title: Salinity preference in hatchery-reared juvenile red drum.
abstract: Juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), reared in either 15- or 30-ppt salinity seawater, were tested to determine whether they develop preference for the salinity of the water in which they were cultured. In a two-choice test, large- and small-sized juvenile red drum chose the raceway that matched the seawater in which they were cultured over the other salinity. Additional large and small fish reared in either 15- or 30-ppt salinity water were also tested following a 4-h acclimation period that simulated the duration of transport time from the hatchery to a release site. These fish also showed preference for their original culture salinity. This observed salinity preference in juvenile red drum has implications with respect to movement or residency of hatchery-reared juvenile red drum out-planted into natural coastal systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA. dparkyn@ufl.edu
authors.forename: Daryl C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Parkyn
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Murie
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005431:Florida; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride