Abstract
Migrating Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) parr (118 ± 34.4 mm) were caught close to the rivermouth of the Dieset river on Spitsbergen (79°10′N), Svalbard. When subjected to a seawater tolerance test (34 ppt at 6°C) their blood plasma osmolality and sodium and magnesium concentrations increased significantly. After 90 h of exposure, average plasma osmolality was 410 (±54.1) mOsmol. Corresponding sodium and magnesium concentrations were 207 (±35.9) mmol l−1 and 2.7 (±1.36) mmol l−1, respectively. Survival at this time was only 12.5%. When smaller fish (96 ± 26.6 mm) were exposed to seawater, mortality was 100% within 72 h. We conclude that small-sized Svalbard charr may survive only short periods in seawater. Therefore, the lack of adequate hypoosmoregulatory capacity limits their access to marine food resources.
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Received: 29 December 1997 / Accepted: 12 April 1998
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Nilssen, K., Gulseth, O. Summer seawater tolerance of small-sized Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, on Svalbard. Polar Biol 20, 95–98 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050281
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050281