Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Allen, Peter

Committee Member

Tucker, Craig

Committee Member

Torrans, Eugene

Committee Member

Steeby, James

Date of Degree

5-12-2012

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are important to aquaculture and natural ecosystems, however little is known regarding effects of high summer temperatures, which are predicted to increase with climate change. Therefore, two studies were conducted to examine physiological effects of high temperatures on juvenile channel catfish. The first examined effects of three cycling thermal regimes (23-27°C, 27-31°C, and 31-35°C) characteristic of culture environments in Mississippi on growth, food consumption, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and activity. The second study measured active and resting metabolic rates and swimming endurance at constant temperatures (27, 31, and 35°C). The best growth and feed conversion occurred at 27-31°C and activity was greatest at 31-35°C. Active metabolism and swimming endurance decreased at 35°C. These results indicate high summer temperatures reduce food consumption, increase activity, impair metabolism and endurance, and therefore present challenges to the culture and management of channel catfish.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17932

Download

Share

COinS