Ontogenetic variations of thermal optimum for growth, and its implication on thermolabile sex determination in blue tilapia

Knowledge of how the optimum temperature for growth (Tdegrees(opt)) varies during ontogeny, and how close it is to the temperatures that induce Phenotypic masculinization is fundamental to the understanding of the evolution of thermolabile sex determinism (TSD) in fishes. In blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus, Tdegrees(opt) is 32.6degrees C at the start of exogenous feeding (10 mg fish) and it decreases by c 1degrees C each time that the fish bode mass increases by an order of magnitude. Temperatures