The effects of temperature on growth, development and settlement of northern rock sole larvae (Lepidopsetta polyxystra)

Abstract

Northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra) is a commercially important fish in the North Pacific and a focal species in understanding larval transport to nursery grounds in the Bering Sea. However, the temperature‐dependent vital rates and settlement dynamics for this species have not been described in detail. We reared northern rock sole larvae in the laboratory to measure growth, condition, development and settlement parameters across four temperatures (2, 4, 7 and 10°C). Both length and mass‐measured growth rates increased with temperature and were best described by non‐linear regression. Residuals of the length–mass relationships were positively related to temperature, indicating larval condition also increased with temperature. Larval development and settlement were largely size dependent, resulting in reduced larval stage duration and earlier settlement at higher temperatures owing to more rapid growth at elevated temperatures. However, larvae at colder temperatures were less developed at a given size, but more likely to settle at smaller sizes than larvae reared in warmer conditions. These temperature–response parameters can be used to refine current and future transport models for northern rock sole larvae under changing environmental conditions in the North Pacific.

Interactive effects of incubation temperature and salinity on the early life stages of pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus

“…ends of their thermal limits was interpreted. This finding was consistent with that previously reported for numerous cold marine species, such as G. morhua Jordaan et al, 2006) and the northern rock sole Lepidopsetta polyxystra Orr & Matarese 2000 (Laurel and Blood, 2011). Jordaan et al (2006) suggested that, as the upper and lower thermal limits are approached, an increased proportion of the limited maternalorigin yolk supply is utilized by a less efficient embryonal metabolism, resulting in less available energy for tissue growth and smaller larvae (Jordaan et al, 2006).…”

“…Contrary to the results of this study, some experiments have shown that L S at hatch varies slightly among temperatures in some temperate marine species with efficient metabolic compensation to environmental temperature variations, except when their thermal limits were approached, such as in L. ferruginea (Laurence and Howell, 1981), Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata L. (Berlinsky et al, 2004) and P. dentatus (van Maaren and Daniels, 2001). Differences in L S at hatch are likely due to the differences in the conversion efficiency of yolk proteins into somatic growth (Geffen, 2002;Laurel and Blood, 2011). The different trends among different ecological types of marine fish species (i.e., cold water marine species or temperate marine species) may be related to a species thermal window (Peck et al, 2012).…”

Delineation of the southern elephant seal׳s main foraging environments defined by temperature and light conditions

“…Key physical parameters such as light, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen are known to control the three dimensional distribution of most pelagic ectotherms (Puvanendran and Brown, 1998;Rueda, 2001;Karna, 2003;Laurel and Blood, 2011) that evolved within the layers of the pelagic zone like the photic epipelagic layer (from the surface down to around 200 m), the intermediate mesopelagic layer (from 200 m down to around 500 m) or the deep mesopelagic layer (from 500 m down to around 1000 m). Air-breathing endotherms are less constrained by these environmental factors and their at-sea distribution is mostly controlled by the occurrence of their prey and by their physiological abilities (MacArthur and Pianka, 1966).…”

Effect of temperature on the growth, survival, development and foraging behaviour of Sardina pilchardus larvae

“…Since standard and active metabolic rates, and consequently prey requirements, of ectotherms are positively re la ted to temperature, constrains in the food supply will eventually reduce the temperature at which growth performance is maximized (Brett 1979, Jobling 1997, Sundby 2000, Jordaan & Kling 2003. When facing restricted feeding conditions, larvae will die faster at higher temperatures (Laurel & Blood 2011). Thus, in the wild, fish growth tends to be maximized at temperatures a few degrees lower than those at which food consumption is maximal (e.g.…”