吸附量为1 485.2 mg·kg^-1、棕壤为700.6 mg·kg^-1.两种土壤对Cd²⁺的吸附等温线与Langmuir、Freundlich和Henry方程均有较好的拟合性,而Temkin方程不适合用来描述Cd²⁺在两种土壤中的等温吸附.根据Langmuir的拟合结果,Cd²⁺在黑土和棕壤中的最大吸附量分别可达5 939.3和2 790 mg·kg^-1.黑土较高的吸附能力与其高的有机质含量和粘粒含量有关.黑土和棕壤中Cd²⁺的吸附是一个快速反应过程,2 min内能达到平衡吸附量的90%,15～30 min左右达到吸附平衡.一级动力学方程是拟合Cd²⁺在黑土和棕壤中吸附动力学过程的最优方程,其次为Elovich方程和双常数方程.随着初始浓度的增加,Cd²⁺在土壤中的吸附速率也不断增大.随着吸附量的增大和反应时间的延长,吸附速率不断下降.在较低的初始浓度下,Cd²⁺在黑土中的下降趋势要快于棕壤.     

改性粉煤灰对废水中镉的吸附作用

以工业固废粉煤灰(FA)为原料,将其与NaOH和Ca(OH)₂混合后,在250 ℃下焙烧1.5 h,制得改性粉煤灰(MFA).利用扫描电镜(SEM)、能量色散X射线光谱仪(EDS)、X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、全自动比表面积分析仪(BET)和傅里叶红外光谱仪(FTIR)等技术分析MFA的理化性质.BET分析表明,MFA的比表面积比FA增大了20.6倍.SEM分析表明,FA表面玻璃相溶解,表面粗糙,具有多孔结构.FTIR分析表明,-OH官能团在Cd²⁺的吸附过程中具有重要作用.静态吸附试验研究表明,当MFA的投加量为0.2 g、Cd²⁺初始浓度为100 mg·L^-1、溶液pH为7、25 ℃下吸附90 min时,Cd²⁺的去除率达到97.3%;共存阳离子(K⁺、Na⁺、Mg²⁺和Ca²⁺)均会抑制MFA对Cd²⁺的吸附,其中Ca²⁺的抑制作用最强.Langmuir等温吸附模型和准二级吸附动力学方程能较好地描述Cd²⁺在MFA上的吸附行为,且最大吸附量为55.77 mg·g^-1.热力学研究表明,MFA对Cd²⁺的吸附是一个自发的吸热过程.MFA吸附能力优于FA,在废水处理方面有一定的应用前景.     

镉胁迫下三个萝卜栽培种蛋白质变化的双向电泳比较研究

在0.5mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺处理时,小五缨(XWY)的发芽率下降至92%,并且随着Cd²⁺浓度的增加,发芽率逐渐降低,在1和5mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺浓度处理时,发芽率分别降至83%和67%。象牙白(XYB)则在5mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺浓度时,发芽率下降。卫青(WQ)在0.05mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺浓度时,发芽率已降至83%, 1和5mmol·L^-1时则下降至58%。幼苗生长也明显受Cd²⁺处理影响,在0.05mmol·L^-1 Cd²⁺处理时, 3种栽培萝卜的幼苗生长均受到明显影响,并且随Cd²⁺浓度的增加,生长受抑加重。从发芽率和幼苗生长两种实验结果看,卫青对Cd²⁺最为敏感。双向电泳结果表明, Cd²⁺处理后3种栽培萝卜幼苗中蛋白质组分有明显变化。小五缨中, 0.1 mmol·L^-1Cd²⁺处理后,有5个蛋白质点消失, 15个新的蛋白质点被诱导产生。象牙白中, 2个蛋白质点消失, 1个蛋白质点含量减少, 13个新的蛋白质点被诱导产生。卫青中, 12个新的蛋白质点诱导产生,但没有发现蛋白质点消失现象。Cd²⁺处理后, 3种栽培萝卜中,蛋白质合成的变化与幼苗生长受抑存在明显相关性,这一实验结果对于探讨萝卜Cd²⁺害的生化机理是有重要意义的。     

