Experiment on phenotypic effects of transgenerational salinity change in sticklebacks

To assess the phenotypic effects of transgenerational salinity change in sticklebacks, offspring were sampled as eggs, freshly hatched larvae, as well as 12, 30 and 90 days post hatch (dph). We measured egg size, yolk-sac size to length ratio of fish larvae from pictures taken under a stereomicroscope. At 12, 30 and 90 days post hatch we measured length and weight of the larvae. Additionally, dissections were performed at 30 and 90 dph to assess the hepatosomatic index (HSI) of juveniles. Mortality was monitored throughout the experiment to account for possible non-random mortality.