Acclimation of the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus to Decreased Salinity at the Blastula and Gastrula Stages: Its Effect on the Desalination Resistance of Larvae at Subsequent Stages of Development

Apostichopus (= Stichopus) japonicus blastulae and gastrulae were acclimated for 18 h to salinities of 32 (control), 24 and 22 (the lower limit of the range of tolerance), and 20 (below the range of tolerance). Acclimation to 20 resulted in the appearance of teratic larvae, most of which subsequently died. Acclimation to 24, 22, and 20 led to a shift in the range of tolerance of the larvae at further stages of development. With a decrease in salinity, acclimated larvae developed more successfully than unacclimated larvae. Acclimated larvae attained the pentactula stage and settled at a salinity range of 32–20; unacclimated larvae, at 32–22. At different stages of development, acclimated larvae survived greater decreases in salinity than unacclimated larvae. The acclimation effects could be traced up to metamorphosis and settling, i.e., two weeks after the end of the acclimation process.     

The Reaction of the Starfish Asterias amurensisand Patiria pectinifera (Asteroidea) from Vostok Bay (Sea of Japan) to a Salinity Decrease

The reactions of the starfish Asterias amurensis and Patiria pectinifera that live in Vostok Bay at the salinity of 32–33 to a salinity decrease were studied under laboratory conditions. The lower limits of the desalination tolerance range of A. amurensis and P. pectinifera were, respectively, 24 and 20. A. amurensis proved to be less resistant to desalination. Under experimental conditions, all specimens of this species survived the salinity of 22, while those of P. pectinifera tolerated 18. At the same time, A. amurensis responded more actively than P. pectinifera to unfavorable changes in the environment. Turned to their dorsal side and exposed to a salinity of 16 to 32, the former reverted to the normal position within a shorter time than the latter. Being a more euryhaline species, P. pectinifera endured a salinity decrease to 6 or 8 over, respectively, 21 or 28 h. However, only 30–40% of all specimens could recover locomotory activity 12 or 8.5 h after being placed into water of normal salinity.     

Effects of salinity on metabolism and life history characteristics of Daphnia magna

In the Baltic Sea area, the cladoceran Daphnia magna is commonly found in brackish water rockpools and it has been suggested that salinity is one of the niche dimensions that affects the distribution of the species. The salinity tolerance of D. magna was studied both in physiological and life history experiments. The experimental salinities were freshwater, 4S and 8S. The highest respiration and ammonium excretion rates were measured in the freshwater treatment with decreasing respiration and ammonium excretion rates at higher salinities. The lowest O/N ratio (oxygen consumption to ammonium excretion), describing the metabolic status of an organism, was obtained at 8S, although the only significant differences were detected when comparing to 4S treatments. Individual growth rate, reproductive output and population growth rate were highest at 4S. At 8S growth and reproduction were reduced as compared to freshwater and 4S. The life history parameters in the performed experiments indicated higher fitness (expressed as r) as well as more favourable conditions for growth and reproduction at 4S, whereas the O/N ratio was more difficult to interpret and, in this case, gave a less clear picture of the salinity influence.     

Adaptive Responses of the Larvae of Cirripede Barnacle Peltogasterella gracilis to Changes in Seawater Temperature and Salinity

The responses of the larvae of the cirripede barnacle Peltogasterella gracilis (Crustacea: Cirripedia: Rhizocephala) that parasitizes the hermit crab Pagurus pectinatus to different combinations of seawater temperature (25, 22, 20, 16, and 12°C) and salinity (from 34 to 8) were studied in a laboratory. The nauplii of P. gracilis completed the entire cycle of development at 22 to 12°C in a narrow range of salinity (from 34 to 28), which agrees well with the environmental conditions of the crab hosts' habitat. At favorable temperatures (22–20°C) and salinity (34–28), the nauplii reached the cypris stage in 88 ± 2 h, while at 12°C and 34–30, the naupliar development took 156 ± 5 h. The cypris larvae appeared more resistant compared with the nauplii, in terms of changes in both the temperature and salinity of seawater. They actively swam at all experimental temperatures and in the salinity range of 34–18. At temperatures (22–16°C) and salinities (34–24) favorable for the cyprids, their longevity in plankton equaled 6–10 days. Thus, the nauplii of P. gracilis is the more vulnerable stage of development in the life cycle of this parasitic barnacle. The tolerance against changes in environmental factors is due to the adaptive capabilities of parasitic larvae and the environmental conditions in the habitats of its host, a typical marine crustacean. The insignificant parasitization rate of the hermit crab by its rhizocephalan parasite may be explained by the death of the nauplii of P. gracilis, which occurs when they enter to the surface water layer.     

