日本鬼鲉胚胎发育及仔、稚鱼形态学观察

对日本鬼鲉的胚胎及仔稚鱼形态发育进行观察,描述了各发育时期的发育时序和形态特征。日本鬼鲉的受精卵呈正圆球形,无色透明,无油球,平均卵径为(1.42±0.04)mm,呈浮性。在水温(22±0.5)℃,盐度31‰的条件下,历时约52h10min完成孵化。初孵仔鱼全长(3.04±0.13)mm,卵黄囊长(2.23±0.08)mm,卵黄囊高为(1.65±0.06)mm,在(21±0.5)℃水温下,仔鱼孵化后3d内营内源性营养(卵黄囊仔鱼),第4天卵黄囊完全消失,开口摄食轮虫。13d全长(7.12±0.35)mm,背鳍鳍条出现进入稚鱼早期,15d全长(7.92±0.61)mm鱼体及各鳍开始出现金黄色斑纹,25d全长(13.66±0.55)mm,整个鱼体呈黄褐色,完成变态进入幼鱼期,开始营底栖生活。同时观察了自胚胎发育至幼鱼期鱼苗体表色素分布的变化及其器官发育的形态变化。     

美洲鲥胚胎及仔稚鱼的发育

对美洲鲥(Alosa sapidissima)早期生活史阶段的生长发育特征进行了观察和测量, 描述了胚胎和仔、稚鱼的生长发育特征。美洲鲥受精卵球形、无油球, 为沉性卵, 卵径2.85-3.28 mm。在水温20.3℃-21.9℃孵化条件下, 经过82h 孵化出膜, 根据其胚胎发育过程的形态特征, 胚胎发育分为受精卵、卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期、器官形成期和出膜期7 个发育阶段。美洲鲥初孵仔鱼全长为(8.56±0.36) mm, 其卵黄囊体积为(4.57±0.77) mm3。1 日龄仔鱼脑部发育明显, 口张开, 肛门开通, 胸鳍形成。2 日龄仔鱼卵黄囊体积(0.71±0.23)mm3, 只有刚孵化的15.54%。3 日龄仔鱼经过1d 的混合营养期, 卵黄被完全吸收, 4 日龄仔鱼完全营外源性营养, 卵黄囊的体积(V)随孵化时间(h)的变化方程为V=4.1583e?0.0356h(R2=0.9901)。此后, 背鳍鳍条、尾鳍鳍条、臀鳍鳍条和腹鳍鳍条相继在晚期仔鱼出现, 9 日龄仔鱼尾椎开始弯曲, 21 日龄仔鱼尾椎弯曲完成。27 日龄鱼鳞开始形成, 到33 日龄稚鱼全身披鳞, 个体发育进入幼鱼期, 仔稚鱼期间的生长模型方程为: TL=0.0049D2+0.5091D+9.2578 (R2=0.9885, TL 为全长, D 为日龄)。       

北极茴鱼胚胎及仔鱼发育

研究对人工繁殖的北极茴鱼(Thymallus arcticus grubei)胚胎发育开展系统观察,记录分析其胚胎及仔鱼发育各时期的形态特征,旨在为北极茴鱼的人工繁育和种质资源保护提供必要的基础数据。结果显示,北极茴鱼受精卵呈圆球形,金黄色,沉性卵,未吸水卵径(2.46±0.14) mm,吸水卵径(3.14±0.18) mm,卵黄质内有多个油球。油球的数量和空间分布在胚胎发育过程中发生了规律性变化。在孵化水温(11.06±0.72)℃,溶氧8.3—9.8 mg/L条件下,历时301h完成整个胚胎发育过程,所需积温为3384.84h·℃,经历合子期、卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期、器官形成期和孵化出膜7个阶段,共26个时期。北极茴鱼仔鱼尾鳍、胸鳍的分化和眼色素沉积在受精卵胚胎发育后期就已经完成,背鳍、腹鳍、臀鳍和脂鳍等在胚后发育过程中相继分化。其初孵仔鱼平均全长为(9.33±0.35) mm,仔鱼卵黄囊呈圆球形, 18日龄时卵黄囊和油球被完全消耗。其早期发育阶段(0—16日龄)的生长特性符合公式:y=0.0005x⁴–0.0201x³+0....     

半滑舌鳎仔鱼的摄食与生长

在水温23.4-24.0℃、盐度33.00、pH7.78-8.02的培养条件下,半滑舌鳎初孵仔鱼全长为3.55±0.161mm(n=60),依照公式4/3π.R/2.(r/2)2计算其卵黄囊体积为0.606±0.106mm3(n=60)。1日龄仔鱼,全长为4.99±0.211mm(n=10),卵黄囊体积较初孵仔鱼缩小近10倍,约为0.066±0.008mm3(n=10);2日龄,仔鱼的巡游模式建立,仔鱼全长为5.61±0.069mm,卵黄囊体积为0.030±0.002mm3(n=10),口初开;2.5日龄,口完全裂开,口裂0.24±0.024mm(n=10),仔鱼进入摄食期;3日龄,仔鱼的外源性摄食关系初步建立;4日龄,仔鱼的摄食率达100%,完成了内源性营养向外源性营养的转换;5日龄,仔鱼的卵黄完全被吸收,仅剩聚成一团的小油球,仔鱼的混合营养期持续2.5天时间;21日龄,稚鱼全长为12.96±0.611mm(n=11),仍有40%的个体残余的油球还没有完全被吸收,其体积仅为0.0000005±0.000003mm3(n=11)。仔鱼发育过程中,其长度的生长存在内源性营养阶段的快速生长、混合营养阶段的慢速生长以及饥饿期间的负生长三个生长期相,平均增长率为0.45mm/d,依照TL=aD3 bD2 cD d方程式对仔鱼的全长与日龄进行回归,其生长模型为TL(mm)=0.0026D3-0.0704D2 0.7993D 3.55(R2=0.9811,n=324)。仔鱼耐受饥饿的时间临界点发生在孵化后第10天(即9日龄)。仔鱼具有摄食能力的时间约6天,不可逆转饥饿期的时间约3天。残余的油球较长时间的存在,相对地延长了仔鱼混合营养期的时间,对仔鱼的发育、生长和存活有着至关重要的作用。5-20日龄的个体都具有胸角这个明显的形态学特征,只是饥饿个体和不可逆转饥饿期个体的胸角比摄食个体更为明显和尖锐,胸角不能作为区分健康仔鱼和饥饿仔鱼的形态学依据之一[动物学报51(6)1023-1033,2005]。     

雅砻江短须裂腹鱼胚胎和卵黄囊仔鱼的形态发育

当前短须裂腹鱼(Schizothorax wangchiachii)已被列为雅砻江和金沙江的增殖放流保护鱼类,为探讨两水系的环境差异对其早期发育产生的影响,本文以雅砻江短须裂腹鱼为研究对象,通过人工授精获得受精卵,对胚胎和早期仔鱼的形态发育特征进行了观察,并与已有报道的金沙江短须裂腹鱼胚胎与仔鱼早期发育研究进行比较。研究结果显示,雅砻江短须裂腹鱼卵径(2.70±0.02)mm,较金沙江短须裂腹鱼大0.34 mm;初孵仔鱼全长(11.36±0.22)mm,比金沙江短须裂腹鱼长2.7 mm;在水温(14±1)℃时,两水系的短须裂腹鱼胚胎发育时序基本一致,但听囊等部分功能器官的发育时序存在差异;胚胎发育历时181 h,积温2 539.98 h℃,分别比金沙江短须裂腹鱼早73 h和低1 025 h℃;出膜后1~9 d,仔鱼的鳃、口、胸鳍、尾鳍、鳔、肠道等功能器官先后形成,第9天卵黄囊吸收基本完全,与金沙江短须裂腹鱼一致。比较表明,两水系短须裂腹鱼早期发育特征基本相同,但卵径大小、孵化历时、部分器官发育时序存在一定差异,可能是二者为适应环境而做出不同的选择。     

鸭绿江唇仔、稚鱼形态发育与早期生长

通过观察、拍照和测量的方法对鸭绿江唇(Hemibarbus labeo)仔、稚鱼的形态发育和早期生长进行了研究。结果表明:在19.6—25.8℃的试验条件下,唇初孵化仔鱼全长为(7.92±0.29)mm,2日龄头部两侧出现感觉芽;3日龄鳔一室原基形成,5日龄红色的脾出现,且仔鱼开口;7日龄卵黄囊吸收完毕,9日龄脊索末端开始向上弯曲;10日龄鳔二室形成,14日龄脊索弯曲完成,尾鳍边缘开始内凹;32日龄鳞片开始出现在鳃盖后缘的体表,同时各鳍发育完全,个体发育进入稚鱼期,43日龄全身被鳞,个体发育进入幼鱼期。根据卵黄囊、脊索和鳞片的变化,唇胚后发育可细分为卵黄囊期(0—6日龄)、弯曲前期(7—9日龄)、弯曲期(10—14日龄)、弯曲后期(15—32日龄)和稚鱼期(33—43日龄)。试验期间,全长和体质量的特定生长率分别为3.32%和12.16%;卵黄囊体积(V)与日龄(d)的关系为V=0.0048d3–0.0309d2–0.1240d+0.8453(R2=0.8933);全长(LT)、体质量(W)与日龄均为指数函数关系,相关方程分别为:LT=8.3821e0.0329d(R2=0.9586),W=0.0048e0.0969d(R2=0.9463);头长(LH)、体高(HB)的生长方程分别为:LH=–6E–05d3+0.002d2+0.1733d+0.7862(R2=0.9577),HB=–5E–05d3+0.0039d2+0.017d+0.9389(R2=0.9621)。     

微流水培养条件下斑鳜仔鱼的摄食与生长

在孵化环道连续微流水培养、水温(24±2)℃条件下,斑鳜(Siniperca scherzeri Steindachner)初孵仔鱼全长为(4.87±0.10)mm(n=50),卵黄囊体积为(1.461±0.172)mm3(n=50),油球直径为(0.47±0.04)mm(n=50).仔鱼孵出12h,胸鳍增大,具有一定阵发性水平游动能力,1日龄巡游模式建立;2日龄口膜消失,开始主动摄食,进入混合营养期,3 日龄外源性摄食关系完全建立.5日龄仔鱼的卵黄和油球全部消失.进入外源营养期;15日龄全长达到(13.72±0.76)mm(n=12).仔鱼发育过程中,其全长生长存在内源性营养阶段的较快速生长,混合营养阶段的慢速生长以及外源性营养阶段的快速生长三个生长期相,平均增长率为0.59 mm/d,对仔鱼全长TL(mm)与日龄D(d)进行同归,其生长模型为:TL=-0.0004D3+0.0283D2+0.2159D + 4.9335(R2=0.985,n=261).2-15 日龄,口宽与全长呈正比关系.仔鱼从初孵到PNR仅为5-6d,具有摄食能力的时间4d,仔鱼依赖外源性营养开始时间较早,对饥饿的耐受力较差.     

温度对尖裸鲤胚胎发育及其仔稚鱼生长性状的影响

采用实验生态学方法研究温度对尖裸鲤（Oxygymnocypris stewartii）胚胎发育及仔稚鱼生长性状的影响，旨在掌握温度对其早期发育的影响。结果表明，随着温度的升高，胚胎的孵化时间缩短，发育速度加快。在平均水温5 ℃、8 ℃、11 ℃、14 ℃和17 ℃下，尖裸鲤的胚胎孵化时间分别为530.78 h、366.12 h、214.22 h、220.63 h、153.95 h，温度和孵化时间呈幂函数关系，有效积温在水温为11 ℃时最低，为2 356.4 h ·℃。尖裸鲤胚胎不同发育时期在不同温度下的累计时间均呈现指数函数关系。随着温度的升高，孵化率呈现先降低后升高的趋势，水温范围在11 ~ 17 ℃时，温度系数Q10值和Q13值最接近2。尖裸鲤初孵仔鱼全长与温度间呈现三次多项式函数，全长与温度之间不存在显著性关系；而初孵仔鱼卵黄囊体积与温度间呈现显著性的二次多项式函数。综合各项指标表明，尖裸鲤胚胎的适宜孵化水温为11 ~ 17 ℃，仔稚鱼的适宜生长水温为14 ~ 17 ℃。     

