Effects of temperature on developmental performance, survival and growth of sea lamprey embryos

• Published in: Journal of fish biology 2001-02, Vol.58 (2), p.475-486
• Main Authors: Rodriguez-Munoz, R, Nicieza, A G, Brana, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brackish; Freshwater; Marine; Petromyzon marinus
• ISSN: 0022-1112
• DOI: 10.1006/jfbi.2000.1465

This study assesses the influence of thermal regime on the development, survival rates and early growth of embryos of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus incubated at five constant temperatures (7, 11, 15, 19 and 23 degree C). The time from fertilization to 50% hatching and from hatching to 50% burrowing were inversely related to incubation temperature. All the embryos incubated at 7 degree C died at very early stages, while those maintained at 11 degree C did not attain the burrowing stage. Survival from fertilization to hatching was 61, 89, 91 and 89% at 11, 15, 19 and 23 degree C, decreasing to 58, 70 and 70% from hatching to burrowing at 15, 19 and 23 degree C, respectively. Larvae reared during the first 3 months of exogenous feeding in a common environment at constant 21 degree C, revealed maximum survival for an incubation temperature of 15 degree C (43% of burrowed larvae) decreasing strongly at 19 degree C (16%) and 23 degree C (one suvivor among 240 larvae). Body length at the burrowing stage was maximum for embryos incubated at 19 degree C, but body mass increased in the interval 15-23 degree C. Mean incubation temperatures experienced by 117 broods during the embryonic development in the source river were estimated in 15.3 plus or minus 2.30 degree C and 16.7 plus or minus 1.76 degree C (mean plus or minus 1 . ) for the periods fertilization-to-hatching and hatching-to-burrowing, respectively.Copyright 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles