Developmental defects in fish embryos from Salton Sea, California.

The Salton Sea is the largest inland body of water in California. It currently supports a sportfishery for orangemouth corvina (Cvnoscion xanthulus). Other species of importance are the bairdiella (Bairdiella icistius) and sargo (Anisotremus davidsonii). The future status of the fishery is uncertain for several reasons including possible impacts from chemical contaminants entering the Sea via agricultural drains and rivers (Montgomery 1987). There are also relatively large inputs of sewage .from the New River and the Alamo River. Although these rivers discharge into the south end, strong currents and winds create rapid dispersion throughout the Salton Sea. Responding to environmental concerns, the State of California Department of Fish and Game supported a study on the population dynamics of Salton Sea fishes. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected for three spawning seasons (1987-1989), and fish embryos were evaluated for normal development.