Relationship between Optimum Temperatures for Growth and Preferred Temperatures for the Young of Four Fish Species

Abstract

Optimum temperatures for growth and temperature preference were estimated and compared for young striped bass Morone saxatilis, white perch Morone americana, white catfish Ictalurus catus, and spottail shiner Notropis hudsonius to determine how closely behavioral thermoregulation corresponded to optimal growth temperatures. Differences between the final preferenda and the optimum growth temperatures were less than 2 C. The percentage of preferred temperatures that were within the temperature range corresponding to 75–100% of maximum growth was 76–100%. Only a small percentage (0–17%) of preferred temperatures were greater than the upper limit of the range supporting 75% or more of maximum growth, indicating that fish were avoiding temperatures that were suboptimal for prolonged exposures. Received July 12, 1982 Accepted February 2, 1983