Growth and survival of selected aquatic animals in two saline groundwater evaporation basins: an Australian case study

摘要

Evaluation trials were undertaken in two evaporation basins filled with saline groundwater to identify finfish and shellfish that have the potential to survive and grow in these conditions. Test animals were reared in replicate culture units in each of two basins filled with saline groundwater located in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District (GMID), south-eastern Australia. Salinity in basin 2 (9.5-24.6 p.p.t., mean 16.8 p.p.t.) was significantly higher than in basin 1 (8.8-15.2 p.p.t., mean 11.6 p.p.t.). Some differences were observed between the ionic concentrations in the groundwater and sea water (at 10 p.p.t.) and may have affected growth and survival of some species. Survival and growth for oysters (Crassostrea gigas and Saccostrea glomerata) in the basins were low. Shrimps (Penaeus monodon and Marsupenaeus japonicus) did not survive beyond 3 weeks. Of the eight species of fish stocked into the basins, Salmo salar , Macquaria novemaculeata and Acanthopagrus butcheri survived and grew in both basins. Oncorhynchus mykiss did not survive in the low-salinity basin, whereas Bidyanus bidyanus did not survive in the high-salinity basin. These results indicate that some species of fish in particular can be cultured in saline groundwaters within the GMID.