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.

Body and Fin Form and Strike Tactics of Four Teleost Predators Attacking Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Prey

1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Rigid Bodies ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Response Threshold ◽  
Salmo Gairdneri ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Caudal Fin ◽  
Rock Bass

Experiments with teleosts attacking fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) prey showed that piscivore locomotor tactics vary with body/fin morphology. Predators were tiger musky (Esox sp.), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui), and rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) representing several morphological series from more flexible to more rigid bodies, elongate to gibbose bodies, soft-rayed to acanthopterygian median/paired fin patterns, and more to less myotomal muscle. Two predicted optimal tactics were common to the four predators: (1) strike at the prey center of mass and (2) strike prey from the side. Other tactics varied among the predators. Tiger musky always used S-start fast-starts, rainbow trout used steady swimming with body/caudal fin movements, and smallmouth and rock bass used steady swimming with body/caudal fin movements for closer prey and started attacks on distant prey with pectoral propulsion. Tiger musky overshot prey, this being prevented by the use of paired fins as brakes in the two centrarchids. Rainbow trout regularly chased prey, but effective braking coupled with suction feeding appeared to make chases less necessary for smallmouth and rock bass. Speeds in strikes increased according to rock bass < smallmouth bass < rainbow trout < tiger musky consistent with expectations based on morphology. Each species used attack speeds likely to minimize closure times, which is the general optimal strategy for interceptors. Tiger musky attacked at maximum speeds but rainbow trout and smallmouth and rock bass attacked at speeds very much lower than their maximum potential. The prey has a low response threshold for these three species compared with tiger musky when high speeds and associated large prey reaction distances would increase closure times.

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.

Strike tactics of Esox

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1462-1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Webb ◽  
J. M. Skadsen
Keyword(s):  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Body Posture ◽  
Video Tape ◽  
Fish Prey ◽  
Sequence Pattern ◽  
Fast Start ◽  
Stage 1

Strike tactics of a lunging piscivore attacking solitary prey were observed in an arena 50 cm long, 50 cm wide, and 10 cm deep and recorded on television video tape. The predators were cultured tiger musky (Esox sp.). The prey were fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Predator strikes were S type fast starts allowing multidirectional attacks. Two strike patterns were observed. Pattern A strikes commenced from a stretched-straight body posture and progressed from fast start stage 1 through the normal three-stage sequence. Pattern B strikes deleted the less efficient first stage, starting acceleration from an S posture. Strikes were directed in the vicinity of the center of mass of the prey, the point that moves least during escape attempts. Prey were usually attacked from the side, minimizing the displacement of the prey from the strike path after an escape attempt. Pattern A strikes were launched over distances from 3.8 to 33.9 cm and took 50–300 ms. Catch success was 42%. Pattern B strikes were used for short distances from 1.7 to 7.7 cm, taking 17–100 ms and were 95% successful. The observed strike tactics were those expected to maximize the probability of catching elusive fish prey.

Relative abilities to correct rolling disturbances of three morphologically different fish

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 2156-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Eidietis ◽  
T L Forrester ◽  
P W Webb
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Body Depth ◽  
Semotilus Atromaculatus ◽  
Buoyant Weight ◽  
S Period ◽  
Creek Chub ◽  
Metacentric Height ◽  
Neutrally Buoyant

Responses of three fish species were measured following the addition of neutrally buoyant weight-float combinations that increased rolling instability. The three species were creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus. Ability to correct posture was predicted to increase with fin size and body depth in the order creek chub < largemouth bass < bluegill. In a 90-s period, the least added torque causing fish to roll to 90° in response to disturbances, ΔT90, and the least added torque making fish unable to recover from rolling, ΔTcrit, were measured as limits of ability to correct postural disturbances. Contrary to expectations, creek chub required a 58% increase in body torque to reach ΔT90, significantly larger than the 11% increase for largemouth bass and 19% increase for bluegill. Similarly, ΔTcrit was a 78% increase in body torque for creek chub, 43% for largemouth bass, and 34% for bluegill. Increased rolling torques resulted in behaviors reducing and avoiding rolling, including tilting, which reduces metacentric height, inverted swimming, which stabilizes fish, and contacting surfaces, which generates static forces. The superior ability of creek chub to correct postural disturbances may be explained by a fin arrangement that facilitates interactions with the ground.

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

Vulnerability of Some Fishes to Northern Pike (Esox lucius) Predation

1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 957-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilbur L. Mauck ◽  
Daniel W. Coble
Keyword(s):  
Ictalurus Punctatus ◽  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Northern Pike ◽  
Esox Lucius ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Pike Esox Lucius ◽  
Golden Shiner

To compare vulnerability to predation by northern pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus), several species of fish in various combinations were held with pike in plastic swimming pools with and without cover and in small ponds. The most vulnerable species in order were gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), carp (Cyprinus carpio), bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui). White sucker (Catostomus commersoni), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) showed intermediate vulnerability. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), northern pike, bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and black bullhead (Ictalurus melas) were least vulnerable. In two experiments in which fish were put in cages in turbid water, relative vulnerability was the same as in clearer water. Pike could not be conditioned to eat golden shiner or bluegill. There was a tendency for certain sizes of pike to select the smaller carp, fathead minnow, and bluegill within the size ranges tested.

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