bstract
Golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus larvae were kept at 26, 29 and 33 °C for 15 days from 3-day post hatching (DPH)
to 18 DPH to test temperature-dependent growth and jaw malformation. The growth, survival, jaw deformity and the
gene expressions of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were used as criteria to examine the fish response to temperature
manipulation. The growth rate of fish at 29 or 33 °C was significantly faster than fish at 26 °C, while fish survival
at 29 °C was significantly higher than fish at 33 °C. Jaw deformity was significantly affected by water temperature.
The highest jaw deformity occurred on fish at 33 °C, and the lowest jaw deformity was at 26 °C. The expressions of all
BMP genes except BMP10 were significantly affected by water temperature. The highest gene expression of BMP2 was
on fish at 29 °C, and the lowest expression was at 33 °C. For the BMP4 gene, the highest and lowest expressions were
found on fish at 33 and 26 °C, respectively. The present study indicates that jaw deformity of golden pompano larvae
increases with increasing temperature, and the gene expression of BMP4 proteins coincides with high jaw deformity
and water temperature elevation.