Changes in the Predator–Prey Behavior of Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas) and Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Caused by Cadmium

1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Sullivan ◽  
G. J. Atchison ◽  
D. J. Kolar ◽  
A. W. McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Key Words Cadmium ◽  
Schooling Behavior ◽  
Prey Vulnerability ◽  
Prey Behavior ◽  
Toxicant Concentration

Increased prey vulnerability was demonstrated for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) undergoing acute (24-h) and subacute (21-d) sublethal cadmium exposure prior to interacting with largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The lowest acute and subacute cadmium concentrations that increased prey vulnerability were 0.375 and 0.025 mg Cd/L, respectively, with the latter well below the maximum acceptable toxicant concentration for fathead minnows. Prey exposed to cadmium displayed altered behavior patterns, including abnormal schooling behavior. Key words: cadmium, behavior, predator–prey, bioassay, Micropterus salmoides, Pimephales promelas

Influence of turbidity on piscivory in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 1362-1369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M Reid ◽  
Michael G Fox ◽  
Thomas H Whillans
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Content ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Water Clarity ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Turbidity Level ◽  
Feeding Trials

In situ and laboratory feeding trials coupled with stomach content analysis of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were performed to examine how turbidity influences the size selectivity and capture rates of prey. No significant differences in the capture success of adult largemouth bass preying on northern redbelly dace (Phoxinus eos) were observed during in situ feeding trials in two Lake Ontario coastal wetlands differing in turbidity level (2.3 and 20 nephlometric turbity units (NTU)). During 1-h laboratory feeding trials, the overall number of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) captured was not significantly different among 1-, 18-, and 37-NTU treatments. However, at 70 NTU, the number of fathead minnows captured was significantly lower than that at the lowest turbidity treatment. Selection by juvenile largemouth bass of the smallest size-class of fathead minnow decreased as turbidity increased. No significant differences in piscivory were apparent between juvenile largemouth bass collected from turbid and clear habitats. Stomach content comparisons of juvenile largemouth bass seined from six clear and turbid habitats suggest that piscivory is primarily regulated by the availability of vulnerable size-classes of prey fish, as opposed to water clarity.

Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Carbaryl (Sevin) on Survival, Growth, and Reproduction of the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas)

1972 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 583-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Threshold Concentration ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Motile Sperm ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Toxicant Concentration ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

When fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to five concentrations (0.008–0.68 mg/liter) of the insecticide carbaryl for 9 months and throughout a life cycle, the highest concentration prevented reproduction and decreased survival. At the high concentration, testes contained motile sperm and ovaries were in a flaccid condition and appeared to be in a resorptive state. At the 0.68 mg/liter concentration, carbaryl appeared to contribute to mortality of larvae (produced by unexposed parents) within 30 days of hatching. Survival of young grown in the 0.008 mg/liter concentration was reduced. Since no demonstrable effects were noted for survival, growth, or reproduction at the 0.017, 0.062, and 0.21 mg/liter concentrations, this low survival value is considered not due to carbaryl. The 96-hr median tolerance concentration (TL 50) and the lethal threshold concentration (LTC) for 2-month-old fathead minnows were 9.0 mg/liter. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) for fathead minnows exposed to carbaryl in water with a hardness of 45.2 mg/liter and a pH of 7.5 lies between 0.21 and 0.68 mg/liter. The application factors (MATC/96-hr TL50 and MATC/LTC) both lie between 0.023 and 0.075.

scholarly journals Temperature and Estrogen Alter Predator–Prey Interactions between Fish Species

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J L Ward ◽  
V Korn ◽  
A N Auxier ◽  
H L Schoenfuss
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Environmental Estrogens ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Food Web Interactions ◽  
Capture Success ◽  
High Concentrations

