EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON PREFERRED AND LETHAL TEMPERATURES OF THE BLACKCHIN TILAPIA,SARATHERODON MELANOTHERON1 |
| |
| Authors: | Jay R. Stauffer Jr. David K. Vann Charles H. Hocutt |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. School of Forestry, Ferguson Hall. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802;2. Appalachian Environmental Studies, University of Maryland, Frsotburg, Maryland 21532;3. Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, University of Maryland, Cambridge, Maryland 21613. |
| |
| Abstract: | Acclimation to varying salinities did not affect the preferred temperature of Saratherodon melanotheron, which had a final preferred temperature of 33.5 C. However, fish acclimated to 25 C and 0, 15, and 30 o/oo salinities had lower lethal temperatures of 15, 13, and 15 C, respectively, and an upper lethal temperature of 37 C. The thermal zone of tolerance for fish acclimated in freshwater was 17-35 C, and was not dependent upon acclimation temperatures. Data suggest this species could expand its range in North America. |
| |
| Keywords: | exotic species salinity temperature preference lethal temperatures. |
|
|
