Data for: The effects of embryonic incubation temperature on subsequent growth and thermal tolerance in white sturgeon throughout onset of exogenous feeding to early juveniles

<b>Abstract</b><br/><p>An organism’s phenotypic characteristics can be altered by environmental variation experienced during embryonic development, potentially leading to changes that persist into adulthood. Increasing global temperatures are a current concern that may be particularly acute for species already threatened or endangered, such as the white sturgeon, <em>Acipenser</em> <em>transmontanus</em>. Given the limited information on the effects of embryonic temperatures on subsequent physiological parameters such as thermal tolerance and growth in this species, the effects of global climate change on the future of white sturgeon populations are uncertain. To investigate carryover effects resulting from early rearing temperatures, white sturgeon embryos were incubated at different environmental temperatures (T<sub>e</sub>­) of 12, 15, and 18 °C until hatch, after which fish were reared at a common 15 °C for 80 days post-hatch (dph). Individuals from each temperature treatment were tested for thermal tolerance using the critical thermal maximum method (CT<sub>max</sub>) at regular intervals from 13 to 80 dph, which bridged the time from the start of exogenous feeding through the transition into early juveniles. In addition, body length measures were taken to determine the effects of embryonic T<sub>e</sub>­ on growth through these life stages. We found that embryonic T<sub>e</sub>­ affected both thermal tolerance and growth; fish that developed at 18 °C had the lowest thermal tolerance, while those that developed at 12 °C grew largest over the observation period. This research represents a window into a critical period of development during which organisms are particularly vulnerable to climatic variation. The results can inform environmental managers on the best strategies to help conserve current white sturgeon populations across their range.</p>

【摘要】
生物体的表型特征（phenotypic characteristics）可因胚胎发育（embryonic development）期间经历的环境变化而发生改变，且此类改变可能持续至成年阶段。当前全球气温持续上升，这一问题对已受威胁或濒危的物种尤为严峻，例如美洲白鲟（*Acipenser transmontanus*）。鉴于目前关于胚胎温度对该物种后续生理指标（如热耐受性（thermal tolerance）、生长性能）影响的研究信息有限，因此全球气候变化对白鲟种群未来的影响尚不明朗。

为探究早期培育温度带来的延续效应（carryover effects），研究人员将美洲白鲟胚胎分别置于12、15、18 ℃的环境温度（Tₑ）下孵化，直至幼鱼破膜孵化；随后将所有幼鱼统一置于15 ℃的水环境中培育至孵化后天数（days post-hatch, dph）80天。

在孵化后13至80天的定期时间点，研究人员采用临界热最大值法（critical thermal maximum, CT_max）对各温度处理组的个体进行热耐受性测试，该测试时段覆盖了从外源性摄食（exogenous feeding）起始到早期幼鱼阶段的完整过渡时期。此外，研究人员还测量了幼鱼的体长，以分析胚胎阶段环境温度对该生命阶段生长性能的影响。

研究结果显示，胚胎阶段的环境温度显著影响幼鱼的热耐受性与生长性能：在18 ℃条件下发育的幼鱼热耐受性最低，而在12 ℃条件下发育的幼鱼在整个观测周期内体型最大。本研究揭示了生物体对气候变化尤为脆弱的关键发育窗口期，其研究结果可为环境管理者制定保护策略提供科学依据，以助力其在全球分布范围内对白鲟现有种群开展保护工作。