Developmental Temperature Shapes the Otolith Morphology of Metamorphosing and Juvenile Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758)

Otolith morphological variability is used as a reliable indicator to discriminate fish that experience different environmental conditions during their lifetimes. The present study examined the effects of developmental temperature (DT) egg and yolk-sac larval period on otolith shape asymmetry Gilthead seabream in later metamorphosis (56–58 days post-hatching, dph) early juvenile stage (93–95 dph). experimental populations were reared at water temperatures (17, 20, or 23 °C DT) from epiboly onset end (5–7 post-fertilization, dpf) then common rearing (20 °C), up trials bilateral analyzed (20–21 mm standard length, SL) (31–32 SL). results elliptic Fourier analysis showed DT significantly affected both stages examined. Furthermore, elevated increased levels otoliths stage. are discussed terms thermally induced long-term changes morphology potential raised wild juveniles.