The temperature a fish experiences at the earliest stage of development can affect how it copes with temperature changes later in life, research by Scottish scientists suggests.

Researchers found that zebrafish embryos incubated in water that was warmer or cooler than average coped better with variations as adults.

The fish could swim faster and had muscle better suited to aerobic exercise than fish whose embryos were incubated at average temperatures.

The study suggests being exposed to challenging temperatures in early life might help fish cope with variable temperatures when they get older, which could help mitigate the effects of global warming.

It was carried out by Professor Ian Johnston and Dr Graham Scott at St Andrews University.

Prof Johnston said: "This research represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of the thermal biology of aquatic organisms.

"It shows how the temperature experienced at the earliest stages of development can have persistent effects on the physiology of adult stages.

"In order to predict the likely effects of future climate change, these early developmental effects need to be taken in to account.

"Indeed, for some species, warming at the embryo stage may improve the ability of adults to cope with seasonal temperature change."

The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It was supported by a European Union grant and the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology, a pooling initiative of the Scottish Funding Council.