Effect of DDT on Temperature Selection by Young Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: Ogilvie, D. M., Anderson, J. M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1965
• Subjects: General Medicine; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f65-046; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f65-046

Exposure of Atlantic salmon underyearlings for 24 hr to sublethal doses of DDT, ranging from 5 to 50 ppb, resulted in changes in the selected temperature. Low doses produced a downwards shift in the selected temperature whereas higher doses produced an upwards shift. The DDT effect appeared to be more marked for warm-acclimated fish (17 °C) than for cold-acclimated ones (8 °C). In addition exposure of warm-acclimated fish to 10 ppb DDT or more appeared to make them extremely sensitive to cold water and there was some evidence to suggest that the lower lethal limit may have been raised. It is suggested that DDT may interfere with the normal thermal acclimation mechanism.