Survival and water balance of black sea bass held in a range of salinities and calcium-enhanced environments after abrupt salinity change

Black sea bass Centropristis striata juveniles survived abrupt transfer from 15 g/L salinity to 8 g/L, but not to 6 g/L salinity. Seven days after abrupt transfer, the plasma osmolality was proportional to environmental osmolality. Increasing environmental calcium concentration in receiving environments did not have an effect on either survival or plasma osmolality after abrupt transfer. Abrupt transfer from 15 g/L salinity to 4.5 g/L artificial sea salt + 4.5 g/L calcium chloride resulted in 100% mortality. Abrupt transfer of black sea bass to salinities below ∼ 15 g/L will have osmotic and perhaps survival consequences.