Effects of temperature on development of Raja microocellata was tested by maintaining embryos in controlled conditions representative of those predicted under current climate scenarios. There was a positive relationship between size of neonates & developmental rate: temperatures 14.5-16.5°C produced skates 3.5-7%, respectively, smaller than those raised at 12.5°C. Developmental rates were also 12-23% faster, with neonates hatching 3-7 weeks earlier.
Adaptation, Biological Analysis of Variance