The Effects of Rearing Density, Salt Concentration, and Incubation Temperature on Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes) Embryo Development

Abstract

Environmental stressors are often present when an aquatic species, such as the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) fish, are developing. This study examined the effects of some of these environmental stressors (variation in rearing density, salinity, and incubation temperature) on medaka embryo development. The hypotheses are if rearing density is increased, then hatching success will also be improved, while having no effect on embryo development; if the salt concentration is increased to 20 parts per thousand (ppt), then the rate of development will also be increased; if temperature is increased to 32°C, then the rate of development will also be increased. To determine the effects of variations in rearing density (1, 2, 3, and 4 eggs per well), the time of hatch was observed and noted. When testing variations in temperature (24°, 28°, and 32°C) and salinity (0.3, 10, 15, and 20 ppt), the onset of heartbeat and onset of retina pigmentation were observed. The original hypotheses were not all supported: as rearing density increased, success of hatch decreased; as salinity increased, only the rate of development for heartbeat increased; as temperature increased, the rate of development for both onset of the heartbeat and retina pigmentation also increased.