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.

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

Effects of Cage Culture on Growth, Abundance, and Survival of Resident Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj V. Kilambi ◽  
James C. Adams ◽  
William A. Wickizer
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Content ◽  
Ictalurus Punctatus ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Condition Factor ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Salmo Gairdneri ◽  
Cage Culture ◽  
Content Analyses ◽  
Culture Growth

Growth, population size, and survival of resident largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were estimated before, during, and after the cage culture of Salmo gairdneri and Ictalurus punctatus. Growth in length, length–weight relationship, and condition factor were similar among the periods; however, abundance and survival of largemouth bass increased through the 3 yr of investigation. Stomach content analyses showed that the bass fed on fishes (mostly Lepomis macrochirus), crayfish, insects, and zooplankton (predominantly entomostracans). Increase in the standing crops of L. macrochirus and entomostracans during the study periods have provided forage to the increased bass population and thus resulted in greater survival of the young and adult bass of the cage culture and postcage culture periods. Key words: largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, cage culture, growth, abundance, survival

Perturbation Planktivory, and Pelagic Community Structure: The Consequence of Winterkill in a Small Lake

1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 2203-2209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald J. Hail ◽  
Timothy J. Ehlinger
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Top Predator ◽  
Daphnia Species ◽  
Golden Shiner ◽  
Golden Shiners

The top predator (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides) in eutrophic Wintergreen Lake, Michigan, was eliminated by successive winterkills in 1978 and 1979. Within 2 yr, the golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), a facultative planktivore, dominated the fish community. The zooplankton, previously consisting of large Daphnia pulex and D. galeata mendotae, concomitantly shifted to a community consisting of smaller species: Bosmina and small copepods. In situ fish enclosure experiments in 1981 and 1982 revealed that the large Daphnia species would grow in Wintergreen Lake in the absence of the golden shiner. Golden shiners exhibit both a particulate and filtering mode of planktivory on large and small zooplankton, respectively. This flexible feeding behavior suggests that golden shiners are able to prevent the reestablishment of Daphnia, while Bosmina and the other small zooplankton support a high and apparently stable golden shiner density.

scholarly journals Coarse woody habitat does not predict largemouth bass young of year mortality during the open-water season

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 998-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob P. Ziegler ◽  
Colin J. Dassow ◽  
Stuart E. Jones ◽  
Alexander J. Ross ◽  
Christopher T. Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
In Situ Tests ◽  
Coarse Woody Habitat ◽  
The Relationship

Littoral structure is often assumed to provide refuge to young of year (YOY) freshwater fish species, but empirical in situ tests of this relationship are lacking. We estimated mortality rates of YOY largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) over the open-water season in 13 lakes in northern Wisconsin and Michigan using repeated snorkel surveys. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that mortality rate is negatively related to the abundance of littoral coarse woody habitat, which ranged from 3 to 1500 pieces of wood per kilometre of shoreline in these lakes. Instantaneous mortality rates were well-constrained and ranged from 0.04 to 0.19 among the 13 lakes. Mortality was not related to coarse woody habitat abundance. Our results suggest that the relationship between coarse woody habitat and YOY mortality might not be as strong or universal as is often assumed.

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.

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