Research Product

Eggs of the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) were artificially fertilized and maintained at temperatures from 15° to 35°C and in salinities from 0 to 35 o/oo to determine efficient culture conditions. Fertilization was not affected by temperature or salinity ranges chosen, but hatching success was greatest (x2; a=0.01) at a temperature range of 24° to 35°C and a salinity range of 15 to 30 o/oo. Artificially fertilized sheepshead minnow eggs were exposed to logarithmic concentrations of Aroclor® 1254 (10.0 to 0.1 µg/liter) in seawater averaging 30°C and 24 o/oo in a flow-through bioassay. Fertilization was not affected but significantly fewer embryos developed in the 10.0 µg/liter concentration, and fewer fry survived in concentrations greater than 0.1 µg/liter. Fry were more susceptible to Aroclor® 1254 than were embryos, juveniles, or adults.