Environmental Biology of Fishes

, Volume 11, Issue 1, pp 29–40 | Cite as

Influence of acclimation temperature and season on acute temperature preference of adult mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni

  • Jean M. Ihnat
  • Ross V. Bulkley
Article
Received:
Accepted:

Synopsis

Temperatures preferred by four groups of adult mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni, collected in October before spawning, in December after spawning, in late winter, and in spring were determined in the laboratory in a horizontal gradient. Acute temperature preference based on fish tested soon after capture and final preferendum estimates were 12.8 and 17.7°C, respectively (pre-spawning), 9.6 and 11.9°C (post-spawning), 10.8 and 9.9°C (winter), and 16.4 and 16.3°C (spring). Seasonal influence on temperature preference was evident on the basis of differences in final preferenda, covariance analysis of responses of laboratory-acclimated fish, and temperature preference of fish held at ambient river temperatures. Fish of the post-spawning and winter groups preferred lower temperatures than did those of pre-spawning and spring groups. Temperatures preferred by pre-spawning fish were too high for embryo survival. Caution is necessary in predicting thermal preference on the basis of a sample collected at one time of year or stage of sexual development.

Keywords

Horizontal gradient Behavioral thermoregulation Reproductive status Embryo survival Final preferendum Seasonal comparisons 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References cited

