Influence of salinity on early development in the spined loach

Spined leach Cobitis taenia developed successfully between 0.12 and 4.80 pa rts per thousand salinity. At 6.00 parts per thousand, net production was s trongly reduced, and development failed at or above 7.20 parts per thousand . Below 0.12 parts per thousand S, net production became variable, indicati ng restrictive effects. In comparison with other primary freshwater fish sp ecies C. taenia has a low sensitivity to salinity. The upper limit for earl y development was equal to the highest salinity under which C. taenia adult s are found along the Baltic coast. Therefore, salinity should not limit ea rly development within the brackish habitats of spined leach. (C) 1999 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.