EFFECT OF AMMONIA ON THE GROWTH OF JUVENILE DOVER SOLE, SOLEA-SOLEA (L) AND TURBOT, SCOPHTHALMUS-MAXIMUS (L)

The growth of sole and turbot was followed in groups of fish exposed to constant unionised ammonia concentrations at pH levels both at and below that of normal sea water. Low pH levels were produced by the addition of carbon dioxide. Results for both species showed evidence for a threshold level of unionised ammonia below which little or no effect on growth was evident. This level was determined to be 0.066 mg N/l for sole and 0.11 mg N/l for turbot at 16°C, 34‰ salinity. The different pH conditions did not have any marked effect on these threshold levels. Above the threshold levels growth appeared to be depressed in a linear manner with increased unionised ammonia. The rate at which growth was depressed was greatest at the low pH levels for both species. The level at which growth ceased thus decreased from 0.77 to 0.38 mg N/l for sole and from 0.9 to 0.3 mg N/l for turbot, over the pH range from 7.9 to 6.9. The absence of disease and gill damage in the experimental populations is discussed. It is suggested that this and the tolerance shown by the fish, which is higher than is generally accepted for fish in high density culture, may be due to the clean environment in which the fish were held while under test. © 1979.