Water Temperature Affects the Ontogenetic Development of Yellowtail Amberjack Seriola lalandi dorsalis (Gill 1863)

The effect of temperature on survival, growth, jaw deformity, and point of no return (PNR) after food deprivation in newly hatched yellowtail amberjack Seriola lalandi dorsalis larvae were studied in experimental conditions. The performance of fed and un-fed yellowtail amberjack larvae were tested at 21, 23 and 25˚C for 24 days. In the fed treatment, fish survivals at 21 and 23˚C were significantly higher than that at 25˚C by 24 day post hatch (DPH). Fish length and dry weight at 25˚C were significantly higher than those reared at 21 and 23˚C. Temperature significantly affects the feeding incidence of fish larvae from 3 DPH to 5 DPH. In the unfed treatment, fish larvae reached PNR at 5, 6 and 8 DPH at 25, 23 and 21˚C, respectively. Higher temperatures increased fish ontogenetic development, but decreased the time to reach PNR. The high rate of jaw deformity occurred at high temperature by 24 DPH. Our results indicate that rearing temperature is a key factor affecting the ontogenetic development of yellowtail amberjack larvae and the optimum temperature for the first feeding larval is 21-23˚C. Temperatures above 25˚C are likely to cause mortality of yellowtail amberjack larvae in the first 10 DPH.

Author(s): Yu G, Ma Z, Hu J, Liu Y, Yang Q and Yang R

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