Upper Thermal Tolerance of Early Life Stages of South Carolina and Florida Largemouth Bass
Upper thermal tolerance limits (TL50's) for early life stages of Par Pond and Florida stocks of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides intergrade and M. s. loridanus) were determined. Comparisons were made between 3 stages (non-feeding and feeding pro-larvae, and post-larvae), 2 initial temperatures (18° and 23° C), and instant vs. gradual (5° C/day) exposures to test temperatures between 18° and 38° C. Upper thermal tolerance limits did not differ between largemouth bass stocks, life stages, or initial temperatures. Ninety-six hour TL50 was 32.8° C for instant exposures and 34.1° C for...