东北七鳃鳗早期发育研究

通过开展东北七鳃鳗(Lampetra morii)胚胎、卵黄囊期仔鱼和幼鱼发育研究, 系统地描述东北七鳃鳗的早期发育形态特征和生长发育规律。研究结果表明: 东北七鳃鳗的卵裂为全裂类型, 在(18±1)℃水温下, 受精卵经卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期、头凸期、孵出前期以及孵出期, 历时11—12d孵育出仔鱼。初孵仔鱼体重为(0.00032±0.00002) g, 全长为(0.29±0.02) cm。在卵黄囊期内, 仔鱼体重和全长随日龄的增加而增长, 吻长、眼径、眼鳃间距、口笠长、鳃前长、鳃长、头长、体长、尾长和泄殖孔长均存在异速生长现象。初孵仔鱼经过约15d(卵黄囊期)发育成幼鱼, 幼鱼卵黄囊完全吸收, 消化道贯通, 形成肠道, 开始摄食。在幼鱼期, 经5 个月的培育, 幼鱼体重和全长随月龄的增加而增长, 体色逐渐加深, 5月龄幼鱼的体重和全长分别为(0.07±0.01) g和(3.87±0.32) cm。东北七鳃鳗的早期发育研究为七鳃鳗发育生物学积累基础资料, 同时也为七鳃鳗的人工增养殖提供了科学依据, 推进七鳃鳗的模式化进程。     

鳜消化系统器官发生的组织学

利用形态学观察和连续组织切片技术,对出膜后0-35d的鳜仔稚鱼消化系统胚后发育的组织学特征进行了系统研究.结果表明,试验水温为18.0-20.0℃时,鳜初孵仔鱼消化道仅为一段位于脊索下方、卵黄囊上方的实心细胞索,卵黄囊呈椭圆形,含有油球.孵化后第2天,口和肛门形成,消化道贯通.孵化后第4天,消化道上皮细胞出现分化,肝脏和胰脏出现,仔鱼开始由内源性营养向外源性营养转变.孵化后第5天,仔鱼开口摄食,消化道分化成口咽腔、食道、胃、前肠和后肠.孵化后第9天,卵黄囊完全被吸收.此后随着鱼体的生长,消化系统从结构和功能上逐步发育完善和成熟.孵化后第7天前肠中出现空泡,孵化后第8天仔鱼后肠中发现有嗜曙红颗粒,表明肠上皮细胞吸收了脂肪和蛋白质.在孵化后第13天,出现胃腺,标志着稚鱼期的开始.     

Embryonic development,larvae and juvenile of elkhorn sculpin,Alcichthys alcicornis

The eggs ofAlcichthys alcicornis were spawned in tank at the laboratory and reared for the studies of embryonic, larval and juvenile development. This species takes place entosomatic fertilization, and females spawn fertilized eggs after copulation. The eggs are demersal and adhesive, released as a clump forming a thin layer on the bottom of tank. There was no significant difference in embryonic development between this species and other oviparous teleostean species. Hatching occurred between 17 and 18 days after spawning at a mean water temperature of 8.5?C. The newly hatched larvae averaged 4.44 mm in body length (BL). The larvae attained to post-larval stage at 5.80 mm BL, and juvenile stage at 10.2 mm BL. A specific feature of the post-larvae was the appearance of three lines of the melanophores on the caudal part of fin fold. Carotenoid first appeared on the nape at 8.70 mm BL, heavily emerged beyond 12.9 mm BL, and turned up on the back also beyond 15.2 mm BL. Scales on the lateral line were completed by 18.5 mm BL. Three pairs of flaps were observed on the dorsal surface of the head at 37.0 mm BL. External features of adult specimens are almost completed by 52.0 mm BL, yet the tip of the first preopercular was not branched but remained simple.     

The spawning, embryonic and early larval development of the green wrasse Labrus viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Labridae) in controlled conditions

Green wrasse, Labrus viridis (Linnaeus, 1758), is an endangered species in the southern Adriatic Sea, but it is also of interest for potential rearing in polyculture with other commercial species for the repopulation of areas where it is endangered or as a new aquaculture species. A parental stock of the green wrasse was kept in aquaria for six years. The spawning, embryonic and early larval development maintained under controlled laboratory conditions are described and illustrated. The average diameter of newly spawned eggs was 1.01±0.03 mm. Mature and fertilized eggs were attached to the tank bottom by mucus. Hatching started after 127 h at a mean temperature of 14.4±0.8°C. The average total length of newly hatched larvae was 4.80±0.22 mm. Absorption of the yolk-sac was completed after the 5th day when larvae reached 5.87±0.28 mm. Larvae were fed with the rotifers Brachionus plicatilis. The pigmentation of L. viridis larvae is similar to that of Labrus merula and Labrus bergylta, but the main differences between these species are in the size of larvae and the development time of the melanophores on the anal fin-fold (five days later than with L. merula) and on top of the head (nine days earlier than with L. merula).     

