Laboratory Studies on Effects of Temperature and Delayed Initial Feeding on Development of Striped Bass Larvae
- 1 January 1981
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
- Vol. 110 (1) , 100-110
- https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1981)110<100:lsoeot>2.0.co;2
Abstract
Rearing temperature and the time of first feeding interacted to determine the degree of survival and rate of growth of larval striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in laboratory experiments. Between 15 and 24 C, lower temperatures reduced the rate of growth and development of fed larvae, and increased the time to death by starvation of unfed larvae. Striped bass larvae survived for several weeks without food following yolk absorption. Unfed groups survived up to 22 days after hatching at 24 C and 32 days at 15 C. Although unfed larvae decreased in length and dry weight during starvation, many recovered and continued development after food was provided. Among starved larvae the rate of loss in weight and length increased with increasing temperature. The growth rate among early and delayed feeding groups was also temperature related. Larvae that survived delayed feeding were indistinguishable on the basis of size and external morphology from younger but well‐fed individuals. It is suggested that size alone may provide a poor estimate of the age of larvae in the field. Larger spawning females had eggs of a greater dry weight than smaller ones. Because egg dry weight is composed largely of stored yolk and oil, the offspring of larger striped bass females may be able to withstand food deprivation longer than those of smaller individuals. Energy and nitrogen inventories were performed on striped bass eggs and larvae. The results of these measurements suggest that nitrogen rather than energy is the first commodity to be depleted when larvae are starved.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: