Thermal resistance characteristics of early life history stages of finfish from Long Island waters

Abstract

from the abstract, "Eggs and larvae of finfish from Long Island (New York) waters were subjected to elevated temperature shocks in a square wave exposure experimental design to determine their thermal resistance characteristics. Ten, fifty, and ninety percent mortality thermal resistance curves were drawn for egg and larval stages of weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), striped searobin (Prionotus evolans), and scup (Stenotomus chrysops), and egg stages of summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus ) and blackfish (Tautoga onitis). In general, thermal resistance was found to be related to acclimation (base) temperature prior to experimentation and age of the life history stage used. For each species, resistance to thermal stress increased with age and with increasing acclimation temperature. As the thermal stress increased, the variation of response of similarly acclimated organisms decreased."