大麻哈鱼卵黄囊期仔鱼异速生长及其生态学意义

运用实验生态学的方法, 对大麻哈鱼(Oncorhynchus keta Walbaum)卵黄囊期仔鱼的异速生长及器官优先发育在早期生存和环境适应上的生态学意义进行了研究。结果表明, 大麻哈鱼卵黄囊期仔鱼的感觉、摄食, 呼吸和游泳等器官快速分化, 许多关键器官均存在异速生长现象。在身体各部分中, 头部和尾部为正异速生长, 躯干部为负异速生长, 体高有先增大后减小的趋势; 在头部器官中, 眼径、口宽、吻长和眼后头长均为正异速生长; 在游泳器官中, 胸鳍、腹鳍、背鳍、臀鳍、背鳍基、臀鳍基和尾鳍均为正异速生长, 脂鳍为负异速生长, 其中, 腹鳍在全长25.31 mm、12日龄出现生长拐点, 但拐点前后均为正异速生长。大麻哈鱼卵黄囊期仔鱼感觉、摄食, 呼吸和游泳等器官的快速发育, 使出膜后的仔鱼在最短的时间内获得了与早期生存密切相关的各种能力, 对适应复杂多变的外界环境具有重要的生态学意义。       

Pelagic eggs and larvae of Coryphaenoides marginatus (Gadiformes: Macrouridae) collected from Suruga Bay, Japan

The pelagic eggs, yolk-sac and pelagic larvae of the macrourid fish, Coryphaenoides marginatus, from Suruga Bay in southern Japan, are described. The identification of the pelagic eggs based on 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequences agreed with that obtained from morphological analyses. The spherical eggs, 1.14–1.30 mm in diameter, contained a single oil globule 0.30–0.38 mm in diameter, and had hexagonally patterned ornamentation on the chorion, 0.025–0.033 mm in width. Many melanophores were present on the anterodorsal region of the embryo after the caudal end had detached from the yolk. Within a day after hatching, each of the yolk-sac larvae had a body axis that was bent slightly at the anterior trunk region, many dorsal and lateral melanophores on the trunk plus several on the gut, and small irregular wrinkles on the dorsal and anal fin membranes. The pelagic larvae had a short caudal region in comparison to other known congeners (length 2.0–3.2+ times head length vs. 4–7, respectively), a short stalked pectoral fin base, and no elongate first dorsal and pelvic fin rays. They were further characterized by the presence of numerous very dense melanophores from just behind the eye to the anterior part of the caudal region at 5.1 mm head length (25.8+ mm total length). The significant difference in vertical distribution between the pelagic eggs and larvae (dominant depths ca. 200–350 m vs. ca. 10–100 m, respectively), with no subsequent collection of pelagic larvae with greater than 6 mm head length, indicate two stages (rising and falling) of ontogenic vertical migration.     

西藏巨须裂腹鱼早期发育特征

巨须裂腹鱼(Schizothorax macropogon)隶属裂腹鱼亚科, 裂腹鱼属, 是西藏特有经济鱼类, 因过度捕捞, 其种群数量和分布面积下降, 在2009年中国红色名录评为“濒危”等级。研究通过研究巨须裂腹鱼早期发育特征, 旨在为该鱼的科学养护提供技术支撑。结果表明: 巨须裂腹鱼受精卵直径3.0—3.2 mm, 遇水开始具有微黏性, 随后脱黏, 经过准备卵裂阶段、卵裂阶段、囊胚阶段、原肠胚阶段、神经胚阶段、器官分化阶段、 孵化阶段, 在水温10℃的条件下, 经过460.67h孵化出来。初孵仔鱼体长9.9—1.1 mm, 心率48—50次/min, 鳃盖骨清晰可见, 下颌原基、尾鳍下骨原基可见。第2天鼻凹出现; 第3天肝胰脏原基出现; 第4天鳃耙、肩带原基出现; 第6天仔鱼上下颌开始张合; 第7天心血管分化结束, 仔鱼开始进入混合营养期; 第14天鳔一室和体侧色素带形成; 第26天肋骨原基出现; 第35天鳔二室出现, 卵黄囊耗尽; 第63天背鳍分化结束; 第83天臀鳍分化结束。巨须裂腹鱼胚胎具有独特的发育时序: 体节的出现先于胚孔封闭, 是对高原环境的一种适应和进化。     

