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Thermal acclimation dynamics of Atlantic stingrays
Thesis   Open access

Thermal acclimation dynamics of Atlantic stingrays

Alexandra Anne Morris
University of West Florida,
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2021

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Abstract

Acclimation dynamics are an important, but little studied, aspect of fish thermal ecology, that quantify the pattern and speed with which fish readjust to acute changes in water temperature. When exposed to an acute temperature shift, fish implement a sequence of behavioral, physiological and/or molecular changes to ameliorate adverse temperature and restore homeostasis. Homeostatic changes due to temperature change can be tracked by monitoring shifts in critical thermal maximum values. Acclimation dynamics have been determined for several species of bony fish but are unknown in other fish groups. In this study acclimation dynamics were determined for three groups of Atlantic stingrays (Hypanus sabinus) acutely transferred to higher temperatures. Atlantic stingrays acutely transferred from 15 to 23°C, 23 to 30°C, or 30 to 34°C, accrued heat tolerance relatively quickly, with most of the acclimation process completed between 2 and 3 days. Atlantic stingrays acclimate more quickly to temperature change than teleost fishes. For example, guppies (Pocillia reticulata) require 15 days to fully acclimate. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) took 15-20 days to reach full acclimation. Sheepshead minnow -- a hyperthermic specialist capable of enduring temperatures of nearly 45° - took 17 days to reach full acclimation (Fangue et al., 2014). Atlantic stingrays are regularly exposed to rapid, unexpected temperature shifts and the ability to acclimate quicklyr allows stingrays to exploit shallow thermally variable habitats.
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