Effects of Temperature on Hatching Success and Survival of Larvae in the White Bass

Temperature effects on the hatching success of eggs of the white bass (Morone chrysops) were determined by exposing sample lots of recently fertilized eggs to 10 constant temperatures, 6 through 30°C. Different lots of eggs were exposed to test temperatures before gastrulation, and after closure of the blastopore in the embryo. The percentages of normal larvae hatched were not significantly (P \[greaterthan\] 0.05) impaired in eggs exposed before gastrulation at temperatures from 18 through 26°C, nor in those first exposed after closure of the blastopore at temperatures from 14 through 26°C. Eggs incubated at 14°C hatched 4.5 days after fertilization, and those incubated at 26°C required only 1 day. The 24-h TL50 for white bass larvae exposed within 24h of hatching and acclimated to 14, 18, 20, and 26°C was between 30 and 32°C, and was not altered by the acclimation temperatures tested.