THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH-RATE AND GROWTH EFFICIENCY OF JUVENILE COMMON WOLFFISH

The effects of temperature on the survival, growth rate and growth eff iciency of larval and juvenile common wolffish, Anarhichas lupus L. we re studied at 0-31 days and 9-12 months post-hatching, respectively. T he influence of temperature regime during egg incubation on subsequent survival and growth was also examined. The fish were reared at consta nt water temperatures of 5, 8, 11 and 14 degrees C, and all groups wer e fed dry pellets. At age 1 month, maximum growth rates were observed at 11 and 14 degrees C. Growth rates and survival of early juveniles w ere dependent upon incubation history, high growth being obtained only if rearing temperature exceeded the temperature of egg incubation. In juveniles at age 9-12 months, the relationships between temperature a nd growth, and temperature and growth efficiency were parabolic: the o ptimum water temperatures for growth (T-opt.G) and growth efficiency ( T-opt.GE) were 11 degrees C and 9.7 degrees C respectively. The growth rate and growth efficiency at these water temperatures were 0.9% day( -1) and 0.45 g weight gain per g food offered, respectively.