scholarly journals Recruitment dynamics of non-native largemouth bass within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brock M. Huntsman ◽  
Frederick Feyrer ◽  
Matthew J. Young ◽  
James A. Hobbs ◽  
Shawn Acuña ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Health Indices ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Overwinter Mortality ◽  
Critical Developmental Period

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, LMB) recruitment is limited by a critical developmental period during early life-stages, but this mechanism may be less significant within non-native habitats. We conducted boat electrofishing surveys in four tidal lakes of California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (SSJD) from 2010-2011 to describe introduced LMB recruitment dynamics. We evaluated growth, proximate composition, and health indices of young-of-the-year (YOY) LMB among tidal lakes and developed an integrated count model to determine how factors known to affect LMB recruitment shape SSJD population structure. Our results show a mismatch between growth, nutrition, and YOY abundance, where the tidal lake with the most abundant and fastest growing LMB had the poorest nutritional status. The warm winter water temperatures and lack of a hatching-cohort growth advantage suggests overwinter starvation plays a less significant role in SSJD LMB recruitment than many native LMB habitats. Collectively, our results suggest that habitat characteristics (submerged aquatic vegetation) and not overwinter mortality shapes SSJD LMB population structure, a mechanism consistent with contemporary hypotheses about the altered fish community structure of the SSJD.

scholarly journals Diet shifts and delayed piscivory specialisation during the ontogenesis of the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802) in the Nakdong River and Upo Wetlands, South Korea

2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunbin Jo ◽  
Ju-Duk Yoon ◽  
Jeong-Hui Kim ◽  
Kwang-Seuk Jeong ◽  
Yuno Do ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Diet Shift ◽  
Ontogenetic Changes ◽  
Nakdong River ◽  
Prey Items

In this study, we examined the ontogenetic changes in prey selection pattern of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802) in accordance with habitat type. The stomach contents of largemouth bass were analysed with respect to predator size classes for two different habitats (Nakdong River main channel and the Upo Wetlands tributary) in South Korea, that differed in the diversity of potential prey items. The diversity (H′) of invertebrate diet items in stomach of largemouth bass was found significantly different between the study sites. Small large mouth bass (<100 mm) preferred to consume decapods and mayflies in the river and wet land systems respectively. Fishes >100 mm in the river and >200 mm in the wet land system preferred fish as their prey. Results demonstrated variations in composition of prey items as influenced by habitat characteristics as well as habitat use type, contributed to the delayed ontogenetic diet shift in the largemouth bass population.

Fishing Mortality and Habitat Loss Affect Largemouth Bass Fishery in the Potomac River (Maryland)

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Love ◽  
Mary Groves ◽  
Branson D. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
The United States ◽  
Potomac River ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Catch And Release ◽  
Negative Impacts

Abstract Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides is arguably the most popular sport fish of inland waters in the United States. The majority of anglers in the fishery practice catch and release. Catch-and-release guidelines aim to reduce negative impacts of angling on individual fish, though such impacts on populations are not widely reported. We hypothesized that a decline in the population size for Largemouth Bass from a catch-and-release fishery from the Potomac River resulted from a period of greater fishing mortality followed by habitat loss that reduced the recovery of the population. After we analyzed several years of fishery-dependent and independent data (1999–2015), it was determined that fishing mortality and relative exploitation were greater than average in the latter half of the 2000s than in previous years. Fishery-independent survey results suggested a loss of large fish and decline in population size. The relative abundance of juveniles subsequently declined possibly because the area of submerged aquatic vegetation used as nursery habitat had declined after tropical storms. For management purposes, we suggest that fishing mortality not exceed 28% for a sustainable fishery (assuming similar levels of natural mortality) in the Potomac River. Negative impacts to Largemouth Bass populations could be lessened by reduced harvest and widespread enforcement of catch-and-release guidelines, especially during times when angler effort is high, fish are highly accessible to anglers in the fishery, and habitat loss limits recruitment.

Structuring of a Predator Population Through Temperature-Mediated Effects on Prey Availability

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1175-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Marshall Adams ◽  
R. B. McLean ◽  
M. M. Huffman
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Predator Population ◽  
Selective Mortality ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Sufficient Energy

Temperature can control the structure of a predator population by regulating the abundance and size availability of prey. Relatively small differences in winter temperatures between years can have a major influence on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) population structure because of the threshold relationship between temperature and the lower lethal limits of shad. The relationship between prey availability and predator growth and mortality was established through field measurements of consumed energy. Growth and consumption of largemouth bass in Watts Bar Reservoir, Tennessee, was lower in 1979 than in 1980 as a result of lower winter water temperature in 1979, which reduced the abundance and availability of adequate-sized prey. Depending on the severity of the winter, bass that do not attain 25 ± 5 cm by the end of their first growing season do not survive to annulus I formation because of the unavailability of appropriate-sized prey in the spring and the inability of small bass to store sufficient energy reserves. Selective mortality favoring survival of larger individuals in an age-class is operating in the Watts Bar largemouth bass population. This has significant implications for predator growth in ecosystems that experience large seasonal fluctuations in prey availability.Key words: predator population structure, prey availability, reservoir temperature, energy consumption, growth, largemouth bass, selective mortality, shad