盐度对卵形鲳鲹幼鱼渗透压调节和饥饿失重的影响

为探讨盐度对卵形鲳鲹(Trachinotus ovatus)渗透压调节的影响,研究了深水网箱养殖的卵形鲳鲹幼鱼鳃Na+-K+-ATP酶(NKA)活性,血浆、鳃和肾渗透压以及饥饿失重在盐度渐变条件下的反应。实验设5个盐度梯度组,分别为5、15、25、30和35。结果显示,鳃NKA活性除盐度15外都呈先下降后升高随之回落并趋于稳定的趋势,在2 d后的各时间节点随盐度变化呈"U"型分布;血浆渗透压在相同盐度下随时间延长呈先升高后下降再升高随后回落并趋于稳定,2 d后在各时间节点与盐度呈正相关关系,盐度30和35组的血浆渗透压显著高于其它盐度组(P0.05);肾脏对盐度变化的渗透调节比鳃敏感,在低盐度时(30以下),鰓和肾共同完成对渗透压的调节,在较高盐度(30以上),肾对渗透压的调节起主导作用。盐度变化对卵形鲳鲹的饥饿失重率有极显著的影响。研究表明,卵形鲳鲹幼鱼对盐度的渗透调节能力较强,在盐度5—35范围内的盐度变化均能适应,一般在1—2 d内可达到稳定,且更适于在低盐度水环境中生活。     

表面活性剂、酸雨和Cd2+复合污染对蚕豆胚根细胞核的毒性

用蚕豆根尖微核技术研究了Cd²⁺单因子以及与表面活性剂、模拟酸雨复合污染时对植物细胞的毒性作用.结果表明,Cd²⁺浓度在0～10.0mg·L^-1范围内,对蚕豆胚根细胞微核的形成有强烈的诱导作用,Cd²⁺浓度6.0mg·L^-1时的细胞微核率为13.85‰,对照组的微核率为4.53‰,此时污染影响指数(PI)为3.06;当环境中存在表面活性剂LAS1.0mg·L^-1或pH值降到4.5和3.5时,同一Cd²⁺浓度下,蚕豆根尖细胞微核率、PI降低,同时伴有核变形,细胞中颗粒物增多,胚根组织不容易分散等症状,根的生长受到抑制,说明表面活性剂、酸雨对Cd²⁺的毒性有协同作用.pH3.5的酸雨环境中Cd²⁺对蚕豆细胞的损伤程度比pH4.5酸雨环境高.在检测高浓度、强毒性污染物的致突变效应时,应作至少3个稀释倍数,找出蚕豆根尖细胞最高微核率及PI.     

可口革囊星虫对Cd2+和Hg2+的富集及其影响

采用原子吸收、原子荧光等分析检测技术,探讨了Cd²⁺、Hg²⁺在可口革囊星虫中的富集规律及其对生长与主要营养成分的影响.结果表明: 在试验设定的胁迫浓度内,可口革囊星虫体壁肌肉对Cd²⁺、Hg²⁺的富集均随胁迫时间的延长而增加,最终达到饱和浓度;环境中Cd²⁺、Hg²⁺浓度越高,富集速度越快,达到饱和的时间越短,饱和浓度也越高.可口革囊星虫体质量增长随着重金属胁迫浓度的升高而减慢,且联合胁迫的影响程度大于单一胁迫.体壁肌肉蛋白质含量随重金属胁迫浓度的增加而升高,Cd²⁺、Hg²⁺分别在0.05和0.02 mg·L^-1胁迫浓度下达到最高,然后开始降低.联合胁迫也呈同样的规律,且影响程度更大.体壁肌肉脂肪含量随重金属胁迫浓度的增加而降低,联合胁迫下降低程度更大.     

