Effect of salinity on survival, oxygen consumption and blood physiology of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii

Abstract

The effect of salinity on the survival, oxygen consumption and blood physiology of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii (body weight 97.4 ± 1.7 g, mean ± SD) was investigated at nine different salinities of 33.4 (control), 33.1, 32.8, 32.2, 31.0, 28.7, 23.9, 14.5 and 3.8 psu, respectively. Survival and blood physiology were measured at each salinity in two separate trials of 96 and 24 hr duration, respectively. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was determined at stepwise salinity exposure (33.4→33.1→ 32.8→32.2→31.0→28.7→23.9→14.5→3.8 psu) with an interval of 24 hr for each salinity. No death of fishes were observed in the range of 33.4 to 14.5 psu, but the survival rate was reduced to 26.7% at 3.8 psu after 96 hr. The OCRs were not significantly different in the range 33.4 to 28.7 psu (p > 0.05), but significantly increased until 14.5 psu and then drastically decreased at 3.8 psu compared to the control (p < 0.05). The concentrations of plasma Na+ and Cl- were significantly lower in fish exposed at 3.8 psu compared to the control (p < 0.05). The results of this study provide evidence that S. schlegelii exposed to concentrations below 23.9 psu show significant physiological responses to tolerate salinity changes under the experimental conditions we established.