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Salinity tolerances of four species of fish from the Murray-Darling River system

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Abstract

The salinity tolerances of four species of small fishes native to the Murray-Darling river system were measured. Slow acclimation LD50s were 43.7 ± 1.7 g L−1 for Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum Gunther, 38.0 ± 1.1 g L−1 for Hypseleotris klunzingeri (Ogilby), 58.7 ± 0.9 g L−1 for Retropinna semoni (Weber), and 29.8 ± 0.7 g L−1 for Melanotaenia splendida (Castelnau). The salinity tolerance of M. splendida was also measured by direct transfer, providing an estimated LD50 (infinite exposure time) of 20.8 g L−1, ∼ 70% of the slow acclimation value. Results suggest that at least adults of the species studied are under no threat from present or foreseeable salinities in the Murray River.

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Williams, M.D., Williams, W.D. Salinity tolerances of four species of fish from the Murray-Darling River system. Hydrobiologia 210, 145–150 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014328

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