Effect of temperature on the effectiveness of artificial reproduction of dace [Cyprinidae (Leuciscus leuciscus (L.))] under laboratory and field conditions

• Dace is not strongly stenothermic species in terms of its reproduction.
• Effective artificial reproduction of dace can be conducted at temperatures above 12 °C.
• Rapid temperature increases and fluctuations during FOM have negative effect on reproduction.

This study sought to determine the effect of water temperature on the effectiveness of artificial reproduction of dace brooders under laboratory and field conditions. Three temperatures were tested in the laboratory: 9.5, 12 and 14.5 °C (±0.1 °C). The water temperature under field conditions was 11.0±0.3 °C (Czarci Jar Fish Farm) and 13.2±1.4 °C (Janowo Fish Farm). The study showed that artificial reproduction of dace is possible in all the temperature ranges under study and an embryo survival rate of over 87% can be achieved. Dace has also been found to be very sensitive to rapid temperature changes, even within the temperature ranges optimal for the species. Such changes have an adverse effect on the outcome of the reproduction process, such as a decrease in the percentage of reproducing females, a decrease in the pseudo-gonado-somatic index (PGSI) and a decrease in the embryo survival rate.