Effects of Low Salinity on Adult Behavior and Larval Performance in the Intertidal Gastropod Crepipatella peruviana (Calyptraeidae)

Shallow-water coastal areas suffer frequent reductions in salinity due to heavy rains, potentially stressing the organisms found there, particularly the early stages of development (including pelagic larvae). Individual adults and newly hatched larvae of the gastropod Crepipatella peruviana were exposed to different levels of salinity stress (32(control), 25, 20 or 15), to quantify the immediate effects of exposure to low salinities on adult and larval behavior and on the physiological performance of the larvae. For adults we recorded the threshold salinity that initiates brood chamber isolation. For larvae, we measured the impact of reduced salinity on velar surface area, velum activity, swimming velocity, clearance rate (CR), oxygen consumption (OCR), and mortality (LC50); we also documented the impact of salinity discontinuities on the vertical distribution of veliger larvae in the water column. The results indicate that adults will completely isolate themselves from the external environment by clamping firmly against the substrate at salinities ≤24. Moreover, the newly hatched larvae showed increased mortality at lower salinities, while survivors showed decreased velum activity, decreased exposed velum surface area, and decreased mean swimming velocity. The clearance rates and oxygen consumption rates of stressed larvae were significantly lower than those of control individuals. Finally, salinity discontinuities affected the vertical distribution of larvae in the water column. Although adults can protect their embryos from low salinity stress until hatching, salinities <24 clearly affect survival, physiology and behavior in early larval life, which will substantially affect the fitness of the species under declining ambient salinities.     

The combined effects of temperature and salinity on hatching success and the survival,growth, and development of the larval stages of Metapenaeus bennettae (Racek & Dall)

During the spawning season of the estuarine prawn Metapenaeus bennettae (Racek & Dall), laboratory and field experiments were conducted to examine the combined effects of temperature and salinity on hatching success of eggs and the survival, growth and development of larvae. Response surface analysis showed that optimal levels of temperature and salinity for maximum hatching success varied depending on conditions during spawning. Similarly, temperature and salinity conditions that produced maximum survival and growth of larvae depended on conditions during rearing prior to experimental temperature/salinity treatments. At the onset of feeding, larvae showed the lowest tolerance to changes in temperature and salinity. Supplementary feeding experiments in the laboratory, and survival rates in field experiments indicated that starvation was a more potent factor than the effects of temperature and salinity in determining survival through the protozoeal larval stages. Late larval stages were relatively indifferent to the effects of temperature and salinity. It is suggested that, during early development, adaptive response to the prevailing physical conditions enhances survival in an estuarine environment.     

泥鳅和白鲢胚胎不同发育时期耗氧量的研究

泥鳅和白鲢胚胎发育时的耗氧量是随着发育进程而以指数函数方式在增长,其耗氧曲线显示出卵裂期、原肠期、神经胚期、肌肉效应期以及出膜期是5个呼吸代谢水平较高的时期,其中又以原肠期与出膜期对孵化环境溶氧的需求尤为突出。胚胎在发育过程中纳入氧的快慢与强弱,都直接或间接地反映出新陈代谢的速度以及营养物质不断地被氧化、消耗和能量传递的状况。因此,鱼类胚胎发育时耗氧的高低,无疑是其胚胎发育状况的一种生理指标。     

