Abstract
The most important factor affecting the potential range of 14 non-native fishes in Florida appears to be their lack of tolerance to low temperatures. In this study, temperatures associated with reduction in feeding, cessation of feeding, loss of equilibrium and death were identified by decreasing water temperature 1°C day−1. Fishes tested and their mean lower lethal temperatures were: Astronotus ocellatus (12.9°C), Belonesox belizanus (9.7°C), Cichlasoma bimaculatum (8.9°C), C. cyanoguttatum (5.0°C), C. meeki (10.3°C), C. octofasciatum (8.0°C), C. trimaculatum (10.9°C), Clarias batrachus (9.8°C), Hemichromis bimaculatus (9.5°C), Hypostomus sp. (11.2°C), Tilapia aurea (6.2°C), T. mariae (11.2°C), T. melanotheron (10.3°C) and T. mossambica (9.5°C). These data indicate that temperature is less limiting for these fishes in Florida than was previously recognized.
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