Thermal sensitivity of growth, food intake and activity of juvenile brown trout

Growth rate, food intake and activity of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) were studied at 10 constant temperatures (2.6-22.3 degreesC) and using eight full-sib families. We found between-family differences in growth rat e but not significant temperature x family interaction. The effects of temp erature were well described by polynomial regressions that allowed the calc ulation of optima, performance breadths and thermal limits. The obtained va lues were noticeably higher and the performance breadth wider, than previou sly reported data for the species. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.