SOME PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF A STATIC MAGNETIC-FIELD ON THE LIFE-CYCLE OF THE LEBISTES-RETICULATUS (GUPPY)

Lebistes reticulatus (guppy) was subjected to a continuous treatment of a 500-G homogeneous magnetic field within a specially designed horseshoe magnet encompassing a small aquarium. The experiment was carried through several generations with the following results: in the first generation, the brood size was normal but the gestation period was reduced by 30%; the second generation had an average reduction of spawn rate of 50% and a reduction of the gestation period of 30%; and in the third generation, reproduction was completely inhibited as long as the fish remained within the magnetic field. © 1979, The Biophysical Society. All rights reserved.