THERMAL TOLERANCE OF THE MARINE CRAB, PORTUNUS PELAGICUS (BRACHYURA, PORTUNIDAE)

Critical thermal maxima (CTMax) and minima (CTMin) were determined for the blue crab, Portunus pelagicus acclimated at 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 degrees +/- 1 degrees C. The CTMax of blue crabs at those acclimation temperatures were 38.17, 39.08, 40.07, 41.26, and 42.66 degrees C, respectively. The corresponding CTMin values were 12.28, 12.57, 14.84, 16.34, and 16.57 degrees C, respectively. The zone of thermal tolerance assessed using the CTMax and CTMin boundaries was 519.7 degrees C-2. Acclimation response ratios ranged between 0.05 and 0.28.