Effect of Temperature on Acute Toxicity of Nitrite to Meagre, Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801)

Abstract

AbstractMeagre, Argyrosomus regius, is a candidate marine fish species for aquaculture diversification, presenting a high economic value in the Mediterranean. Tolerance of juvenile meagre to nitrite (NO2‐N) was determined relating to temperature. Fish (3.2 ± 0.6 g and 5.4 ± 0.9 cm) were exposed to different NO2‐N concentrations in a series of acute toxicity tests by the static renewal method at three temperatures (18, 22, and 26 C) at a pH of 8.0. Low temperature clearly increased tolerance to NO2‐N (P < 0.05). The 96‐h median lethal concentration (LC50) values of NO2‐N were 177.63, 139.55, and 49.61 mg/L, at 18, 22, and 26 C, respectively. The safe levels of NO2‐N for juvenile meagre were estimated to be 17.7, 13.9, and 4.9 mg/L at 18, 22, and 26 C, respectively (P < 0.05). This study indicates A. regius is more sensitive to nitrite than other marine fish species cultured in the Mediterranean.