Ecological Research Series
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON
YOUNG YELLOW PERCH,
Perca flavescens (Mitchill)
Environmental Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Duluth, Minnesota 55804
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RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into five series. These five broad
categories were established to facilitate further development and application of
environmental technology. Elimination of traditional grouping was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fields.
The five series are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
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This report has been assigned to the ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH series. This series
describes research on the effects of pollution on humans, plant and animal
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This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.
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EPA-600/3-76-057
May 1976
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON YOUNG YELLOW PERCH,
PERCA FLAVESCENS (MITCHILL)
by
J. Howard McCormick
Environmental Research Laboratory
Duluth, Minnesota 55804
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
DULUTH, MINNESOTA 55804
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DISCLAIMER
This report has been reviewed by the Environmental Research Laboratory-
Duluth, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorse-
ment or recommendation for use.
11
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ABSTRACT
The effect of temperature on growth of young-of-the-year yellow perch was
determined over an 8-week period at constant temperatures from 8° to 34° C.
Absolute growth rates peaked at 28° C, but were not significantly less
(P>0.05) over the range from 26° to 30° C. Deformities occurred at 32° C
but at no lower temperatures, and all fish died within 7 days at 34° C.
A suggested seasonal temperature cycle for yellow perch habitats is
presented, based on the data from this experiment for the summer period of
rapid growth and on data from previous studies for other life stages.
iii
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CONTENTS
Page
Abstract iii
Acknowledgments vi
Sections
I Conclusions 1
II Recommendations 2
III Introduction 3
IV Methods and Materials 4
V Results 10
VI Discussion 12
VII References 16
v
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank Mr. Richard Carlson for his assistance in collecting the test fish
and Mr. Donald Brunder for his close assistance throught the project.
VI
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SECTION I
CONCLUSIONS
Young-of-the-year yellow perch fed unrestricted rations and held at
constant temperatures grew best at 26-30° C. The maximum growth rate
occurred at 28° C. Growth rates at 20-24° C were significantly (P<0.05)
slower than those at 26-30° C. Little or no growth occurred at 8° C. At
32° C deformed individuals developed, and at 34° C all fish died within 7
days.
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SECTION II
RECOMMENDATIONS
Temperatures should be from 26° to 30° C for rapid growth of young-of-the-
year yellow perch fed unlimited rations. When food is limiting, the lower
temperatures of this range will be more desirable, because of less efficient
food conversion at higher temperatures. Maximum temperature for short
periods should not exceed 32° C. These thermal recommendations are specific
for the age group studied and should not be applied to other stages of
development.
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SECTION III
INTRODUCTION
This study was conducted to determine effects of temperature on growth of
young-of-the-year (y-o-y) yellow perch, a life stage whose thermal
requirements had not previously been delineated. Previous studies have
provided data enabling evaluations of temperatures suitable for the well-
being of yellow perch at most other life history stages (Hokanson and
Kleiner, 1974; Jones et al., MS). Since growth tends to be a summation of
an animal's response to its environment, it is considered a good measure of
temperatures suitable for the species during the life stage tested. The
information presented in this report fills a blank in our knowledge of the
life cycle thermal requirements of the species. With the acquisition of
these new data prediction of seasonal thermal limits for the welfare of the
species is now possible, and a suggested seasonal cycle will be presented
in the discussion section.
The yellow perch is of value as a sport and commercial fish of high table
quality. It is also an important forage fish. Its value as a forage
species has been described by Forney (1971, 1974), in studies of Oneida
Lake, New York; Parsons (1971), in work on Lake Erie, and Swenson and Smith
(1973), in work on Lake of the Woods, Minnesota. Maloney and Johnson (1955)
even suggest a dependence of the year-class strength of walleye on the
associated yellow perch year-class. This dependence results from similar
habitat requirements and relative size relationships between the two
species, making y-o-y yellow perch available as forage, both in space and
size, to y-o-y walleyes.
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SECTION IV
METHODS AND MATERIALS
The test system provided a continuous flow of water at approximately 350
ml/min to duplicate test chambers at a constant temperature (McCormick and
Syrett, MS 1970). The glass test chambers were 20 by 15 cm by 60 cm long.
The temperatures were monitored with a constant recording Honeywell
multipoint telethermometer and were measured once daily in each chamber to
the nearest 0.1° C with a standardized mercury thermometer. (Standardization
was within +0.1° C of an ASTM certified calibration thermometer.) The
mean temperatures reported are the pooled daily means of hourly means from
both duplicates derived from the temperature recorder charts. Temperatures
were maintained within +0.3° C (95% confidence limits) of the reported
means. Temperature-control failures for brief periods resulted in
temperatures beyond these limits, extremes (Table 1) usually only persisting
for a few minutes. The failures were considered to have had no effect on
the results, because of the long-term exposures to the reported mean
temperatures, the narrow limits of the 95% C.I., and the absence of observable
enduring effect after such temperature fluctuations.
Yellow perch y-o-y, average weight about 0.4 g, were collected from Park
Lake, Carlton County, Minnesota, on July 25, 1973. The water temperature
at the time of collection was 24° C. Before adjustment to test temperatures
the fish were held 5 days at 21.0° C.
Untreated Lake Superior water was used throughout the experiment (total
hardness 44-45 mg/1.; total alkalinity, of 41-43 mg/1.; pH 7.4-7.8).
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Table 1. GROWTH AND DEATH RATES OF YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR YELLOW PERCH HELD 8
WEEKS AT DIFFERENT CONSTANT TEMPERATURES. THE REPORTED INSTANTANEOUS
RATES ARE THE MEANS OF TWO REPLICATES OVER FOUR SUBSAMPLING PERIODS
Mean
temperature (°C)
(range)
8
(7.0 - 9.5)
12
(10.3 - 13.1)
16
(15.5 - 16.8)
18
(16.9 - 18.6)
20
(17.9 - 21.0)
22
(19.9 - 31.1)
24
(22.0 - 31.0)
26
(24.8 - 32.1)
28
(17.9 - 28.3)
30
(28.3 - 30.8)
32
(29.7 - 32.4)
34a
(32.8 - 34.3)
Tukey ' a
honestly
significant
difference,
P-0.05
(X/day)
Growth (wet weight)
Growth
rate
(X/day)
0.31
0.66
1.34
1.37
2.24
2.67
2.77
3.50
3.77"
3.47
2.85
—
0.61
Initial
mean size
(g)
0.44
0.46
0.51
0.54
0.52
0.54
0.54
0.58
0.74
0.53
0.56
0.51
Terminal
mean size
(g)
0.53
0.68
1.05
1.16
1.80
2.42
2.94
4.14
4.71
3.74
2.76
—
Death
rate
(Z/day)
0.02
0.58
0.26
0.30
0.40
0.25
0.40
0.22
0.04
0.02
0.06
55.62
aMeans for this temperature exposure were for 6 days in replicate A and 5
days in replicate B. All fish died before sampling.
Adlusted instantaneous growth rate for tha replacoaent reDllcat«is
described in materials and methods (3.13 X/day was the rate for the
original replicates).
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Dissolved oxygen concentrations were 6.0 ppm or greater, other chemical
characteristics were as described by Biesinger and Christensen (1972).
Lighting was by Duro-Test Vita-Lite fluorescent lamps with a photoperiod
normal for July-September at the Duluth, Minnesota, latitude.
On July 27 and 28 fish were transferred to their respective test chambers
in a stratified random manner, with one fish in each chamber before a second
was added, until 72 fish were placed in each chamber. The order to
temperature treatments was randomly assigned to remove position effects,
although duplicates were adjacent.
