Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM) of Cultured Black Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli

Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM) of Cultured Black Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli

The critical thermal maximum (CTM) of black rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, was evaluated. Black rockfish were acclimated at $24^{\circ}C$, and then exposed to temperatures from 24 to $33^{\circ}C$. Black rockfish were kept in constant darkness and subjected to a gradual temperature increase $(1 ^{\circ}C\;12^{-1})$. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was measured using an automatic intermittent­flow-respirometer (AIFR) during the exposure period (from 119.3 to 143.5 h). The OCR increased from 94.5 to 214.2mL $O_2 kg^{-1}\;ww\;h^{-1}$ as the temperature rose from 24 to $29.4-30.9^{\circ}C$. Subsequently, the OCR increased abruptly, reaching 245.8-412.7mL $O_2 kg^{-1}\;ww\;h^{-1}$ at $32^{\circ}C$. This study suggests that the CTM for black rockfish is $29.4-30.9^{\circ}C$ when temperature is increased at $1^{\circ}C\;12h^{-1}$ following acclimation at $24^{\circ}C$.