Eldridge, W.H., B.W. Sweeney, and J.M.Law. 2015. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 72(10):1527-1537.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2014-0350
Abstract
The effect of the rate of temperature change on fish was studied by exposing a variety of North American fish species to diel temperature cycles containing rates of change of 0.8, 1.1, 2.2, or 4.4 °C·h−1. During a simulated cool season (3.9–11.7 °C), bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus), spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera), and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii), but not smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), gained mass in response to 0.8, 1.1, or 2.2 °C·h−1 but not constant mean temperature. White sucker did not grow under 4.4 °C·h−1, which was slower than expected based upon bioenergetics models. Physiological indicators of acute stress (day 1 cortisol), chronic stress (day 44 cortisol and triglycerides), and histomorphological measures suggested no effect of treatment. During a simulated warm season (20.0–27.8 °C), growth by channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides), smallmouth bass, and spotfin shiner was not altered by any rate of temperature change; however, walleye (Sander vitreus) and white sucker grew slower than expected under 4.4 °C·h−1. Physiological indicators of acute stress (day 1 cortisol), chronic stress (day 29 cortisol and triglycerides), and histomorphological measures suggested no effect of treatment. Chronic exposure to temperature change of 4.4 °C·h−1 may not induce an acute or chronic stress response but may slightly impair growth for some species.
