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

Abstract

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), southeastern 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.

Effects of Temperature and pH on the Growth of Sargassum linearifolium and S. podacanthum in Potassium-Fortified Inland Saline Water

“…The K + deficiency is in common in Australia and USA (Ingram et al, 2002;Boyd and Thunjai, 2003) although the ionic profile of ISW can be similar to OW at the same salinity ). Therefore, ISW should be fortified with K + at similar or about 33-66% of the K + concentration in OW at the same salinity for proper growth of S. linearifolium and Lomentaria sp., respectively (Bui et al, 2017a;2017b).…”

“…At the same salinity, the ISW ionic profile in Australia can be similar to the Ocean Water (OW) Prangnell and Fotedar, 2006a), but the potassium concentration ([K + ]) is much lower (Ingram et al, 2002;Boyd et al, 2007) and varies (Nurmi et al, 1988;Nulsen, 1997). It is not feasible for marine shrimp, fish and mollucs to survive and grow without K + fortification, similar to K + levels to OW (Fielder and Allan, 2003;Doroudi et al, 2006;Prangnell and Fotedar, 2006b;Dinh, 2016).…”

Investigation into the Potential use of Inland Saline Groundwater for the Production of Live Feeds for Commercial Aquaculture Purposes

“…Many authors [8,10,38] indicate that this is becoming common in many parts of the world. Crop farmers invariably experience difficulties in sowing a crop, or produce crops of poor yield because of dry land salinity or increasing soil salinity that has stemmed from irrigation practices.…”

“…In response to this issue, research has been undertaken into the use of inland saline groundwater for the aquacultural production of finfish, crustaceans, molluscs and seaweed [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] but, significantly, little information has been produced on the production of commercially important live feed species for aquaculture in inland saline groundwater.…”

Larval rearing of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in saline groundwater

“…The potential of saline ground water sources for culturing marine and estuarine finfish has received significant interest in Australia in recent years Ingram et al, 2002;Doupé et al, 2003;. This interest has primarily stemmed from a desire to make productive use of the approximately 5.8 million hectares of agricultural land degraded through secondary salinisation (NLWRA, 2001).…”