The Influence of Salinity on the Growth of Juvenile Shortnose Sturgeon
P.L. Jarvis, J.S. Ballantyne, W.E. Hogans-2001
North American Journal of Aquaculture, 63(4): 272-276
Abstract:
The shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum
is a promising aquaculture candidate, but optimal culture conditions remain
to be defined. Given that salinity is known to affect the growth performance
of fish, we examined the effect of salinity on the growth of juvenile
shortnose sturgeon in aquaculture. Because the behavior and consequently the
salinity exposure of juveniles in the wild is largely unknown, the optimal
culture salinity for growth of juvenile shortnose sturgeon is difficult to
predict. Juveniles (age, 16 months; mean weight, 273 g) were reared at four
salinities (0, 5, 10, and 20‰) for 10 weeks at 18°C. Fish were fed a
commercial salmon feed (49% crude protein, 20% crude fat, 4% crude fiber)
continuously at a rate of 0.75% of their body weight per day. Weight gain
and feed conversion rate (FCR) were significantly (P < 0.01)
affected by salinity. Fish reared at 0‰ showed significantly more weight
gain and greater FCR than the fish raised at all other salinities. Fish
reared at 20‰ exhibited the poorest growth. Thus, we conclude that
salinity may compromise the growth of juvenile shortnose sturgeon and
suggest that, in commercial operations, salinity should be 0‰.