At the time of distribution of the fish to the test chambers, all chambers
were at about 20° C. Over the next 8 days all were gradually adjusted to
test temperatures (Table 1). For those chambers that were to be at the
greatest extremes from the initial acclimation temperature, adjustments were
initially 2° or 5° C per day, but the last 5 days before test temperatures
were reached adjustments were never greater than 1° C per day. This rate of
adjustment insured acclimation to test temperatures (Brett, 1944).
During the thermal adjustment period all test fish were treated with formalin
for removal of external parasites (Meyer, 1969) and with terramycin for
control of bacterial disease. The parasite Ichthyophthirius sp. was not
successfully eliminated, however, and repeated treatments were necessary
throughout the study to control this organism. A malachite green-formalin
mixture (Leteux and Meyer, 1972) at 30 ppm concentration, applied with
flow-through techniques kept mortalities at a tolerable level throughout
the experiment (Figure 1). Bacterial disease was only a problem at 28° C
where the initial duplicates were both affected shortly before the end of
the second 2-week growth period. Because this disease outbreak affected
the feeding for a time and subsequent growth of survivors, two new replicates
were started at 28° C0 These fish were drawn from the original stock that
had been kept at 20° C and fed the same diet during the intervening period.
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8
12
16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
TEMPERATURE (°C)
Figure 1. Instantaneous rates of growth, and death (%/d.ay) of
young-of-the-year yellow perch reared at different
constant temperatures with unlimited ration. The
horizontal bars above and below each mean indicate the
range between duplicates at each test temperature.
Variability in growth rates between duplicates was so
small at l6° and 18° C that the range bars appear as
one. Growth rates of the original replicates at 28° C
are marked by the asterisk.
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Introduction to the test apparatus was at 25° C followed by tempering to
28° C at the rate of 1° C/day. The fish were then carried through 8
weeks of growth, 4 weeks later than the rest of the experimental units.
The slightly greater initial size of fish in the replacement duplicates
required adjustment of the resulting growth data to the starting size of
the original 28° C test fish (Table 1).
Initially the fish were fed ad libitum with live newly hatched brine shrimp,
Artemia salina. New ration was added early in the morning, late in the
afternoon, and during the day when food density appeared low. On weekends
the fish were fed only 2 or 3 times daily. Night feeding was not considered
necessary as this species is principally a daytime feeder (Noble, 1973b).
The initial diet of live brine shrimp, later supplemented several times
daily with thawed frozen adult brine shrimp, was eventually supplemented
with two additional components. The new diet regime consisted of the
continuation of feeding live newly hatched brine shrimp, but added a one-
to-one mixture of finely ground beef liver and thawed frozen adult brine shrimp
with yeast. The new diet was fed with an eye-dropper. The fish were
fed to repletion with this mixture at the beginning and end of the usual 8
hr work day and several times in between.
Rearing chambers were cleaned daily, and dead fish were counted and removed,
Subsamples of 10 fish for weight measurements were removed from each test
chamber at 2~week intervals. Exceptions to this procedure were the initial
sampling consisting of 20 fish per duplicate to insure a better initial size
base from which subsequent growth was calculated, and the 4-week sample at
24° duplicate B consisting of five fish, and the 4-week sample at 18°
duplicate B consisting of nine fish, to allow full sample sizes of 10 fish/
unit at later sampling dates, The two samples of less than 10 fish each
were necessitated by mortalities beyond expectation. The fish were not fed
on the morning of the sampling to insure that little, if any, weight of the
sample would be due to ingested but unassimilated food (Noble, 1973a).
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Fish were preserved before weighing in formalin-picric-trichloro-acetic
solution (Davenport, 1960). They were blotted on paper toweling and
weighed, and the mean weight per fish was reported to the nearest hundredth
of a gram. Subsampling at 2-week intervals provided specimens for weight
changes at progressive time intervals, as well as population-density
adjustments as the individuals increased in size.
