The Effect of Temperature on the Rate of Development and Survival of Alewife Eggs and Larvae

Eggs from Lake Michigan alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) were incubated at 79 different temperatures from 42.1 to 87.0 F. Hatching occurred at 44.4–84.9 F and was optimum (38% hatched) at about 64 F. Incubation time varied from 15 days at 45 F to 3.7 days at 70 F and 2.1 days at 84 F. Time from start to finish of hatching ranged from 13 days at about 46 F to 2–3 days at 68–70 F and 1–2 days at 80–84 F. Survival of unfed larvae held at incubation temperatures increased from 3.8 days at 51 F to 7.6 days at 58–59 F and then decreased to 2.4 days at 80–82 F.