Salinity requirements of a marine Thiobacillus intermedius

Thiobacillus intermedius was isolated from a salt marsh sediment with an interstitial water salinity of 30. This bacterium was cultured in a chemostat for 9 months. The optimum salinity for CO₂ fixation by this Thiobacillus was 10, much less than the salinity of its natural environment. Respiration of cultures increased at high salinities and the pathway of thiosulfate oxidation was altered so that polythionates accumulated rapidly. One ecological conclusion from these results is that in nature this bacterium probably grows at its maximum possible rate only rarely.     

Experimental effects of elevated salinity on three benthic invertebrates in Pyramid Lake,Nevada

Salinity of Pyramid Lake increased from 3.7 to 5.5 between 1933 and 1980. Concern over future reductions in overall species richness prompted experiments to assess responses of dominant lake organisms to elevated salinity. Salinity tolerances of three important benthic invertebrates, Hyalella aztecta, Chironomus utahensis, and Heterocypris sp., were tested in controlled laboratory bioassays and also in a semi-natural environment consisting of large (47 m³) mesocosms.Densities of H. azteca in mesocosms were significantly lower at salinities of 8.0 and 11.0 compared with 5.6 controls in year one, but not in 8.5 salinity mesocosms in year two. The 96-h LC₅₀ for H. azteca was high at 19.5. Short-term mortalities of C. utahensis were 100% at salinities of 13.3 and greater. Fifty-seven percent fewer larvae matured from third to fourth instar at 8.9 than at 5.5 salinity in 17 day subacute bioassays. Furthermore, larval chironomid densities and emergence of adults from mesocosms were significantly reduced at salinities of 8.0 and higher compared with controls. Mortality of Heterocypris sp. was 50% at a salinity of 18.6 in laboratory bioassays and populations in mesocosms ranged between 40 and 100% lower at salinities of 8.0 and 11.0 than in controls.Multiple generation mesocosm experiments indicated all three invertebrates were more sensitive to elevated salinity than results of short-term bioassays. Our studies suggest populations of these invertebrates may be reduced from present levels if Pyramid Lake's salinity were to double, although none are expected to be extirpated. Food habit shifts and reduced production of lake fishes are likely consequences of salinity-induced disruption in the benthic invertebrate forage base.     

Influence of salinity on the rates of oxygen consumption in two species of freshwater fishes,Phoxinus erythrogaster (family Cyprinidae), and Fundulus catenatus (family Fundulidae)

A dye process in a textile plant in southern Kentucky (USA) produces large quantities of saline waste-water which eventually enter Lake Cumberland via a municipal sewage treatment plant on Lily Creek. The impact of hypersaline conditions on two fish species native to the Cumberland River drainage system, redbelly dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster) and northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus), was assessed. These species were subjected to salinities of 0, 4, and 10 after which routine oxygen consumtpion values were determined. Significant correlations of salinity with oxygen consumption were demonstrated for both species with P. erythrogaster showing greater overall impact of salinity on metabolic rate.     

Physiological responses of the early zoeal stages of Palaemon pandaliformis Stimpson and Palaemon northropi (Rankin) to salinity variation

The effect of salinity variation (0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35S) on survival, moulting and respiratory metabolism of the early zoeal stages of the shrimps Palaemon pandaliformis and P. northropi from the northern coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil is investigated. Freshly hatched larvae were maintained at 20 °C, in each salinity for a maximum of seven days. Oxygen consumption measurements were made at 20 °C for each salinity using Cartesian diver microrespirometers. In 0S, all P. northropi zoeae died after 24 h while 24% of the P. pandaliformis zoeae survived until 4 days. Zoeae of both species survived poorly in 7S, the best survival for the two species (90%) being registered in 28%.S. Palaemon northropi zoeae did not survive 35S while 45% survival was recorded for P. pandaliformis zoeae in this medium after seven days. Moulting did not occur in zoeae of either species in 0%.S, nor in P. northropi in 7S. The metabolism-salinity curve for P. pandaliformis zoea I is very stable over the range 0–21S while that for P. northropi exhibits complete salinity independence from 21–35 S. Thus, while the early zoeal stages, at least, are conspecific, both developing in the same environment as part of the coastal zooplankton community, they clearly maintain distinct physiological characteristics. The data presented possibly reflect genetic adaptations to the adult biotope already manifested in the first zoeae.     

