scholarly journals Overwinter growth and survival of age-0 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): revisiting the role of body size

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 2414-2424 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E Garvey ◽  
Russell A Wright ◽  
Roy A Stein
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Predation Intensity ◽  
Energetic Condition ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
Summer Growth

How large size affects overwinter growth and survival of age-0 fish may vary as a function of food, predation, and energetic condition. During two winters in Ohio, we assessed how these factors affected growth and survival of varying sizes of age-0 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) by combining a field survey (N = 2 reservoirs) with multiscale experiments (reservoirs, ponds, outdoor pools). In our survey, more small (< 100 mm total length) individuals died by spring in one reservoir than in the other. Similarly, when we stocked two reservoirs with marked age-0 largemouth bass in fall, mortality of small individuals was higher in one system overwinter, potentially due to differences in predation intensity. In ponds during two winters, size-selective mortality of small largemouth bass occurred in only two of eight ponds, potentially as a function of cannibalism. Varying ration in pools (starved, 0.5× maintenance, or 1.5× maintenance) did not affect survival, even though starved individuals lost substantial wet weight and energy content. Only when predators were present did small individuals die at high rates, although energy depletion may have contributed to predatory mortality. To increase the probability of overwinter survival, managers should seek to improve first-summer growth, reduce winter predation, and increase winter forage.

Bioenergetics and growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in relation to body weight and temperature

1974 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Niimi ◽  
F. W. H. Beamish
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Ash Content ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Growth Requirements ◽  
Wet Weight

Changes in growth and proximate body composition of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were examined for fish of 8–150 g, between 18 and 30C. For most weights, growth of fish (grams/day) was highest at 25C, and lowest in fish at 18C. This was attributable in part to a higher satiation (maximum) feeding level at 25C. For a fixed level of feeding, growth rate (percentage wet weight/day) was highest for fish held at 18C.Lipid content (percentage wet weight) increased with feeding level and was highest at 18C, Moisture content varied inversely with lipid. Protein and ash content did not vary appreciably with temperature, body weight, or feeding level.Maintenance requirement of bass, expressed as grams/day, was about twice that lost during food deprivation, but only slightly different when expressed as kilocalories/day.Energy requirements for nonfecal losses were estimated as 10% of intake energy at all feeding levels. Standard metabolism accounted for 50% of intake energy near maintenance, but only 10% at the satiation feeding level. Growth requirements increased From zero at maintenance to 40% of intake energy at satiation feeding.

Effects of Graded Levels of Carbohydrate on Growth and Survival of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akua Amoah ◽  
Shawn D. Coyle ◽  
Carl D. Webster ◽  
Robert M. Durborow ◽  
Leigh Anne Bright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Growth And Survival

Balancing Fisheries Management and Water Uses for Impounded River Systems

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Standing Crop ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Fish Prey ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Southern Florida

<em>Abstract</em>.—Growth and survival of stocked fish are positively influenced by the availability of suitably sized prey fish. We examined relationships among juvenile largemouth bass <em>Micropterus salmoides </em>size structure, occurrence of piscivory, and biomass relative to fish prey size structure and biomass across Florida’s latitudinal gradient to evaluate potential fish prey availability across a broad spatial scale of lakes. We sampled the 2003 and 2004 largemouth bass year-classes and potential fish prey in April/May (i.e., spring) and in June/July (i.e., summer) in six study lakes distributed from northern to southern Florida. Available prey to predator ratios (AP:P) decreased with increased fish size but indicated that prey resources were not limiting at any lake during either year (all AP:P > 8). We used a biomass-based food web model for our lake with the lowest AP:P we measured (~9) to determine if bioenergetics-based predictions agreed with AP:P metric indications of the system’s potential to support a higher standing crop of largemouth bass. Food web simulations showed potential to increase the standing crop of adult largemouth bass population by up to 30% at high stocking rates (i.e., 150 fish/ha), but stocking at high rates resulted in decreases to the natural portion of the adult population. Available prey metrics and simulations can provide information on the potential for stocking success, which could be used to improve the efficacy of stocking programs.

Effect of habitat selection and behavior on vulnerability to predation of introduced fish

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 2312-2319 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Wahl
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Introduced Fish ◽  
Population Demographics ◽  
Esox Masquinongy ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Size Groups ◽  
Lakes And Reservoirs ◽  
And Behavior

Losses from resident predators can be an important source of mortality for introduced fish, but may vary among species. I compared vulnerability between muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) to predation by largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). In pool experiments (N = 51) with simulated vegetation, muskellunge were more susceptible to predation than walleye. Habitat selection explained some of these differences as walleye spent more time in the simulated vegetation and associated with the substrate than muskellunge. Expectations from pool experiments were confirmed in reservoirs stocked with two size groups of walleye (N = 8 introductions) and esocids (N = 20). Walleye were less susceptible to largemouth bass predation for both small (mean 14% of stocked fish) and large (mean 0%) size groups than were small (mean 36%) and large (mean 21%) esocids of three taxa. For muskellunge only, walleye were less vulnerable to predation for large size groups, but not for small ones. Predation from largemouth bass should be a more important source of poststocking mortality for esocids than for walleye in lakes and reservoirs. Largemouth bass population demographics, specific to each system and year, should be considered more carefully in determining where esocids should be introduced than for percids.

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