Instantaneous rate of growth (wet weight) and mortality were calculated for
each sampling interval on a percentage per day basis (Ricker, 1958). The
weighted mean rates for the four sampling periods were used as treatment
effects in the analysis (Table 1). One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's
honestly significant difference (Steel and Torrie, 1960) were used to detect
the effect of temperature on the rate of growth great enough to be considered
significant at the 95% level. Mortality data during the first 7 days at
32° and 34° C were used to locate the temperature range incorporating the
7-day TL50 value.
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SECTION V
RESULTS
Instantaneous growth rates of y-o-y yellow perch reared on unrestricted
rations at constant temperatures were highest, and statistically equal,
over the temperature range 26° to 30° C (P>0.05). The maximum rate of
3.77 %/day occurred at 28° C (Table 1, Figure 1), and at 26° and 30° C
rates were 3.50 %/day and 3.47 %/day} respectively. Temperatures from 20°
to 24° C produced growth rates of 2.24 and 2.77 %/day, which were
statistically less (P<_0.05) than at 26° C.
The growth rate of 2.85 %/day at 32° C was not a great reduction from the
maximum rate, but of more significance, was the production at this temperature
of a population of fish with greater than 85% of the individuals with marked
curvatures of the spine. These deformities were not found at lower
temperatures. At 34° C all fish died before the end of the first 7 days of
exposure.
The overall mortality was complicated by the deaths that were not temperature
dependent. Some deaths were at least in part due to the chronic infestation
of Ichthyophthirius sp. Mortality was 0.02 %/day at 8° C, rose to an unsteady
plateau of, 0.22-0.58 %/day over the temperature range from 12° to 26° C, and
then declined again at 28-32° C to 0.02-0.06 %/day.
During the first 7 days of exposure to 32° C and 34° C, no deaths occurred
among the 32° C exposed fish, but all fish died at 34° C. The 7-day TL50
is thus considered to lie between these two temperatures. Without mid-range
10
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data points it is not possible to estimate whether the TL50 lies on the
higher or lower extreme of this range.
11
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SECTION VI
DISCUSSION
Weekend feeding was not as frequent as during the rest of the week — only
two to three times daily. This shortcoming was believed to have been
insignificant as it was at least partially compensated for by an increased
food consumption at the first of the following week (McCay et^ al_., 1929;
Moore, 1941). There is, however, some question that compensation is
complete (Shelbourn _et_ aL., 1973).
We believe that the loss of the original replicates at 28° C was well
corrected by the incorporation of the two replacement replicates at that
temperature. Since growth rates tend to be more rapid among smaller fish
(Pessah and Powles, 1974), the rate determined in the replacement replicates
would probably have been higher had the fish been started at the same size
as the originals. In either case 28° C would have produced the maximum
rate of growth among the temperatures tested, a temperature close to the
27° C to which yellow perch thermoregulated in a thermal discharge in Lake
Monona, Wisconsin, where food was more abundant than in unheated areas
(Neill, 1971).
The absence of exposure temperatures between 32° and 34° C prevented the
establishment of a precise 7-day TL50 temperature, but our data support the
value of 32.3° found by Hart (1952).
Growth rate alone may not be an adequate evaluation of the responses of fish
to exposures to various temperatures over extended time. The growth rate
at 32° C was only slightly outside the statistically homogeneous set of
12
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rapid growth rates from 26° to 30° C, but, because of the great incidence of
curvatures of the spine among these fish, 32° C can be considered with
confidence as unsuitable for the well-being of yellow perch for prolonged
unavoidable exposure. In addition, the effects of temperature on
production must be considered. Since production is a function of both growth
rate and mean biomass (Warren, 1971) nearly equal rates of growth, such as
occurred in this experiment at 20°, 24°, and 32° C, may not promote equal
production if biomass is altered by temperature. Biomass can be expected
to be reduced at higher temperatures as it is known that the efficiency of
conversion of available food is reduced as temperature increases (Gray,
1929; McCormick, 1960). It is also known that as food becomes more limiting
maximum growth takes place at progressively lower temperatures (Brett et al.,
1969). Consequently, any value for production based on data from this
experiment, where food was not limiting, must be considered maximum for
any temperature considered. Thus, the most favorable temperatures for this
species during the juvenile growth period cannot be expected to be higher
than those reported here and can be expected to be lower when food is
limited or some other stress is brought to bear.
