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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182372
Title: ACUTE TOLERANCE OF JUVENILE FLORIDA POMPANO, TRACHINOTUS CAROLINUS L. TO AMMONIA AND NITRITE AT VARIOUS SALINITIES

Author
item Weirich, Charles
item Riche, Martin

Submitted to: Aquaculture Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/23/2006
Publication Date: 3/23/2006
Citation: Weirich, C.R., Riche, M.A. 2006. Acute tolerance of juvenile Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus L. to ammonia and nitrite at various salinities. Aquaculture Research. 37:855-861.

Interpretive Summary: Due to their excellent flavor and limited supply the market value of Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus L. (Carangidae), exceeds that of many marine finfish with ex-vessel prices of whole fish ranging from US $7 to 13/kg. As such, efforts to develop culture methods for this species have intensified in recent years. However, little information exists with respect to the environmental requirements of pompano and their tolerance to culture conditions. One problem inherent in aquaculture systems is the potential development of elevated concentrations of environmental un-ionized ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) and nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N). In the present study the acute tolerance of juvenile Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus, L. to un-ionized ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) and nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N) at various salinities was determined via a series of static exposure trials. Median lethal concentrations (LC50 values) of NH3-N and NO2-N at 24, 48, and 96 h of exposure were calculated at salinities of 6.3, 12.5, and 25.0 g L-1 at 28 ºC (pH = 8.23-8.36). Tolerance of pompano to acute NH3-N exposure was not affected by salinity, with 24, 48, and 96 h LC50 values ranging from 1.05 to 1.12, 1.00 to 1.08, and 0.95 to 1.01 mg NH3-N L-1, respectively. Regarding NO2-N, tolerance of pompano to this environmental toxicant was compromised at reduced salinities. Median lethal concentrations of NO2-N to pompano at 24, 48, and 96 h of exposure ranged from 67.4 to 220.1, 56.9 to 140.7, and 16.7 to 34.2 mg NO2-N L-1, respectively. Results of this study indicate that juvenile Florida pompano are relatively sensitive to acute NH3-N and NO2-N exposure, and in the case of the latter, especially at lower salinities.

Technical Abstract: The acute tolerance of juvenile Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus, L. (mean weight ± SE = 8.1 ± 0.05 g) to environmental un-ionized ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) and nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N) at various salinities was determined via a series of static exposure trials. Median lethal concentrations (LC50 values) of NH3-N and NO2-N at 24, 48, and 96 h of exposure were calculated at salinities of 6.3, 12.5, and 25.0 g L-1 at 28 ºC (pH = 8.23-8.36). Tolerance of pompano to acute NH3-N exposure was not affected by salinity, with 24, 48, and 96 h LC50 values ranging from 1.05 to 1.12, 1.00 to 1.08, and 0.95 to 1.01 mg NH3-N L-1, respectively. Regarding NO2-N, tolerance of pompano to this environmental toxicant was compromised at reduced salinities. Median lethal concentrations of NO2-N to pompano at 24, 48, and 96 h of exposure ranged from 67.4 to 220.1, 56.9 to 140.7, and 16.7 to 34.2 mg NO2-N L-1, respectively. Results of this study indicate that juvenile Florida pompano are relatively sensitive to acute NH3-N and NO2-N exposure, and in the case of the latter, especially at lower salinities.