Abstract
Cunha, M. E., Vendrell, C., and Gonçalves, P. 2008. Experimental study of the dependence of embryonic development of Trachurus trachurus eggs on temperature. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 17–24. To determine the effect of temperature on the development rates of artificially fertilized eggs of Trachurus trachurus, experiments were carried out at temperatures ranging from 10.5°C to 19°C. Egg development through to hatching only took place at 11.7–19°C. At lower temperature, eggs did not develop beyond the stage where the outline of the embryo was clearly discernible and a defined median line of the embryonic shield (stage 4 in this study) was apparent. Development time took from 46 h at 19°C to 126 h at 12°C. A generalized linear model of the stage-dependent development time (age) as a function of incubation temperature was developed. The data are also compared with those reported in the literature and related to sea temperature on the spawning grounds.