虎斑乌贼的胚胎耗氧率

为了探究虎斑乌贼胚胎不同发育时期的耗氧率变化和几种生态因子对胚胎发育过程耗氧率的影响,试验采用封闭静水装置,对不同发育时期(12期)的耗氧率进行测定,并研究不同盐度(21、24、27、30、33)、温度(18、21、24、27、30 ℃)和pH(7.0、7.5、8.0、8.5、9.0)对胚胎4个主要发育时期(受精卵期、原肠胚期、器官形成期和内骨骼形成期)耗氧率的影响.结果表明: 胚胎各个发育时期耗氧率不同,随着发育的进程而增大,受精卵期为0.082 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1,而到原肠胚期的耗氧率显著升高,为0.279 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1,到孵化期时,耗氧率达到1.367 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1;盐度对器官形成期和内骨骼形成期的耗氧率均有显著影响(P<0.05),对受精卵期和原肠胚期影响不显著(P>0.05),当盐度为30时,4个发育时期耗氧率均达到最大值,分别为0.082、0.200、0.768和1.301 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1;温度对原肠胚期、器官形成期和内骨骼形成期的耗氧率有显著影响(P<0.05),对受精卵期无显著性影响(P>0.05),在27 ℃时,胚胎4个发育时期均达到最大值,分别为0.082、0.286、0.806和1.338 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1;而pH对4个发育时期的耗氧率均无显著性影响(P>0.05),受精卵期在pH 8.0时达到最大值,为0.116 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1,原肠胚期、器官形成期、内骨骼形成期在pH 8.5时达到最大值,分别为0.281 、0.799和1.130 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1.     

虎斑乌贼的胚胎耗氧率

为了探究虎斑乌贼胚胎不同发育时期的耗氧率变化和几种生态因子对胚胎发育过程耗氧率的影响,试验采用封闭静水装置,对不同发育时期(12期)的耗氧率进行测定,并研究不同盐度(21、24、27、30、33)、温度(18、21、24、27、30 ℃)和pH(7.0、7.5、8.0、8.5、9.0)对胚胎4个主要发育时期(受精卵期、原肠胚期、器官形成期和内骨骼形成期)耗氧率的影响.结果表明: 胚胎各个发育时期耗氧率不同,随着发育的进程而增大,受精卵期为0.082 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1,而到原肠胚期的耗氧率显著升高,为0.279 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1,到孵化期时,耗氧率达到1.367 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1;盐度对器官形成期和内骨骼形成期的耗氧率均有显著影响(P<0.05),对受精卵期和原肠胚期影响不显著(P>0.05),当盐度为30时,4个发育时期耗氧率均达到最大值,分别为0.082、0.200、0.768和1.301 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1;温度对原肠胚期、器官形成期和内骨骼形成期的耗氧率有显著影响(P<0.05),对受精卵期无显著性影响(P>0.05),在27 ℃时,胚胎4个发育时期均达到最大值,分别为0.082、0.286、0.806和1.338 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1;而pH对4个发育时期的耗氧率均无显著性影响(P>0.05),受精卵期在pH 8.0时达到最大值,为0.116 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1,原肠胚期、器官形成期、内骨骼形成期在pH 8.5时达到最大值,分别为0.281 、0.799和1.130 mg·(100 eggs)^-1·h^-1.     

Effects of temperature, salinity, and air exposure on development of the estuarine pulmonate gastropod Amphibola crenata

The primitive pulmonate snail Amphibola crenata embeds embryos within a smooth mud collar on exposed estuarine mudflats in New Zealand. Development through hatching of free-swimming veliger larvae was monitored at 15 salinity and temperature combinations covering the range of 2-30 ppt salinity and 15-25 °C. The effect of exposure to air on developmental rate was also assessed. There were approximately 18,000 embryos in each egg collar. The total number of veligers released from standard-sized egg collar fragments varied with both temperature and salinity: embryonic survival was generally higher at 15 and 20 °C than at 25 °C; moreover, survival was generally highest at intermediate salinities, and greatly reduced at 2 ppt salinity regardless of temperature. Even at 2 ppt salinity, however, about one-third of embryos were able to develop successfully to hatching. Embryonic tolerance to low salinity was apparently a property of the embryos themselves, or of the surrounding egg capsules; there was no indication that the egg collars protected embryos from exposure to environmental stress. Mean hatching times ranged between 7 and 22 days, with reduced developmental rates both at lower temperature and lower salinity. At each salinity tested, developmental rate to hatching was similar at 20 and 25 °C. At 15 °C, time to hatching was approximately double that recorded at the two higher exposure temperatures. Exposing the egg collars to air for 6-9 h each day at 20 °C (20 ppt salinity) accelerated hatching by about 24 h, suggesting that developmental rate in this species is limited by the rates at which oxygen or wastes can diffuse into and from intact collars, respectively. Similarly, veligers from egg capsules that were artificially separated from egg collars at 20 °C developed faster than those within intact egg collars. The remarkable ability of embryos of A. crenata to hatch over such a wide range of temperatures and salinities, and to tolerate a considerable degree of exposure to air, explains the successful colonization of this species far up into New Zealand estuaries.     

