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Mercenaria Mercenaria (Mollusca: Bivalvia): Temperature-Time Relationships For Survival Of Embryos And Larvae, Vs Kennedy, Wh Roosenburg, M Castagna, Ja Mihursky

VIMS Articles

To estimate the effects of entrainment of Mercenaria mercenaria embryos and larvae in the cooling water systems of steam-electric power plants, we used a thermal gradient apparatus. Cleavage stages, trochophore larvae and straight-hinge veliger larvae were subjected to 11 different temperatures for 8 different time periods. There was a direct relationship of mortality with temperature increase and, at higher temperatures , with increase in time exposure. As the clams aged, temperature tolerance increased, with cleavage stages most sensitive to higher temperature and straight-hinge larvae least sensitive. Multiple regression analyses of percentage mortality on temperature and time produced estimating equations that …