Development and survival of embryos and alevins of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., continuously exposed to acidic levels of pH, from fertilization

Embryos and subsequent alevins of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were incubated continuously from fertilization to a time 40 days after hatching at six levels of pH, 6.8 (control), 5.0, 4.5, 4.2, 4.0, and 3.7, at 5–6 °C. Embryos had an LL 50 of pH 3.9. The rate of embryonal development was not...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Zoology
Main Authors: Daye, P. G., Garside, E. T.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1979
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z79-222
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z79-222
Description
Summary:Embryos and subsequent alevins of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were incubated continuously from fertilization to a time 40 days after hatching at six levels of pH, 6.8 (control), 5.0, 4.5, 4.2, 4.0, and 3.7, at 5–6 °C. Embryos had an LL 50 of pH 3.9. The rate of embryonal development was not retarded by these levels. The LL 50 for alevins was pH 4.3. Externally deformed alevins were few and not related in frequency to particular levels of pH. Populations of Atlantic salmon will decline and ultimately disappear from freshwater habitats whenever the level of pH approaches 4.5 for an extended period.