Salinity tolerance of the southern bay scallop Argopecten irradians concentricus

The range of salinity tolerance of the southern bay scallop.A.radians concentrycus was studied in laboratary.All experimenu were carried out with the spats,15-21 mm in height,by exposing the spats to various salinities for periods of 48h or more,with the aim of explaining the observations about the mortality in nature and deciding the farming sites for this species culture.The survival range of salinity is 18.5-44.4 at 16 and 24℃.The effect of lower salinity on the survival rate is more obvious.The salinity range for growth of the spats is 21.2-41.0(the daily growth rate,r > 4.0),suitable 24.0-32.0(r > 8),and optimal 26.0-28.0.If the salinity fluctuates strongly,the survival rate decreases seriously when the salinity is close to threshold value.The salinity tolerance of the scallop relates of the envitaanental salinity,too.The species is more resistant to salinity variation at decreasing temperature in a short time,but cannot increase its tolerance range in the lasting time.Results show that the species can survive and normally grow in the sourhem China seaarea,but it is unsuitable to planting in the estuary or the faming areas when the scallops may expose to freshwater.