Survival of laboratory-held Texas and South Carolina red drum fingerlings exposed to extreme Texas winter temperatures

Date

1989

Authors

Procarione, L.S.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Coastal Fisheries Branch

Abstract

Texas and South Carolina red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) fingerlings (40-57 mm total length) were compared to evaluate survival during laboratory-simulated winter temperature conditions. Red drum from each geographic population were spawned in fall 1987; fry were reared in separate outdoor earthen ponds. At harvest, fingerlings were transferred to indoor recirculating tanks. Fish were exposed to a water temperature regime similar to that observed along the mid-Texas coast during winter 1983-1984. Survival at study termination was similar between Texas (52.0 +- 32.4%) and South Carolina (76.0 +- 32.8%) fish. The results imply that South Carolina red drum do not offer the advantage of increased cold tolerance over that of Texas red drum.

Description

9 pgs.

Keywords

Sciaenops ocellata, red drum, temperature tolerance, population dynamics, pond culture

Citation