Effect of Thermal Shock on Predator Avoidance by Larvae of Two Fish Species

Abstract

Larvae of two fish species, Menidia menidia and Paralichthys dentatus, were subjected to a 15-min thermal shock of 10 C above acchmation temperature, returned to acclimation temperature, and exposed to a predator, Fundulus majalis. Four- and six-week-old M. menidia were significantly more vulnerable to predation after being shocked than control larvae, but younger larvae were not. Shocked larvae of P. dentatus were less susceptible to predation than control larvae.