Oxygen consumption during embryonic development of the annual fish Nothobranchius korthausae with special reference to diapause

The oxygen consumption of Nothobranchius korthausae eggs in different developmental stages, including diapause II and III, was measured. Oxygen consumption increases exponentially during embryonic development. In diapause II and III there is a drop in oxygen consumption, which attains a minimal level in diapause II after 3 weeks and in diapause III after 2 weeks. During early development the embryos can escape from hypoxic stress by entering diapause I and II. During late embryogenesis embryos in diapause III can escape from hypoxic stress by hatching. We conclude that survival of annual fish embryos is enhanced during conditions of low oxygen concentration by reduced oxygen consumption rates during diapause.     

Expression of paternal genes controlling cytochrome oxidase activity in hybrid fish]

The heat resistance of the oxygen consumption by the mitochondria, temperature dependence of the Michaelis' constant (CM) and heat resistance of cytochrome oxidase were studied in the embryos and larvae of fish hybrids (Misgurnus X Brachydanio). The oxygen consumption by the mitochondria from the larvae of Misgurnus ceased (following the 10 min heating) at 50 degrees, from Brachydanio at 54 degrees and from the hybrids at 52 degress suggesting control of the respiratory function. CM of cytochrome oxidase has the same minimum in the larvae of Misgurnus and Brachydanio, therefore this criterion was not used to study the genetic control in their hybrids. The heat resistance of cytochrome oxidase (T50) differed in Misgurnus and Brachydanio and was of intermediate value in their hybrids. At the early stages of hybrid development T50 was of maternal type (Misgurnus) but beginning from the mid-gastrula stage T50 increased and attained the maximum prior to the hatching. Chloramphenicol did not affect the increase of T50 in hybrids, but actinomycin decreased it almost down to the level characteristic of Misgurnus. The data obtained suggest that the genetic control of cytochrome oxidase activity begins earlier than that of other studied enzymes.     

The effects of environmental factors on rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax embryos and larvae

Experiments were conducted to identify environmental factors that influence the survival of rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax during their early life stages. Developing rainbow smelt embryos and yolk-sac larvae were cultured under controlled conditions with different dissolved oxygen (DO; 1·09, 2·18, 4·37 and 6·55 mg l⁻¹, pH (4·0, 4·5, 5·0, 5·5, 6·0 and 7·0), nitrate ( 0·7, 3·6, 7·3, 14·6 and 29·2 mg l⁻¹), phosphate (0·04, 0·21, 0·42, 2·08 and 4·17 mg l⁻¹) and salinity (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30) levels. Rainbow smelt embryos were also incubated with simulated tidal salinity fluctuations (2–28), ultraviolet radiation (irradiances of 2·8, 6·2 and 5·1 W m⁻²) and under natural conditions in two rainbow smelt spawning rivers. In the laboratory, hatch was only impaired under the lowest DO and pH conditions (0 and 13% hatch, respectively) and at highest constant salinity levels (0% hatch). Larval survival was only affected by pH levels ≤5·0. The experiment that compared hatch under natural conditions was terminated when embryos became covered with silt and fungus. These results suggest that water acidification, sediment and fungal growth may affect rainbow smelt survival during their early life stages.