Synopsis
The reproductive performance of the desert pupfish, Cyprinodon n. nevadensis, was tested by exposing breeding pairs to a range of salinities from 0.1 to over 40‰ In terms of eggs g−1 body weight day−1 , eggs per spawning and embryo viability. reproductive performance was optimal at 10‰ Performance decreased above and below 11 producing a plateau of statistically equivalent reproductive performance from 0.2 to 20‰ The upper salinity limit placed on reproduction is the tolerance of the eggs, since a few eggs are laid above 20but they do not hatch. These small fish probably never experience the upper salinity limit for reproduction in their native habitat. The tolerance limits for reproduction are compared with a lethal range from less than 0.1 to 53in a 96 h LD-50 test.
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Gerking, S.D., Lee, R.M. Reproductive performance of the desert pupfish (Cyprinodon n. nevadensis) in relation to salinity. Environ Biol Fish 5, 375–378 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005190
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005190