瓦氏黄颡鱼的胚后发育观察

2002年5~6月,在四川省泸州市、合江县分数批收集到长江野生瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrusvachelli)亲本,通过人工催产、人工授精获得受精卵,对其胚后发育过程进行了观察。瓦氏黄颡鱼的胚后发育过程可以分为卵黄囊仔鱼、晚期仔鱼和幼鱼3个阶段。初孵仔鱼淡黄色,肌节40对,平均全长5.2mm。水温20~22℃时,孵出后第3d口张开;第7d开始摄食;第9d卵黄吸尽,此时鱼苗平均全长12mm,卵黄囊仔鱼阶段结束。晚期仔鱼阶段的仔鱼,胸鳍、尾鳍、臀鳍、背鳍、腹鳍先后发育,至鳍褶消失时晚期仔鱼阶段结束。经过30d的生长和发育,进入幼鱼阶段;此时平均全长达37mm,其形态特征和生态习性均与成鱼相似。     

Early development of New Zealand hapuku Polyprion oxygeneios eggs and larvae

This study describes for the first time the normal development of New Zealand hapuku Polyprion oxygeneios embryos and larvae reared from fertilization to 11 days post-hatch (dph) at a constant temperature. Fertilized eggs were obtained from natural spawnings from communally reared captive wild broodstock. Eggs averaged 2 mm in diameter and had single or multiple oil globules. Embryos developed following the main fish embryological stages and required an average of 1859·50 degree hours post-fertilization (dhpf) to hatch. The newly hatched larvae (4·86 mm mean total length, L(T) ) were undifferentiated, with unpigmented eyes, a single and simple alimentary tube and a finfold that covered the entire body. Larvae relied on the energy from the yolk-sac reserves until 11 dph (7·33 mm mean L(T) ), when yolk-sac reabsorption was almost completed. Some of the major developmental stages from hatching to yolk-sac reabsorption were eye pigmentation (5 dph), upper jaw formation (7 dph), lower jaw formation (8 dph) and mouth opening (8-9 dph). By 9 dph, the digestive system consisted of pancreas, liver, primordial stomach, anterior and posterior gut; therefore, P. oxygeneios larvae would be capable of feeding on live prey. The developmental, morphological and histological data described constitutes essential baseline information on P. oxygeneios biology and normal development.     

Muscle growth in yolk-sac larvae of the Atlantic halibut as influenced by temperature in the egg and yolk-sac stage

Atlantic halibut eggs and yolk-sac larvae were incubated at 1, 5 and 8° C. Eggs incubated at 8° C gave slightly shorter larvae at hatching with a significantly smaller total cross-sectional area of white muscle fibres than eggs incubated at 5° C. Transport of eggs 2 days prior to hatching gave significantly longer larvae at hatching with a significantly larger red fibre cross-sectional area than when eggs were transported shortly after the blastopore closure. A higher survival until 230 degree days after hatching was also observed in the former group. All eggs incubated at 1° C died before hatching and all larvae incubated at 1° C died before 45 degree days after hatching. From hatching until 230 degree days the total white cross-sectional area increased threefold in all temperature groups. The increase in white cross-sectional area was entirely due to hypertrophy between hatching and 150 degree days (10 mm L _S). Recruitment of new white fibres increased in germinal zones at the dorsal, ventral and lateral borders of the myotome from 150 degree days onwards, but at 230 degree days (12–13 mm L _S) the recruitment fibre zone constituted <10% of the total white cross-sectional area. Larval incubation at 8° C gave slightly longer larvae with a significantly larger cross-sectional area of recruitment fibres at 230 degree days than incubation at 5° C. The larval group incubated at 8° C also had a significantly lower survival until 230 degree days than did the 5° C group. Incubation temperature regimes did not affect the volume density of myofibrils in the axial muscle fibres at 230 degree days. Thus hypertrophy is the predominant mechanism of axial white muscle growth in Atlantic halibut yolk-sac larvae and an increased rearing temperature during the yolk-sac stage increases white muscle fibre hyperplasia.