Synopsis A variety of environmental estrogens are commonly detected in human-impacted waterways. Although much is known about the effects of these environmental estrogens on the reproductive physiology and behavior of individuals within species, comparatively less is known about how these compounds alter the outcomes of interactions between species. Furthermore, few studies have considered how the effects of contaminants are modulated by natural variation in abiotic factors, such as temperature. To help fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a factorial experiment to examine the independent and combined effects of estrone (E1) and temperature on the outcome of predator–prey interactions between two common North American freshwater fishes, fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). Larval fathead minnows and adult sunfish were exposed to either a low (mean±standard deviation, 90.1 ± 18 ng/L; n = 16) or high (414 ± 147 ng/L; n = 15) concentration of E1 or to a solvent control for 30 days at one of four natural seasonal temperatures (15°C, 18°C, 21°C, and 24°C) before predation trials were performed. Exposure to E1 was associated with a significant increase in larval predation mortality that was independent of temperature. Across all temperature treatments, approximately 74% of control minnows survived; this survivorship significantly exceeded that of minnows exposed to either concentration of E1 (49% and 53% for minnows exposed to the low and high concentrations, respectively). However, exposure to E1 also impaired the prey-capture success of sunfish, partially mitigating predation pressure on exposed minnows. Overall prey-capture success by sunfish showed an inverted U-shaped distribution with temperature, with maximal prey consumption occurring at 21°C. This study illustrates the vulnerability of organismal interactions to estrogenic pollutants and highlights the need to include food web interactions in assessments of risk.

Role of satiation in the functional response of a piscivore, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 548-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E Essington ◽  
James R Hodgson ◽  
James F Kitchell
Keyword(s):  
Functional Response ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Consumption Rate ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Stomach Fullness ◽  
Daily Consumption ◽  
Prey Behavior ◽  
Natural Settings ◽  
Predation Rates

We evaluated whether satiation regulates the predation rates of a piscivore, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), in natural settings. A functional response model indicated that predation rates can be reduced by satiation when mean prey density is high or when prey encounters are highly patchy. We then used bioenergetics modeling to estimate the predation rates of individual bass in four lakes during a 16-year period and used stomach content mass in diet samples to evaluate the variability in daily predation rates. Predation rates, expressed as the proportion (p) of the maximum daily consumption rate, were low (mode = 0.3, mean = 0.4). Stomach fullness (s), expressed as the proportion of the stomach fullness associated with the maximum sustainable consumption rate, was highly variable, and 13% of all bass diets had s > 1, indicating that bass could opportunistically forage at rates exceeding their maximum sustainable rate. The low predation rates and the ability to consume prey at rates exceeding the maximum sustainable rate make it unlikely that satiation was an important constraint on bass predation rates. Thus, satiation effects widely represented in modeling studies may be a rare component in piscivore-prey interactions, while prey behavior may be a more important component governing predation rates.

scholarly journals Captan Toxicity to Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas), Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1811-1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger O. Hermanutz ◽  
Leonard H. Mueller ◽  
Kenneth D. Kempfert
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Threshold Concentration ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Toxicant Concentration ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

The toxic effects of captan on survival, growth, and reproduction of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and on survival of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were determined in a flow-through system. In a 45-week exposure of fathead minnows, survival and growth were adversely affected at 39.5 μg/liter. Adverse effects on spawning were suspected but not statistically demonstrated at 39.5 and 16.5 μg/liter. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC), based on survival and growth, lies between 39.5 and 16.5 μg/liter. The lethal threshold concentration (LTC) derived from acute exposures was 64 μg/liter, resulting in an application factor (MATC/LTC) between 0.26 and 0.62. LTC values for the bluegill and brook trout were 72 and 29 μg/liter, respectively. The estimated MATC is between 44.6 and 18.7 μg/liter for the bluegill and between 18.0 and 7.5 μg/liter for the brook trout.The half-life of captan in Lake Superior water with a pH of 7.6 is about 7 hr at 12 C and about 1 hr at 25 C. Breakdown products from an initial 550 μg/liter of captan were not lethal to 3-month-old fathead minnows.

scholarly journals Eco-evolutionary feedbacks link prey adaptation to predator performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 20190626 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Fryxell ◽  
Zachary T. Wood ◽  
Rebecca Robinson ◽  
Michael T. Kinnison ◽  
Eric P. Palkovacs
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Gambusia Affinis ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Average Body

