Survival, Growth, and Development in the Early Stages of the Tropical Gar Atractosteus tropicus: Developmental Critical Windows and the Influence of Temperature, Salinity, and Oxygen Availability

Alterations in fish developmental trajectories occur response to genetic and environmental changes, especially during sensitive periods of development (critical windows). Embryos larvae Atractosteus tropicus were used as a model study survival, growth, function temperature (28 °C control, 33 °C, 36 °C), salinity (0.0 ppt 4.0 ppt, 6.0 ppt), air saturation (control ~95% saturation, hypoxia ~30% hyperoxia ~117% saturation) three periods: (1) fertilization hatch, (2) day 1 6 post hatch (dph), (3) 7 12 dph. Elevated temperature, hypoxia, decreased survival incubation, at 2 3 Growth increased embryos incubated elevated higher salinity, but hypoxia. Changes occurred alterations the timing hatching, yolk depletion, acceptance exogenous feeding, free swimming, snout shape change, high Our results suggest identifiable critical windows early ontogeny A. contribute knowledge larval ecology interactions individuals × stressors time exposure.