  1. Barans, C.A. & R.A. Tubb. 1973. Temperatures selected seasonally by four fishes from Western Lake Erie. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 30: 1697–1703.Google Scholar
  2. Breder, C.M. Jr. & D.E. Rosen. 1966. Modes of reproduction in fishes. Natural History Press, Garden City, New York. 941 pp.Google Scholar
  3. Brett, J.R. 1952. Temperature tolerance in young Pacific salmon, genus Oncorhynchus. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 9: 265–323.Google Scholar
  4. Brett, J.R. 1956. Some principles in the thermal requirements of fishes. Quarterly Review of Biology 31: 75–87.Google Scholar
  5. Brown, D.J.D. 1952. Spawning habits and early development of the mountain whitfish, Prosopium williamsoni, in Montana. Copeia 1952: 109–113.Google Scholar
  6. Brown, D.J.D. 1971. Fishes of Montana. Big Sky Books, Montana State Univ., Bozeman. 207 pp.Google Scholar
  7. Brown, L.G. 1972. Early life history of the mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni (Girard), in the Logan River, Utah. M.S. Thesis, Utah State Univ., Logan. 40 pp.Google Scholar
  8. Cherry, D.S., K.L. Dickson & J. Cairns, Jr. 1975. Temperatures selected and avoided by fish at various acclimation temperatures. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 485–491.Google Scholar
  9. Cherry, D.S., K.L. Dickson & J. Cairns, Jr. 1977. Preferred, avoided, and lethal temperatures of fish during rising temperature conditions. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 239–246.Google Scholar
  10. Coutant, C.C. 1975. Temperature selection by fish: a factor in power plant impact assessments. pp. 575–597. In Environmental effects of cooling systems at nuclear power plants. (AIEA) Int. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna. 829 pp.Google Scholar
  11. Draper, N.R. & H. Smith. 1966. Applied regression analysis. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 407 pp.Google Scholar
  12. Dyzan, Y. 1959. Changes in the temperature preference of certain species of sturgeon at varying levels of food supply. Nauchn. Soobschcheniya Inst. Fiziol. Akad. Nauk. SSSR 1: 125–127. (In Russian).Google Scholar
  13. Ehrlich, K.F., J.M. Hood, G. Muszynski & G.E. McGowen. 1979. Thermal behavioral responses of selected California littoral fishes. U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. 76: 837–849.Google Scholar
  14. Ferguson, R.G. 1958. The preferred temperature of fish and their midsummer distribution in temperate lakes and streams. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 14: 605–624.Google Scholar
  15. Fry, F.E.J. 1947. Effects of the environment on annual activity. University of Toronto Studies, Biological Series 55, Ontario Fisheries Research Laboratory Publication 68. 62 pp.Google Scholar
  16. Hall, L.W. Jr., C.H. Hocutt & J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1979. Temperature preference of the white perch, Morone americana, collected in the Wicomico River, Maryland. Estuaries 2: 129–131.Google Scholar
  17. Hesthagen, I.H. 1979. Temperature selection and avoidance in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas), collected at different seasons. Env. Biol. Fish. 4: 369–378.Google Scholar
  18. Hoar, W.S. 1969. Reproduction. pp. 1–72. In: W.S. Hoar & D.J. Randall (ed.) Fish Physiology, Vol. 3, Academic Press, New York. 485 pp.Google Scholar
  19. Hokanson, K.E.F. 1977. Temperature requirements of some percids and adaptions to the seasonal temperature cycle. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 1524–1550.Google Scholar
  20. Huggins, N.W. 1978. A comparison of temperatures selected by rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, in spatial and temporal temperature gradients. M.S. Thesis. Univ. of Waterloo, Waterloo. 142 pp.Google Scholar
  21. Javaid, M.Y. & J.M. Anderson. 1967. Influence of starvation on selected temperatures of some salmonids. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 24: 1515–1519.Google Scholar
  22. Mathur, D. & C.A. Silver. 1980. Statistical problems in studies of temperature preference of fishes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 37: 733–737.Google Scholar
  23. Magnuson, J.J., L.B. Crowder & P.A. Medvick. 1979. Temperature as an ecological resource. Amer. Zool. 19: 331–343.Google Scholar
  24. McCauley, R.W. & N.W. Huggins. 1979. Ontogenetic and nonthermal seasonal effects on thermal preferenda of fish. Amer. Zool. 19: 267–272.Google Scholar
  25. Mullan, J.R. 1976. Fishery management program, Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. Sept. 1976. Special administrative report. U.S. Dept. Inter., Fish Wildl. Serv., Vernal. 64 pp.Google Scholar
  26. Neill, W.H. & J.J. Magnuson. 1974. Distributional ecology and behavioral thermoregulation of fishes in relation to heated effluent from a power plant at Lake Monona, Wisconsin. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 103: 663–710.Google Scholar
  27. Otto, R.G., M.A. Kitchel & J. O'Hara Rice. 1976. Lethal and preferred temperatures of the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) in Lake Michigan. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 105: 96–106.Google Scholar
  28. Rajagopal, P.K. 1975. Respiratory metabolism and energy requirements of embryo, larval, and juvenile mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni). Ph.D. Diss., Utah State Univ., Logan. 112 pp University Microfilm No. 77–8485.Google Scholar
  29. Rajagopal, P.K. 1979. The embryonic development and the thermal effects on the development of the mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni (Girard). J. Fish Biol. 14: 153–158.Google Scholar
  30. Reynolds, W.S. 1977. Temperature as a proximate factor in orientation behavior. pp.734–739. In: F.P. Richards, W.W. Reynolds & R.W. McCauley (ed.) Temperature Preference Studies in Environmental Impact Assessment: An Overview with Procedural Recommendations, J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 729–761.Google Scholar
  31. Richards, R.P. & R.M. Ibara. 1978. The preferred temperatures of the brown bullhead, Ictalurus nebulosus, with reference to its orientation to the discharge canal of a nuclear power plant. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 107: 288–294.Google Scholar
  32. Richards, R.P., W.W. Reynolds & R.W. McCauley (ed.). 1977. Temperature preference studies in environmental impact assessments: An overview with procedural recommendations. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 729–761.Google Scholar
  33. Ross, M.J. & D.B. Siniff. 1982. Temperatures selected in a power plant thermal effluent by adult yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in winter. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 39: 346–349.Google Scholar
  34. Stalnaker, C.B. & R.E. Gresswell. 1974. Early life history and feeding of young mountain whitefish. Office of Res. and Dev., U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C. EPA-660-13-73-019. 46 pp.Google Scholar
  35. Stauffer, J.R., D.S. Cherry, K.L. Dickson & J. Cairns, Jr. 1975. Laboratory and field temperature preference and avoidance data of fish related to the establishment of standards. pp. 119–139. In: S.B. Saila (ed.). Fisheries and Energy Production: A Symposium, D.C. Health & Co., Lexington.Google Scholar
  36. Sullivan, C.M. & K.C. Fisher. 1953. Seasonal fluctuations in the selected temperature of speckled trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 10: 187–195.Google Scholar
  37. Thompson, G.E. 1974. The ecology and life history of the mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) (Girard), in the Sheep River, Alberta. M.S. Thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary. 122 pp.Google Scholar
  38. Thompson, G.E. & R.W. Davies. 1976. Observations on the age, growth, reproduction, and feeding of mountain whitefish (Prosopium willianrsoni) in the Sheep River, Alberta. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 105: 208–219.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Dr W. Junk Publishers 1984

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jean M. Ihnat
    • 1
  • Ross V. Bulkley
    • 1
  1. 1.Utah Cooperative Fishery Research UnitUtah State UniversityLoganU.S.A.

Personalised recommendations