Effect of extreme salinity conditions on the survival of Mytilopsis sallei Recluz (Pelecypoda)

Effects of salinity conditions, ranging from fresh water to 80, on the survival of marine molluscan fouling species, Mytilopsis sallei Recluz, have been studied in the laboratory. The results show that the species exhibits a wide tolerance to different salinity conditions including freshwater, showing normal activity up to 50 beyond which the higher salt concentration had a lethal effect. The effect of various salinity conditions on spawning has also been examined. The significance of wide range tolerance to salinity on the fouling in seawater cooling systems is discussed.     

Combined Effects of Seawater Temperature and Salinity on Development of the Larvae of the Rhizocephalan Peltogaster reticulatus (Crustacea: Cirripedia)

The effects of seawater temperature (12, 16, 20, 22, and 25°C) and salinity (of 8 to 34) in different combinations on the larvae of the rhizocephalan Peltogaster reticulatus (Crustacea: Cirripedia), a parasite of the hermit crab Pagurus proximus, were examined. The development of P. reticulatus is comprised of five naupliar stages and one cypris stage. Nauplii have a specific structure, the flotation collar encircling the dorsal side of the larval body. Larvae lack the pigmented nauplius eye, and they show no positive phototaxis. Successful naupliar development occurred in temperature and salinity ranges of 16–25°C and 20 to 34, respectively; but all nauplii died at 12°C and 16. The duration of each naupliar stage increased under lowering of the seawater temperature. At 22–25°C and 26–28, the entire development cycle was completed in 72–80 h; and at 16°C and 20 it lasted 153 h. The cypris larvae showed a greater resistance to decreased salinity in comparison with the nauplii. At temperatures of 16–25°C and salinities of 14 to 34, the lifespan of cyprids was 6 to 12 days, and it decreased at increasing temperature.     

Growth rates and the salinity response of an Antarctic ice microflora community

Summary An ice microflora community collected from the bottom of seasonal pack-ice off the Amery Ice Shelf, Antarctica, was grown at salinities which varied from 11.5 to 34. The response exhibited by the community and by individual species was characterized by an initial lag phase-adaptation period followed by a short period of exponential growth. Doubling rates based on changes in chlorophyll a had a range from 0.05 to 0.23 day^-1 during the time required to reach maximum chlorophyll a concentration and a range of 0.04 to 0.42 day^-1 during a period of exponential growth. Exponential growth rates of individual species ranged from 0.2 to 1.0 doublings day^-1. Growth occurred at all salinities above 11.5. Community growth rates increased with increasing salinity, and the growth-salinity response of most species was shifted toward higher salinities suggesting that this Antarctic ice microalgal community was adapted to the ambient salinity regime: 34.     

Physiological responses of Pterocladia and Gelidium (Gelidiales,Rhodophyta) from the Azores,Portugal

Manometric studies were conducted on Pterocladia capillacea, Gelidium latifolium and Gelidium spinulosum from the Azores, Portugal to determine optimal values of temperature, light and salinity for growth. Physiological responses were considered in relation to vertical distribution patterns of these species commonly observed throughout the Azores. Optimal parameters for the growth of Pterocladia capillacea, Gelidium latifolium and G. spinulosum were 17 to 25 °C, a photon flux density between 200 and 300 µmol m^–2 s^–1 and salinities of 25 to 35.     

A new genus of alonine chydorid cladocerans from athalassic saline waters of New South Wales,Australia

