THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON THE SURVIVAL OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF FISH IN LOW TENSIONS OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN

The resistance to low tensions of dissolved oxygen over periods ranging from less than a day to a week was determined for rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdnerii Richardson), perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.), roach ( Rutilus rutilus (L.)), and mirror carp, a domestic form of the common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) at 10°, 16° and 20°C., tench ( Tinea tinea (L.)) at 10° and 16°C., dace ( Leuciscus leuciscus (L.)) at 16° and 20°C., chub ( Squalius cephalus (L.)) at 20°C., and bleak ( Alburnus alburnus (L.)) at 16°C.
At each temperature period of survival decreased with fall in oxygen tension.
Rise in temperature between 10° and 20°C. reduced resistance to lack of oxygen of all species except rainbow trout, in which there was no significant difference between resistance at 16° and 20°C. Rise in temperature between 10° and 16°C. did, however, lower resistance considerably.
Tench were the most resistant to lack of oxygen and, in general, trout were the most susceptible. At 20°C. mirror carp required a higher tension of oxygen to enable them to survive for a week than did rainbow trout, but for shorter periods could withstand much lower tensions than rainbow trout; at 10° and 16°C. their resistance was intermediate between that of tench and rainbow trout.