Previous studies of the yellow perch have provided information on temperatures
required for most other life stages. Overwinter temperatures of 4-6° C permit
maturation and successful spring spawning, but 8° C results in reduced success
and 10° C practically none (Jones et_ al_., MS). They also reported that when
perch have been provided with an appropriate overwinter temperature regimen
spawning with greatest success occurs at 11.3° C with only slight reductions
between 7.5° and 12.7° C. Hokanson and Kleiner (1974) reported that embryos
exposed to constant temperatures before their first cleavage had their
greatest success in hatching at 16° C, with an optimum range for hatching
from 10.1° through 18.2° C. Embryos exposed after neural keel formation
had broader thermal tolerance limits; maximum hatching took place at 19.9° C,
and the optimum range extended from 13.1° through 22.1° C. They found even
greater hatching success when temperatures were allowed to rise during the
13
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incubation period at rates of 0.5° C/day or 1.0° C/day from starting
temperatures of 5-10° to as high as 24.3° C at hatching. For swim-up
larvae they report 13.1-18.2° C as optimum.
Adults coexist in time with juveniles, but are expected to require temperatures a
few degrees lower, which may explain their usual presence a little farther
offshore in deeper, cooler water. Preferred temperatures for juveniles
are reported to be between 20° and 24° C (McCauley and Read, 1973; Ferguson,
1958); adults studied by these authors preferred temperatures a few
degrees lower, between 18° and 21° C. To accommodate the requirements of
two coexisting life stages, y-o-y and adults, the inshore zone would be
managed for y-o-y and the offshore zone of cooler water for older age groups.
The fall period is one of transition to overwintering temperatures,
apparently only requiring a rate of temperature reduction not to exceed
the lethal limits at successively lower acclimation and to initiate
gonadal maturation preparatory to spring spawning (Turner, 1919; LeCren,
1951). Brett (1944) suggests a rate of decline not to exceed 1° C/day as
one with which thermal acclimation of fish can keep pace.
With the addition of the data presented in this report a complete, suitable
temperature regime can now be suggested for the yellow perch at each season
as it proceeds from one life stage to the next. Figure 2 is such a suggested
seasonal temperature regime. Exact dates are omitted as the time of the
various life stages may vary a week or more with latitudinal distribution
(consult local authorities for dates). The temperature limits for the
well-being of this species as it seasonally progresses from one life stage
to the next are also shown in Figure 2. A close correlation is apparent
between the seasonally related life stages and the natural temperatures
expected for those seasons where yellow perch are found which is probably
evolutionarily derived. This relationship, emphasizes the need to retain
such seasonal temperature cycles in the habitat of the yellow perch if it
and its associated dependent species are to prosper.
14
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range of
high
{
"•" upper limit of survival
at
maximum success
kMcr limit of survival
at prolonged exposure
l*C/doy role of temperature
increase, spaMiing-hatching-
swim-up larvae
transition summer-winter
temperatures
Acclimation
to writer
tefnpsi u lures
—FALL—
fl/
Gonod matntvnanov
and
development
—WINTER—
Figure 2.
SEASON AND LIFE STAGE
A temperature regime suitable for yellow perch at each season of the
year and the critical life stages extant during those seasons.
Footnotes indicate sources of data used in establishing the various
limits.
a Jones, B. R. et_ a_L. (personal communication publication in
preparation).
b Hokanson, K. E. F. , and C. F. Kleiner (197*0.
c McCormick, J. H. (this report).
d Brett, J. R.
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SECTION IV
REFERENCES
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on survival, growth, reproduction, and metabolism of Daphnia magna. J.
