Salinity tolerance of oysters without acclimation in lab conditions: mortality

The mortality of oyster spat spawned from four different wild broodstocks (first filial generation) was measured when exposed to five different salinities (without acclimation) under controlled laboratory conditions. Oyster broodstocks were sourced from two populations in Louisiana (Calcasieu Lake; 29°50′58′′N, 93°17′1′′W, and Vermilion Bay; 29°34′47′′N, 92°2′4′′W) and two populations in Texas (Packery Channel; 27°37′38′′N, 97°13′59′′W, and Aransas Bay; 28°7′38′′N, 96°59′8′′W). Mortality was recorded in oyster spat that were exposed to salinities of 2, 4, 20, 38 and 44 without acclimation under laboratory conditions. Changes in water quality and spat size were also recorded.