Use of underwater video to assess freshwater fish populations in dense submersed aquatic vegetation

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle L. Wilson ◽  
Micheal S. Allen ◽  
Robert N. M. Ahrens ◽  
Michael D. Netherland
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Hydrilla Verticillata ◽  
Submersed Aquatic Vegetation ◽  
Underwater Video ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Total Fish

Underwater video cameras (UVC) provide a non-lethal technique to sample fish in dense submersed aquatic vegetation. Fish often inhabit densely vegetated areas, but deficiencies of most sampling gears bias relative abundance estimates that inform fisheries management. This study developed methods using UVC to estimate relative abundance in dense vegetation using three experimental ponds covered with surface-matted hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) stocked at different densities of Lepomis spp. and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). We conducted UVC point counts over 13 weeks to measure relative fish abundance and occurrence from video analysis. Ponds were then drained to obtain true fish densities. In total, fish were detected in 55% of all counts and juvenile and adult Lepomis spp. and largemouth bass were enumerated. End-of-season true fish densities ranged across ponds (from 52 to 37000 fishha–1). Additionally, pond 2’s true density changed substantially from 370 to 12300 fishha–1. True population size was accurately reflected in differences in estimated relative abundances obtained from fish counts, as in pond 2 where mean fish counts increased from 0.10 in week 1 to 2.33 by week 13. Underwater video accurately and precisely quantified relative abundance at naturally-occurring fish densities, but this success was reduced at low densities.

Mortality, Hematocrit, Osmolality, Electrolyte Regulation, and Fat Depletion of Young-of-the-Year Freshwater Fishes under Simulated Winter Conditions

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Toneys ◽  
Daniel W. Coble
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Plasma Osmolality ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Winter Conditions ◽  
All Solutions ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Green Sunfish

In laboratory experiments young-of-the-year green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, and yellow perch, Perca flavescens, were held for 4 mo under simulated winter conditions (2–4 °C; photoperiod of 9 h light: 15 h dark) in solutions of various osmotic strengths, from 90% distilled water to 1.0% NaCl. Mortality in three of five experiments often was greater in salt solutions, indicating that NaCl did not increase survival. Survival was greater for larger yellow perch than smaller but was not related to size in the other species. Hematocrit was depressed below control levels in all solutions at the end of experiments. The fish generally were able to regulate plasma osmotic concentration in all solutions except the highest NaCl concentrations, where plasma osmolality was often significantly higher than in the control at the end of experiments. Plasma Na+ and Cl− typically decreased and then recovered at low temperatures. Presence of Na+ and Cl− in the external medium tended to alleviate their loss from plasma. Changes in plasma Na+ and Cl− were not related to mortality in hypoionic solutions but usually did correspond to changes in plasma osmolality. Fat content of survivors declined and water content increased for all species, but the losses and gains were not related to osmolality of solutions. Low fat content probably was not a cause of death.Key words: Mortality, electrolyte regulation, osmolality, hematocrit, fat depletion, winter conditions, green sunfish, largemouth bass, brook trout, yellow perch, sodium, chloride

Interactions among adult demography, spawning date, growth rate, predation, overwinter mortality, and the recruitment of largemouth bass in a northern lake

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 2588-2600 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M Post ◽  
James F Kitchell ◽  
James R Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
First Year ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Selective Predation ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Overwinter Mortality ◽  
First Year Of Life

Using 12 years of data, we evaluated the mechanisms controlling largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, recruitment in a lake near the northern extent of the largemouth bass range. We found that complex interactions among adult demographics, size-selective predation, and overwinter mortality regulate the number of largemouth bass surviving the first year of life. The largest recruitment events required at least a moderate number of adults, but a large number of adults was not sufficient to produce a large cohort of largemouth bass. Predation was controlled by the number of both adult and juvenile bass and was not strongly correlated with reproductive output. Overwinter mortality was size dependent, strongly affecting bass entering the winter at <50-60 mm in length, and likely the result of starvation. Predation and overwinter mortality interacted with spawning date and growth rate to produce variable but predictable patterns of first year survival. At high adult and juvenile densities, predation regulates first year survival. At low adult and juvenile densities, first year survival was regulated by adult demographics and interactions among spawning date, growth rates, and overwinter mortality. Although we can forecast coarse patterns of cohort survival, the survival of individual fish was more difficult to predict because length and age were not highly correlated.

Density and agonistic behaviour in young-of-the-year largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 1454-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian A. Fleming ◽  
Peter H. Johansen
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Agonistic Behaviour ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Dominance Relations ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Potential Interactions

Laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the influence of density on agonistic behaviour and dominance relations in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). We report here that high densities result in fewer agonistic interactions and fewer as well as less stable dominance relations. Increased numbers of potential interactions may render the continued maintenance of dominance inefficients.

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