Fish. Res. Bd. Canada. 29:1691-1700.
Brett, J. R. 1944. Some lethal temperature relations of Algonquin Park
fishes. Pub. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab. 63:1-49.
Brett, J. R., J. E. Shelbourn, and C. T. Shoop. 1969. Growth rate and
body composition of fingerling sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka, in
relation to temperature and ration size. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada. 26:
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Davenport, C. B. 1960. Histological and histochemical technics.
Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Co. 401 p.
Ferguson, R. G. 1958. The preferred temperature of fish and their midsummer
distribution in temperate lakes and streams. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada. 15:
607-624.
Forney, J. L. 1971. Development of dominant year classes in a yellow perch
population. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 100:739-749.
Forney, J. L. 1974. Interactions between yellow perch abundance, walleye
predation, and survival of alternate prey in Oneida Lake, New York. Trans.
Am. Fish. Soc. 103:15-24.
*
Gray, J. 1929. The growth of fish. II. The growth rate of the embryo of
Salmo forio. Jour. Exp. Biol. 6:110-124.
Hart, J. S. 1952. Geographic variations of some physiological and
morphological characters in certain freshwater fish. University of Toronto
Biological Series Number 60. University of Toronto Press. 79 p.
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Hokanson, K. E. F. and C. F. Kleiner. 1974. Effects of constant and rising
temperatures on survival and developmental rate of embryo and larval yellow
perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill). pp. 437-448. J_n J. H. S. Blaxter [ed.]
The Early Life History of Fish. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, West Germany.
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McCauley, R. W. and L. A. A. Read. 1973. Temperature selection by
juvenile and adult yellow perch (Perca flavescens) acclimated to 24° C.
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McCay, C. M., W. E. Dilley, and M. F. Crowell. 1929. Growth rates of
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upon feed combinations of cereal grains. J. Nutri. 1:233-246.
McCormick, J. H. 1960. Efficiency of food utilization by three species
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McCormick, J. H. and R. F. Syrett. 1970. A controlled temperature appara-
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oratory, Duluth, MN. 9 p.
Maloney, J. E. and F. H. Johnson. 1955. Life history and interrelationships
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Noble, R. L. 1973b. A method of direct estimation of total food
consumption with application to young yellow perch. Prog. Fish. Cult.
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Parsons, J. W. 1971. Selective food preferences of walleyes of the 1959
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Fish. Res. Bd. Canada. 30:1191-1194.
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18
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO. 2.
EPA-600/3-76-057
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Temperature Effects on Young Yellow Perch,
Perca flavescens (Mitchill)
7. AUTHOR(S)
J. Howard McCormick
9, PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Environmental Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Duluth, Minnesota 55804
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Same as above
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION- NO.
5. REPORT DATE
May 1976 (Issuing Date)
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
N/A
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
N/A
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
1BA608
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
N/A
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final report
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA-ORD
16. ABSTRACT
The effect of temperature on growth of young-of-the-year yellow perch was
determined over an 8-week period at constant temperatures from 8° to 34° C.
Absolute growth rates peaked at 28° C, but were not significantly less
(P>0.05) over the range from 26° to 30° C. Deformities occurred at 32° C
but at no lower temperatures, and all fish died within 7 days at 34° C.
A suggested seasonal temperature cycle for yellow perch habitats is
presented, based on the data from this experiment for the summer period of
rapid growth and on data from previous studies for other life stages.
17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
a. DESCRIPTORS b.lDENTIFI
*Perch *Percic
^Growth *Yellov
Fishes Envirc
Seasonal variations *Juveni
Thermal stresses *Perca
13. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 19. SECURI
Unclas
Release unlimited 20. SECURI
Unclas
ERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS C. COSATI Field/Group
lae 06F
7 perch 06S
nmental effects
-le growth stage
flavescens
TY CLASS (This Report) 21. NO. OF PAGES
sified 25
TY CLASS (Thispage) 22. PRICE
sified
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
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