A new genus (Celsinotum) and three new species are described from intermittent athalassic saline waters in the Paroo region of northwest New South Wales, which have TDS varying from 2.8 to 14.0 g l^-1. The species are large, thin, high-bodied, and have a pronounced keel on the shell but not on the head. The marginal armature of the postabdomen consists entirely of clusters of fine spinules. Most strikingly, the males have 12 terminal aesthetascs on the antennule, and in addition have 5 or 6 equally long accessory aesthetascs arising laterally. Alona taraporevalae from India presumably also has this character, but a comparison of the two species indicates they are not closely related.The taxa bear a general similarity to Alona diaphana from Australia, but a close comparison shows that they, too, are unrelated. A. diaphana has a prominent spine arising from the basal segment of the antennal exopod, the two IDL (= inner distal lobe) setae on trunklimb I have a much coarser setulation distally than in Celsinotum, and on the postabdomen the postanal portion is always considerably longer than the anal, and the marginal armament consists of single setae distally and clusters of only a few setae proximally. Besides, the species is smaller, the body is wider and less high, and the shell although weakly ridged is not keeled. The male has 9 terminal aesthetascs and no accessory lateral ones.In athalassic saline waters around the world the number of anomopod species declines negative exponentially in relation to salinity. Many of the freshwater species persist into the 3 to 10 range without any difficulty, some occur in abundance up to 30, and a few even extend into the hypersaline range. Chydorids, though, except for a very few species, do not tolerate salinities higher than about 15, and none of them seem adapted to these salinities and confined to them. Celsinotum, though, possibly is so adapted, as it did not occur in other basins of the region with lower salinities, and it is not presently known from other regions.Having different but closely related congeneric taxa in nearby lakes of the same region seems surprising. The three species of Celsinotum are very similar in most details of morphology, but they vary significantly in body proportions, the number of denticle clusters on the postanal portion of the postabdomen, and in such seemingly minor details as the amount of expansion of the labral plate. Such taxonomic differentiation, which has been observed in other groups of organisms as well, is believed to have arisen from the extreme temporal isolation of these waterbodies, those in the Paroo region normally containing water only once every 5 to 20 years.     

Osmoregulation in two aquatic oligochaetes from habitats with different salinity and comparison to other annelids

The osmoregulatory capacity of two oligochaete species, Enchytraeus albidus Henle, 1837, and Heterochaeta costata (Claparède, 1863), was investigated by direct measurements of the osmolality of the coelomic fluid. Terrestrial and marine (28 S) populations of Enchytraeus albidus and a brackish water population (14 S) of H. costata were used in the study. The range of salinity acclimation investigated was 0–40. The response to osmotic stress was measured (a) after a long-term maintenance (>14 days) in various salinities (E. albidus only), and (b) after a hyperosmotic shock as a short-term time-course sequence. The rate of water loss following a hyperosmotic shock was measured for E. albidus. Long-term acclimation. E. albidus maintained a hyperosmotic coelomic fluid over all salinities tested. In low salinities the osmolality of the coelomic fluid of the marine population was significantly higher than that of the terrestrial population. Possible genetic discrepancies or long-term acclimation may account for this difference. The coelomic fluid of H. costata was hyperosmotic at 15%. S and isoosmotic at 30 S. Short-term acclimation (hyperosmotic shock). Both species investigated, kept at 15 S and then exposed to a salinity of 30, showed fast responses: within the first two hours the internal concentrations were adjusted to the new external condition with only small subsequent changes. Regulation of the body-water content after an exposure to a hyperosmotic shock was much slower: individuals of terrestrial E. albidus, acclimated for two weeks to either 0 or 15 S, had the same water content; hence, they showed a 100% regulation. However, after exposure to 30 S, a 100% regulation was still not attained 4 days after the hyperosmotic shock. Enchytraeus albidus is capable of actively reducing water loss following the hyperosmotic shock: the observed loss of water was only 40% of that expected for a passive osmotic flow. The observed reactions are compared with those in other annelids. It seems that an active transport of ions combined with a changeable permeability of the body wall play a major role in the regulation of body fluids.     

Influence of external salinity on the osmolality of xylem sap,leaf tissue and leaf gland secretion of the mangrove<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Laguncularia racemosa</Emphasis> (L.) Gaertn

This study assessed if mature leaves of Laguncularia racemosa were able to demonstrate salt secretion, and if the magnitude of secretion was a function of soil salinity. Thus, salinity influence on the osmolality of leaf tissue, xylem sap and leaf secretion was assessed in field and glasshouse experiments. As salinity increased, solutes were accumulated in sufficient quantity to decrease osmotic potential over the whole range of water potential. In the field, xylem osmolality (mol m^–3) increased with salinity from 32.4±2.9 at 17 to 38.2±0.6 at 28. Similarly, in the glasshouse, xylem sap osmolality (mol m^–3) increased from 33.4±1.8 (15) to 40.6±1.5 (30). Changes in Na⁺ concentration explained about 51–58% of increase in xylem osmolality. Rates of secretion (mmol m^–2 day^–1) in the field increased from 0.80±0.12 (17) to 1.16±0.14 (28), and in the glasshouse the secretion increased from 0.73±0.07 (15) to 1.25±0.07 (30). The Na⁺ accounted for 40–53% of total secretion. This study presented evidence of the capability of mature leaves of L. racemosa to secrete salt for the first time, and that the rates of secretion were enhanced as soil salinity increased.     

