EFFECTS OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH, SURVIVAL AND WHOLE BODY LIPIDS OF LARVAL PACIFIC LAMPREY Entosphenus tridentatus

Pacific lamprey populations have declined in abundance from historic levels in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Conservation efforts involving this native species include development of culture techniques, which the present research aims to address. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of temperature on growth, survival, whole body lipid and fatty acid profile of larval Pacific lamprey. During a six week trial, Larvae were reared at four different constant water temperature treatments in a flow through intensive culture setting. Temperature treatments included un-heated well water averaging 14.7 ˚C along with heated well water of 17.3, 19.2 and 22.4 ˚C.  Each treatment was randomly assigned three replicate tanks. Each tank housed 50 larvae at 86 days post hatch. Fish initially had an average weight and length of 3.7 mg and 10.3 mm, respectively. At the end of the trial survival was >98% across all temperature treatments. Analysis of the final results is ongoing. Growth, survival, whole body lipid, and fatty acid profile will be presented and discussed. The results of this research will refine the methods for producing quality lamprey and provide insight into long term sub lethal effects of temperature on larval Pacific lamprey.