Growth Dynamics of Juvenile Striped Bass as Functions of Temperature and Ration

Abstract Growth dynamics of juvenile striped bass Morone saxatilis were determined at constant temperatures (12–34.5 C), at fluctuating temperatures (± 4 C around means of 18, 24, and 30 C), and at ration levels of 100, 60, 30, and 0% of satiation at each temperature regime. At constant temperatures, both maximum growth for 100% ration and minimum maintenance ration occurred near 24 C; zero growth occurred at 33.5 C. Reduced ration lowered growth rates and shifted the point of zero growth to lower temperatures, but it did not significantly shift the temperature of optimum growth. The greatest bioenergetic efficiency in fluctuating temperature regimes was in the range 14–22 C (mean, 18 C).