Effects of chronic upper temperature regimes on growth of two geographical strains of channel and hybrid catfish

Climate change is a growing concern for pond culture of catfish, due to possible exacerbation of temperature fluctuations and increased maximum daily temperatures. Because channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) have a broad natural distribution from Canada to Mexico, it was hypothesized that natural differences in thermal tolerance and seasonal growth may be attributed to different geographical strains. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that these differences would be observed in hybrid catfish (I. punctatus x blue catfish] I. furcatus). Chronic thermal tolerance and growth rate were quantified in two geographically distinct strains of channel catfish and a corresponding hybrid catfish from one of these strains with a cross to an industry standard blue catfish strain. In a 6‐week growth experiment, catfish were subjected to daily cycling temperatures of either 27–31°C or 32–36°C, mimicking pond fluctuations. Hybrid catfish had the highest survival at both temperatures, and both strains of channel catfish had greater growth in weight or length at 27–31°C than at 32–36°C. Therefore, these results indicate that physiological performance, in terms of growth, decreases in channel catfish at temperatures greater than 27–31°C regardless of geographical origin of strain, whereas hybrid catfish did not show a decrease in weight under the same temperature conditions.