Salinity effects on Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill, 1815) growth and osmoregulation

Abstract

SummaryThe Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill, 1815) is an anadromous sturgeon species, yet little is known with regard to its osmoregulatory ability and habitat use at early life stages. In order to examine whether salinity poses a physiological challenge to juvenile Atlantic sturgeon near the sizes where they may begin to move into saline habitats, growth and osmoregulatory ability were tested. Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (mean initial weight: 440 g) were acclimated to one of three salinity conditions (0, 10, or 33 ppt) representing the range of salinities they would be expected to encounter. Growth was measured over a 6-month period, and osmoregulatory ability (i.e. blood plasma osmolality and ionic concentrations) was measured after 4 months. Mean weight and length increased in all treatments, but fish in 0 and 10 ppt grew more than fish in 33 ppt. Blood plasma osmolality was regulated at similar levels regardless of salinity. Therefore, juvenile Atlantic sturgeon have the physiological capability to move between salinity habitats, but grow faster in low salinities.

Salinity-induced changes to the survival, growth and glycogen distribution in the early fry stages of silver barb,Barbodes gonionotus(Bleeker, 1850)

“…Finally, elevated salinities were shown to increase the condition factor of the silver barb early fry, and a similar trend has been found with tilapias ( Tilapia zillii ) and ( Oreochromis urolepis ) (Nehemia, Maganira, & Rumisha, ) as well as Atlantic sturgeon ( Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus ) (Allen et al., ). This finding, along with significantly lower growth starting from 3 ppt and above, may potentially compromise the fitness of silver barb early fry, such as those in freshwater ecosystems experiencing salinization.…”

“…Maganira, & Rumisha, 2012) as well as Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) (Allen et al, 2014). This finding, along with significantly lower growth starting from 3 ppt and above, may potentially compromise the fitness of silver barb early fry, such as those in freshwater ecosystems experiencing salinization.…”

Movement and Out‐Migration of Juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon in Georgia, USA

“…; ASSRT ; Niklitschek and Secor ; Allen et al. ; Moberg and DeLucia ). Water quality data collected at net sites suggest that southern sturgeon may be tolerant of relatively low DO conditions.…”

Characterization of Na+ transport to gain insight into the mechanism of acid-base and ion regulation in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

“…Sturgeon belong to the order Acipenseriformes, which are believed to have diverged from the Neopterygii (which includes teleosts) approximately 343-372 million years ago (Betancur-R et al, 2013;Hedges and Kumar, 2009).White sturgeon inhabit river systems along the Pacific coast of North America containing dilute freshwater, where Na + concentrations in the Fraser (Swain et al, 1998) and Columbia (City of Trail, 2013; City of Revelstoke, 2010)Rivers, for example, may be <80 µmol 1 -1 . Similar to salmonids, sturgeon spawn in freshwater and juveniles are believed to remain in freshwater for several months or years (McEnroe and Cech, 1985), but depending on the species may spend some of their life in seawater; salinity tolerance appears to be associated with fish size, but there are likely to be considerable differences between populations (Allen et al, 2014;Mojazi Amiri et al, 2009).…”