The effect of temperature on the post-embryonic growth of Neomysis intermedia Czernlawsky (Crustacea, Mysidacea) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The effect of temperature on post-embryonic growth of Neomysis intermedia was investigated under unlimited food conditions in the laboratory. The effect of temperature on the size of newly released animals was negligibly small, but body size was inversely related to temperature in adults. This was mainly caused by the difference in the number of molts before maturation. The specific growth rate of N. intermedia increased exponentially with a temperature coefficient, Q₁₀ of 4.6 from 0.018 d⁻¹ 3°C to 0.21 d⁻¹ at 20°C in juveniles, and with a temperature coefficient of 2.7 from 0.006 d⁻¹ at 3°C to 0.05 d⁻¹ at 25°C in adults. The rate in juveniles levelled off above 20°C, and dropped at 29°C. Brood size and brood interval decreased with temperature increase, while the daily specific reproduction rate increased. The specific growth rate of gravid females, including production of egg matter, increased exponentially with a temperature coefficient of 3.3 from 0.015 d⁻¹ at 10°C to 0.093 d⁻¹ at 25°C.