Abstract: Using MS-222 as an anesthetic, we investigated the effects of temperature on the anesthetic effect of juvenile Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). The effects of water temperature (15, 20 and 25 ℃) on the effective anesthetic concentration, the time of induction and resuscitation, the longest anesthesia survival time and the final anesthesia status of juvenile Chinese sturgeon were examined. The effects of air temperature (4, 12 and 20 ℃) on the recovery time and the longest air exposure time of juvenile Chinese sturgeon were examined. The results showed that the optimum concentrations of MS-222 on juvenile Chinese sturgeon at 15, 20 and 25 ℃ were 100-240, 80-140 and 60-130 mg·L^-1, and the longest anesthesia retention time were 11 min, 7 min and 70 s, respectively. With the increases of water temperature, the time of enema and the longest anesthesia retention time of juvenile Chinese sturgeon were significantly decreased. Recovery time decreased first and then increased, with no significant correlation between recovery time and temperature. The final anesthetic level of juvenile Chinese sturgeon increased with the increase of MS-222 concentration. With increasing air temperature, the longest air exposure and survival time of juvenile Chinese sturgeons decreased significantly, and the recovery time increased significantly. The longest air exposure survival time of juvenile Chinese sturgeon at 4, 12 and 20 ℃ were 60, 28 and 14 min, respectively. Water temperature significantly affected the anesthetic effect of juvenile Chinese sturgeon. Air temperature significantly affected the recovery time and the longest air exposure survival time of Chinese sturgeon. The effect of water temperature on anesthesia effect should be fully considered during the anesthesia of Chinese sturgeon. In the manual operation of Chinese sturgeon, the effects of air temperature on the air exposure survival time of Chinese sturgeon should be fully considered to avoid accidental damage or death of fish.

Key words: artificial disturbance, Qinling Mountains., Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata, seed dispersal, habitat