Über den Einfluß des Salzgehaltes auf die photosynthetische Leistung verschiedener Standortformen vonDelesseria sanguinea undFucus serratus

Zusammenfassung 1. Es wurde untersucht, welchen Einfluß kurzfristige und langfristige Salzgehaltsveränderungen auf verschiedene Standortformen der RotalgeDelesseria sanguinea und der BraunalgeFucus serratus haben. Als Kriterium des Lebenszustandes wurde die photosynthetische Leistung gewählt. Die Algen wurden folgenden Salzgehaltskonzentrationen ausgesetzt: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 S.2. Die Versuche ergaben, daß kurzfristige Konzentrationsveränderungen (30 min) — sowohl Erniedrigung als auch Erhöhung des Salzgehaltes — die photosynthetische Leistung stimulieren. Ein langfristiger Aufenthalt (24 Std) unter den veränderten Bedingungen bewirkt, sofern diese innerhalb der Toleranzgrenzen der Algen liegen, einen Ausgleich der anfänglichen Stimulation. Außerhalb der Toleranzgrenzen liegende Konzentrationen rufen nach der Stimulation eine Leistungsdepression hervor. Bei Rückübertragung in den Ausgangssalzgehalt sind die Depressionen teilweise reversibel.3. Im hypotonischen Milieu verhalten sich die Delesserien der verschiedenen Standorte (Helgoland, Kattegat, Kieler Bucht) gleich: in 5 S treten starke Depressionen auf. Nordsee-Delesserien sind im hypertonischen Milieu weniger empfindlich, sie zeigen noch bei 50 S eine gesteigerte photosynthetische Leistung. In diesem Bereich sind die Ostseeformen schon schwer geschädigt. Am empfindlichsten gegenüber allen Konzentrationsänderungen ist die BrackwasserformDelesseria sanguinea formalanceolata aus der Kieler Bucht.4.Fucus serratus aus dem Litoral von Helgoland zeichnet sich im Gegensatz zu der submers lebenden Form der Ostsee, die sich ähnlich wieDelesseria verhält, in allen untersuchten Konzentrationsbereichen durch eine unveränderte photosynthetische Leistung aus. Die beiden Standortformen vonFucus entsprechen gemäß der Einteilung vonMontfort (1931) dem resistenten Typ und dem Stimulations-Depressionstyp.

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On the influence of salinity on photosynthetic performance of various ecotypes ofDelesseria sanguinea andFucus serratus

The phaeophyceanF. serratus and the rhodophyceanD. sanguinea came from the North Sea (30 S) and the Baltic Sea (15 S). The activity of photosynthesis was taken as a criterion of algae vitality. Experiments were made in salinity concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 S. Thirty-minute exposures to sub- or supranormal salinities stimulate photosynthesis. Within their physiological salinity ranges the algae assume normal photosynthetic rates within 24 hours. Extreme salinities cause a reduction in photosynthetic activity; this reduction mostly disappears, however, after re-transfer into normal salinity conditions. At 5 S all test individuals ofDelesseria from different locations exhibit a reduction of photosynthetic rates. At 50 SDelesseria from the North Sea still show increased activity, whileDelesseria from the Baltic are already severely damaged. The brackish-water formD. sanguinea (formalanceolata) is most sensitive to salinity variations. The photosynthetic activity ofF. serratus from Helgoland does not vary in all salinities employed. The range of test salinities corresponds to that of the habitat in the littoral zone, where high salinities occur during air exposure, and low salinities, during rainfall. By contrast, inF. serratus from the Baltic Sea occurring only in the sublittoral zone, photosynthetic rates are similarly affected by salinity as inDelesseria.

     

Genotypes of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Mytilus</Emphasis> from waters of different salinity around Bergen,Norway

Samples of Mytilus were collected at eight sites located in and around Bergen, Norway, and analysed by starch gel electrophoresis for the two highly polymorphic loci PGM* and PGI*. The genotype distribution and allele frequencies varied significantly among samples from the different locations. The variations were most significant between localities with full strength seawater and brackish water, and this difference was so large that it indicated the presence of two populations, possibly representing two species. The brackish water mussels may represent the species Mytilus trossulus, while the species Mytilus edulis may be distributed on the outer shores where salinity is normally around 30. Differential survival, as a result of specific adaptation to different salinities, may be the mechanism that maintains the populations (or species) and prevents gene flow between them.Communicated by H.-D. Franke     

