Honors College Theses

Publication Date

2023

Major

Biology (B.S.B.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Johanne Lewis

Abstract

Climate change and global warming is an ever-growing concern for our environment and the survivability of the animals which inhabit it. With water temperatures expected to rise 2-3℃ in the next century, many aquatic organisms may be limited in their habitats based on their thermal tolerance (Lleras 2019). Southern populations of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the Southeastern United States could be some of the hardest hit by the effects of climate change due to their unusual life history as compared to the more northern populations of striped bass. These southern striped bass do not engage in coastal migrations in the summer, but rather choose to stay in the freshwater river environments, limiting their ability to find favorable water temperatures. This study aimed to find the upper threshold of thermal tolerance of these southern striped bass while also examining the differences between traditional short-term temperature ramps (Critical thermal maximum, CTmax) and newer, more environmentally relevant incremental temperature exposure (ITmax). CTmax and ITmax were both used to gauge the overall thermal tolerance of the species. Tests began at 20℃ and increased from there to give the closest thermal tolerance measures to wild fish as possible. Additionally, ventricle mass and respiration rate in respirations per minute were recorded to gain a better understanding of the overall ability of this population to handle changes in temperature.

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