McCormick, S.D.
and Regish, A.M.
2018
"Effects of
ocean acidification
on salinity tolerance
and seawater growth
of Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar smolts"
Journal of Fish Biology 93: 560-566
NOTE:
McCormick and Regish, 2018)
claim little is known about
the potential impacts
of ocean acidification
on anadromous fish species.
Anadromous fishes,
such as salmonids,
have complex life cycles
involving migration
between freshwater
and marine environments.
Because of their
rapid movement
between these
diverse environments,
some have speculated
these species may be
especially at risk
to ocean acidification,
which could
negatively impact
their ability to acclimate
to the changing conditions.
McCormick and Regish examined
"the effect of
future ocean acidification
on the salinity tolerance and
early seawater growth
of Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar smolts."
SUMMARY:
The analysis revealed that
"ocean acidification
will not
negatively affect
the survival and
ion regulatory ability
[and, hence, salinity
tolerance] of
S. salar smolts,"
McCormick and Regish add that
"rather than have
a detrimental effect,
ocean acidification
conditions may
actually improve
the growth of S. salar
in the first 2 weeks
after seawater exposure."
DETAILS:
Their experiment was conducted
in a laboratory under controlled
conditions where plasma ion
and osmolality levels
were measured 24 hours
following the transfer of fish
from fresh water
to 32 ppt seawater
under normal (8.12)
or reduced (7.72)
pH treatment regimes.
Mean specific growth rates
of the smolts
were then measured
over the next 17 days
following the transfer
into the 32 ppt seawater.
With respect to the growth
of S. salar in the first 2 weeks
after seawater exposure,
the chart shows the mean
specific growth rates
of the fish inhabiting
the two seawater pH regimes,
revealing 40% higher
specific growth rates
of Atlantic salmon
in the ocean acidification
treatment , compared to
ambient seawater pH.