Distribution and abundance of littoral benthic fauna in Canadian prairie saline lakes

The littoral benthos of 18 lakes in Alberta and Saskatchewan ranging in salinity from 3 to 126 (g1^–1 TDS) were investigated twice, in the spring and in the summer of 1986. Multiple Ekman dredge samples were taken at water depths of about 0.5, 1.0 and 2 metres in each transect. Two to three transects were used in each lake according to its estimated limnological diversity for a total of 114 stations. A total of 76 species was present varying from 29–31 species in the three lakes of lowest salinity (means of 3.1–5.55) to only 2 species in lakes exceeding 100. Species richness decreased rapidly in salinities greater than 15.Biomass maximum mean of 10.91 g m^–2 dry weight (maximum 63.0 g m^–2) occurred in culturally eutrophic Humboldt Lake (3.1) but one third as great in other low salinity lakes. However, biomass again increased to about 4.5 gm^–2 in two lakes of 15 As the salinity increased still further biomass declined steadily until a minimum of 0.0212 g m^–2 was recorded in most saline Aroma Lake (mean 119). Summer biomass (11 lakes) was greater than spring biomass (4 lakes) because some groups such as amphipods, corixids and ostracods became more abundant in summer. Wet weight biomass averaged 15.8 of dry weight biomass.Seasonality (spring or summer), sediment texture and organic matter content, water depth, pH, salinity (TDS) and the presence of aquatic plants ( plant cover) were considered in the matrix involving species dry weight biomass at each of 117 stations. TWINSPAN classification of the samples yielded a dendrogram with 18 indicator species. Successive dichotomies divided these indicator species into four main lake groups based on salinity, i.e., Group I: 3–10 (Gammarus, Glyptotendipes I, Chironomus cf. plumosus), Group II: 10–38%. (Hyalella, Enallagma,Bezzia), Group III: 38–63 (Hygrotus salinarius, Cricotopus ornatus), Group IV: >63 (Dolichopodidae, Ephydra hians). Each of these main groups was subdivided into smaller groups of lakes based on factors such as pH, seasonality (spring or summer species dominance), organic matter and plant cover. Depth of samples played no apparent role.     

Changes in Resistance to Salinity and Temperature in Some Species of Polychaetes from the White Sea in Early Ontogenesis

We studied the effects of different salinities on plankton larvae of some polychaetes in the White Sea. It has been found that the salinity resistance of Alitta virens (Nereidae) increases during ontogenesis. Successful fertilization and further larval development in this species occur at the salinity of 22 to 34; embryos taken into the experiment at the stage of 32 blastomeres, trochophores, and early nektochaetes could survive and normally develop at the salinity of 16–32, 14–45, and 12–45 respectively. The rate of settling and metamorphosis in late nektochaetes of A. virens at normal or lowered (down to 14) salinity is dependent on temperature in the range of 5 to 23°C. It is found that the larvae of Harmothoe imbricata (Polynoidae) show the greatest salinity resistance at the stage of nektochaeta, whose lower limit of salinity is 14. Later larval stages of these species can survive in a wide range of salinity due to the development of a provisory nephridial system. The eurybionty of larvae of Spirorbis spirorbis ready for metamorphosis was higher than that in the larvae of Circeus spirillum (Spirorbidae). Under salinity reduced down to 10 the larvae of S. spirorbis die in 8–14 days, whereas more stenohaline larvae of C. spirillum die by the 3-rd day of the experiment. At water temperatures under 5°C the survival of S. spirorbis was the highest at three examined values of salinity, whereas C. spirillum showed the highest survival only under normal salinity.     

Reproductive performance of the desert pupfish (Cyprinodon n. nevadensis) in relation to salinity

Synopsis The reproductive performance of the desert pupfish, Cyprinodon n. nevadensis, was tested by exposing breeding pairs to a range of salinities from 0.1 to over 40 In terms of eggs g^–1 body weight day^–1 , eggs per spawning and embryo viability. reproductive performance was optimal at 10 Performance decreased above and below 11 producing a plateau of statistically equivalent reproductive performance from 0.2 to 20 The upper salinity limit placed on reproduction is the tolerance of the eggs, since a few eggs are laid above 20but they do not hatch. These small fish probably never experience the upper salinity limit for reproduction in their native habitat. The tolerance limits for reproduction are compared with a lethal range from less than 0.1 to 53in a 96 h LD-50 test.