Journal
of Fish Biology 55: 189-198 (1999)
Influence
of salinity on the early development in the spined loach, Cobitis taenia
Bohlen J.
Abstract
Spined loach Cobitis
taenia developed successfully between 0.12 and 4.80 ‰ salinity. At 6.00
‰ S net production was strongly reduced, and development failed at or above
7.20 ‰. Below 0.12 ‰, net production became variable, indicating restrictive
effects. In comparison with other primary freshwater fish species C.
taenia has a low sensitivity to salinity. The upper limit for early
development was equal to the highest salinity under which C. taenia adults are found along the Baltic coast. Therefore,
salinity should not limit early development within the brackish habitats of
spined loach.
Key words: Cobitis, early development, salinity, larval ecology, environmental stress