Growth-independent effects of a fluctuating thermal regime on the life-history traits of the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Abstract –  Temperature fluctuation has been shown to affect somatic growth rates and metabolic functions of fish, but little is known about the effects of fluctuating temperatures on life-history traits. We examined these effects on female Japanese medaka ( Oryzias latipes ) reared from hatch to maturity at two mean temperatures (27 and 30 °C) with diel temperatures either held constant or allowed to fluctuate ±5 °C. Feeding regimes were manipulated to equilibrate medaka growth rates in all treatments. Age and length at maturity decreased as a result of thermal fluctuation, whereas there was no effect of temperature fluctuation on the proportion of fish attaining maturity or on the number of eggs produced by a mature female. We hypothesise that short-term high temperatures associated with temperature fluctuation decreases development time, whereas reduced energy conversion efficiency at higher temperatures does not allow for increased egg production.