Eco-evolutionary feedbacks may determine the outcome of predator–prey interactions in nature, but little work has been done to quantify the feedback effect of short-term prey adaptation on predator performance. We tested the effects of prey availability and recent (less than 100 years) prey adaptation on the feeding and growth rate of largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ), foraging on western mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis ). Field surveys showed higher densities and larger average body sizes of mosquitofish in recently introduced populations without bass. Over a six-week mesocosm experiment, bass were presented with either a high or low availability of mosquitofish prey from recently established populations either naive or experienced with bass. Naive mosquitofish were larger, less cryptic and more vulnerable to bass predation compared to their experienced counterparts. Bass consumed more naive prey, grew more quickly with naive prey, and grew more quickly per unit biomass of naive prey consumed. The effect of mosquitofish history with the bass on bass growth was similar in magnitude to the effect of mosquitofish availability. In showing that recently derived predation-related prey phenotypes strongly affect predator performance, this study supports the presence of reciprocal predator–prey trait feedbacks in nature.

Effect of Body Form and Response Threshold on the Vulnerability of Four Species of Teleost Prey Attacked by Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Response Threshold ◽  
Body Depth ◽  
Prey Escape ◽  
Response Thresholds

Experiments were performed using four prey species (fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, and tiger musky, Esox sp.) with various body and fin forms attacked by largemouth bass predators to determine how body and fin morphology, performance, and response thresholds influenced prey vulnerability. Prey differed in three factors that could affect the outcome of predator–prey interactions: body depth, the presence of spiny rays, and locomotor performance capability. Captures were only successful for strikes near the center of mass. The presence of spines was not shown to substantially affect predator strike targets on prey, but large body depth misdirected strikes from the center of mass area and increased the probability of prey escaping. Prey escape speeds were variable and not maximum. Acceleration rates in the startle response varied among the prey species. Tiger musky had the highest acceleration rates (11.7–12.2 m∙s−2). Acceleration rates decreased for the other prey in the order bluegill, largemouth bass, and fathead minnow. Predators attacking prey with higher acceleration performance were more likely to abort attacks and less likely to chase prey. Prey response thresholds were defined as the rate of change of the angle subtended by the predator as viewed by the prey at the start of the prey's motor response. This looming threshold varied among the species tested, and predators were more likely to abort attacks on prey with low thresholds. Low prey response thresholds correlated with high acceleration rates. The basis for multiple, rather than complementing, adaptations facilitating prey escape is not known, but may be related to risks and benefits during foraging by fish with different diets.

Development of apical pits in chloride cells of the gills of Pimephales promelas after chronic exposure to acid water

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 462-463
Author(s):  
Richard L. Leino ◽  
Jon G. Anderson ◽  
J. Howard McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Chronic Exposure ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Chloride Cells ◽  
Fathead Minnows ◽  
Secondary Lamellae ◽  
Untreated Water ◽  
Water Ph ◽  
Flow Through

Groups of 12 fathead minnows were exposed for 129 days to Lake Superior water acidified (pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 or 6.5) with reagent grade H2SO4 by means of a multichannel toxicant system for flow-through bioassays. Untreated water (pH 7.5) had the following properties: hardness 45.3 ± 0.3 (95% confidence interval) mg/1 as CaCO3; alkalinity 42.6 ± 0.2 mg/1; Cl- 0.03 meq/1; Na+ 0.05 meq/1; K+ 0.01 meq/1; Ca2+ 0.68 meq/1; Mg2+ 0.26 meq/1; dissolved O2 5.8 ± 0.3 mg/1; free CO2 3.2 ± 0.4 mg/1; T= 24.3 ± 0.1°C. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd gills were subsequently processed for LM (methacrylate), TEM and SEM respectively.Three changes involving chloride cells were correlated with increasing acidity: 1) the appearance of apical pits (figs. 2,5 as compared to figs. 1, 3,4) in chloride cells (about 22% of the chloride cells had pits at pH 5.0); 2) increases in their numbers and 3) increases in the % of these cells in the epithelium of the secondary lamellae.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document