Effects of heated water on the development of gametes in the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6641954

Graser, L F

Gamete development was examined histologically in 10 bluegill populations, each with a distinctly different thermal history. Water temperature for the first group studied was dictated by the seasonal temperature changes of the 2.6 hectare pond near Athens, Georgia, from where it was collected. The second population was collected from a nuclear cooling reservoir which is elevated at least 6 to 8/sup 0/C above temperature considered natural for the latitude. The eight additional populations examined were maintained at controlled water temperatures that were above the ambient temperatures of the natural ponds in northcentral Georgia. Accelerated gametogenesis can occur in bluegill subjected to high water temperature and short but slowly increasing photoperiod. Gonad proportioning equations do not accurately depict true gonad condition in some male bluegill exposed to high water temperatures. Mature ova size can be reduced in female bluegill exposed to high water temperature. Mature bluegill can occur year-round under abnormally high water temperature conditions.

• Research Organization: Georgia Univ., Athens (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6641954
• Report Number(s): SRO-757-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520400* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COOLING SYSTEMS
FISHES
GAMETES
GAMETOGENESIS
GERM CELLS
GONADS
HISTOLOGY
ONTOGENESIS
PHOTOPERIOD
POLLUTION
PONDS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION