Thermopreference behavior of bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus) subjected to restrictions in available temperature range

Journal Article · Thu Aug 25 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Copeia; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1443272· OSTI ID:5263089

Beitinger, T L

Juvenile bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) acclimated to 25/sup 0/C occupied a temperature range of 29.5 to 33.1/sup 0/C in laboratory preference studies. The midpoint of this range, 31.2/sup 0/C, is considered an estimate of the final temperature preferendum for this species. Experiments were designed to determine (1) the behavioral response of bluegill to situations where available temperatures were either (a) greater or (b) less than their preferendum; and (2) whether a constant temperature approximately either 1/sup 0/C above or below the limits of the occupied range would influence thermoselection behavior by bluegill. When the temperature preferendum was unavailable, bluegill spent more than 92% of their time at the temperature nearest the preferendum. The availability of constant non-preferred temperatures appeared to have little influence on thermoselection behavior: median percent time spent at the two non-preferred temperatures, 28.0 and 34.0/sup 0/C, were 9.1% and 1.3%, respectively. In addition, a separate experiment demonstrated that of the two limits of the preferred range, the lower limit is most labile. These findings are related to the thermal ecology of the bluegill.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
• OSTI ID: 5263089
• Journal Information: Copeia; (United States), Journal Name: Copeia; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN COPAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560205* -- Thermal Effects-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BEHAVIOR
ECOSYSTEMS
FISHES
HABITAT
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
VERTEBRATES