Effects of Temperature on Growth and Biochemical Composition of Larval Winter Flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus

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Abstract
Winter flounder (P. americanus) eggs fertilized at 2.degree. C were incubated at 2, 5, 7 and 10.degree. C. At hatching the larvae produced at all 4 temperatures were similar in standard length, protein, RNA and DNA content, although differences between groups were apparent at completion of yolk absorption. Larvae held at 2.degree. C never fed. Increased mortality in this group began shortly before hatching and continued until complete mortality occurred on day 21. Larvae held at 5.degree. C began feeding on the day of completion of yolk absorption. Larvae held at 7 and 10.degree. C began feeding 1 and 2 days after yolk absorption, respectively. The poor condition of 1st feeding larvae at 10.degree. C was indicated by their low RNA content and low RNA-DNA ratio. A positive linear relation between RNA-DNA ratio and growth rate was observed at 5, 7 and 10.degree. C. The effect of temperature on the RNA-DNA ratio-growth relation is described.