Effects of Salinity on Fertilization, Hatching, and Larval Performance of Longfin Smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys

Understanding the spawning and rearing habitats of fishes is critical to effective fisheries management conservation. Longfin smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys an imperiled migratory fish that believed spawn rear in varying salinities; however, optimal conditions for each stage remain unknown. Here, we examined effects variation salinity on egg fertilization, hatch success, larval growth survival. Eggs were fertilized freshwater (0.4 ppt) exhibited a significantly higher fertilization rate (81%) than those brackish water (62% at 5 ppt), with no detectible origin or female size. In contrast rates, once eggs fertilized, their hatching rates not affected by salinity, incubation nor interaction; success survival both increased increasing maternal body mass. Larval appeared be independent Taken together, results indicate possible range salinities, but lower salinities longfin smelt; embryos larvae can perform well across salinities. Furthermore, indicated larger mothers produced high-quality offspring, finding supports “bigger better” paradigm science management. These likely explain, part, behaviors wild suggest conservation culture program would optimized utilizing females as broodstock.