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