Black Bass Diversity: Multidisciplinary Science for Conservation

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Population Demographics ◽  
Bioenergetics Modeling ◽  
Black Bass

<em>Abstract.</em>—Largemouth Bass <em>Micropterus salmoides</em> is typically thought of as a freshwater species, but populations occur in oligohaline portions of estuaries throughout the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, often with popular fisheries. These coastal populations must deal with the physiological stresses associated with salinity variation and may be isolated from inland freshwater populations, increasing the potential for differentiation. To understand factors important to the ecology and management of these coastal populations, we quantified individual- and population-level parameters for Largemouth Bass across a natural salinity gradient in the Mobile-Tensaw River delta in southwestern Alabama during 2002–2009 (including population demographics, feeding ecology, movement, recruitment, and bioenergetics processes). Combining traditional mark–recapture and telemetry techniques with otolith microchemical analyses, we demonstrated that Largemouth Bass of all ages moved very little, even in response to increasing salinity (up to 15‰) in downstream areas. Large individuals were rare in our sampling across both fresh and brackish habitats (only 7 out of 9,530 individuals were >2.27 kg), and fish body condition increased downstream with increasing marine influence. Growth responses for fish across the estuary were more complex, varying with both fish age and salinity. Faster growth was observed in the brackish, downstream areas for fish ≤age 2, while growth of older fish was faster in freshwater upstream sites. Using bioenergetics modeling, we demonstrated that a complex combination of spatial variation in water temperature, prey energetic content, and metabolic cost of salinity was responsible for age-specific spatial variation in growth. Preliminary genetic analysis suggests that these coastal Largemouth Bass may differ genetically from inland fish. Coastal Largemouth Bass populations face a number of potential conservation concerns, and their management will require different approaches compared to their inland counterparts, including different goals and expectations, likely even requiring consideration as unique stocks.

Coastal largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) movement in response to changing salinity

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 2174-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Lowe ◽  
Dennis R. DeVries ◽  
Russell A. Wright ◽  
Stuart A. Ludsin ◽  
Brian J. Fryer
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Systems ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Lag Time ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Salinity Changes ◽  
Do So

Estuaries are productive, heterogeneous, and dynamic systems that support a diverse array of fishes. However, our understanding of how presumably stenohaline fishes persist in such transitional systems is limited, particularly for most fishes in tidal freshwater areas. We conducted a laboratory experiment and field investigation along an upstream–downstream salinity gradient in the Mobile–Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, USA, to test the hypothesis that age-0 largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ), an economically and ecologically important freshwater species that uses low-salinity habitats in many North American estuaries, move to avoid seasonal salinity increases. To do so, we quantified changes in otolith microchemistry (e.g., Sr to Ca ratios) along the major growth axis of otoliths in both field-collected and laboratory-reared individuals. Our experiment revealed a 21-day lag time between initial salinity changes and Sr:Caotolith saturation but that Sr:Caotolith in field-collected fish reflect changes in ambient salinity. Further, contrary to our expectation, otolith microchemical analyses from spring- and fall-collected age-0 largemouth bass indicate no avoidance of increased salinity, which has potential implications for their growth and recruitment in these systems.

Growth of largemouth bass in a dynamic estuarine environment: an evaluation of the relative effects of salinity, diet, and temperature

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Glover ◽  
Dennis R. DeVries ◽  
Russell A. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Freshwater Inflow ◽  
Estuarine Environment ◽  
Spatial And Seasonal Variation ◽  
Maximum Water Temperature ◽  
Incremental Growth

Some freshwater fishes occur regularly in estuarine areas that experience spatial and seasonal variation in marine influence. These dynamic abiotic and biotic conditions potentially influence food consumption and growth. We found that effects of an estuarine environment on the growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in Alabama's Mobile–Tensaw River Delta depended on body size, distance from the marine source, and amount of freshwater inflow. Incremental growth analyses demonstrated that young largemouth bass (<age-3) grew more rapidly downstream in the estuarine environment declining with distance upstream; this relationship was reversed for older fish with faster growth in fresher, upstream areas. The magnitude of freshwater inflow influenced the relationship between age-specific growth and proximity to Mobile Bay. Bioenergetics simulations suggest that interactions among size-specific metabolic cost of salinity, maximum water temperature, and spatial differences in both salinity and prey energetic content can explain these growth patterns. The cost–benefit of the estuarine environment to largemouth bass is not only dynamic seasonally, but also changes ontogenetically because of shifts in salinity tolerance and prey use.

scholarly journals Evidence Dorsal Spine Removal is Nonlethal and Unharmful for Largemouth Bass in Florida

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Summer Lindelien ◽  
Andrew C. Dutterer ◽  
Paul Schueller ◽  
Chris C. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Research Management ◽  
Dorsal Spine ◽  
Black Bass ◽  
New Research ◽  
Sport Fish ◽  
Management And Conservation

Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides, Florida Bass M. floridanus, and their intergrade are socially and economically valuable sport fish. In the southeastern United States, it is customary to age black bass (Micropterus) spp. using sagittal otoliths which requires killing the fish. Presently, fisheries managers and black bass anglers show reluctance to sacrifice large individuals. Development of a nonlethal ageing technique would not only allay concerns of sacrificing large black bass, but it could offer a pathway for new research, management, and conservation. We excised dorsal spines III–V from Largemouth Bass in Florida varying from 30–57 cm total length to evaluate the effects of the procedure on survival over 35 days. No mortalities were observed for fish with excised dorsal spines, and experiment-wide survival was 0.94 (0.87–1.00; 95% confidence interval). No significant differences in survival, weight change, or incidence of external injuries were observed between control and excised fish. The areas of spine excision healed with no visible infection or inflammation at the conclusion of the experiment. Therefore, dorsal spine removal offers managers a nonlethal option for collecting ageing structures of adult Largemouth Bass in Florida, including large individuals, and this result likely extends to other Micropterus spp. as well.

Black Bass Diversity: Multidisciplinary Science for Conservation

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
The United States ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Minimum Length ◽  
Catch And Release ◽  
Black Bass ◽  
Intensively Managed ◽  
Catch Rates ◽  
Sport Fish

<em>Abstract</em>.—Largemouth Bass (LMB) <em>Micropterus salmoides</em> is one of the most popular sport fish in the United States and is intensively managed across much of its range. Beginning in 1989, Wisconsin implemented more restrictive harvest regulations for LMB, including greater minimum length limits, reduced bag limits, and a catch-and-release-only season during the spawning period across much of northern Wisconsin. We tested for trends in LMB relative abundance, growth, and angler catch and harvest in relation to LMB management policies from 1990 to 2011. We also tested for potential sport fish community responses to changes in LMB abundances using Walleye (WAE) <em>Sander vitreus</em> as an example. Angler catch rates and electrofishing catch per unit effort of LMB greater than 8 and 14 in increased significantly statewide. Mean length of age-6 LMB decreased significantly statewide. Release rates of LMB increased from about 80% in 1991 and then plateaued at more than 96% from 2005 to 2011. Concurrent with increases in LMB, adult WAE densities declined in lakes containing LMB. Ongoing research is being conducted to test for interactions between LMB and WAE and to test for additional environmental drivers, such as climate warming, that may be associated with increased LMB abundances. Largemouth Bass abundances have increased in Wisconsin, possibly in response to changes in harvest regulations, angler behavior, and potentially other environmental drivers. These increases in LMB abundances have had negative intraspecific effects on growth and may be negatively affecting WAE stocks. We recommend that management goals for LMB consider intra- and interspecific consequences, particularly in water bodies where multispecies fisheries are desired.

scholarly journals Tournament and non-tournament anglers have little effect on a largemouth bass population compared to natural mortality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L Sylvia ◽  
Stephen J. Dinsmore ◽  
Michael J Weber
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Natural Mortality ◽  
Catch And Release ◽  
The Past ◽  
Population Mortality ◽  
Annual Mortality ◽  
Temperature Water

Popularity of bass Micropterus spp. catch and release and tournament angling during the past decade has resulted in increased potential for these activities to induce population level effects. Understanding capture rates and mortality sources relative to total population mortality is essential to focus of management. We conducted monthly electrofishing, solicited non-tournament angler tag returns, and censused largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides tournaments at Brushy Creek Lake, IA, USA from April 2015 to June 2018. We used a multistate mark-recapture model to evaluate the effects of air temperature, water temperature, tournament bass per angler, and tournament initial mortality on non-tournament and tournament angler capture probability and natural, non-tournament angling, and initial and delayed tournament mortality. Average total annual mortality was 0.66 with natural mortality representing the largest mortality source (0.57) followed by delayed tournament mortality (0.06), non-tournament angling mortality (0.02), and initial tournament mortality (0.006). Our results reveal both non-tournament and tournament angling mortality are low compared to natural mortality in some lakes. Therefore, cumulative angling mortality likely has minimal population level effects on some bass populations.

The consequences of short-term cortisol elevation on individual physiology and growth rate in wild largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance M. O’Connor ◽  
Kathleen M. Gilmour ◽  
Robert Arlinghaus ◽  
Shuichi Matsumura ◽  
Cory D. Suski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Control Fish ◽  
Plasma Biochemistry ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Growth Depression ◽  
Treated Fish

In this study, we explored the growth, survival, and potential population-level effects of short-term experimentally induced stress in largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ). Cortisol implants [50 mg·(kg body mass)–1] were used to increase circulating stress hormones in a group of wild fish in a research lake for ∼6 d in June 2007. Through mark-and-recapture, we compared survival, growth, and plasma biochemistry of cortisol-treated, sham-treated, and control fish at liberty until October 2007. Cortisol-treated fish displayed persistent growth rate depression compared with other groups. However, neither plasma biochemistry nor mortality rates differed among treatments. In a complementary study, we found that the standard metabolic rates (SMR) of cortisol-treated fish were higher than control fish ∼56 h following treatment. Bioenergetics modelling revealed that a transient elevation in SMR alone was insufficient to explain the observed growth depression. Finally, we constructed a simple population model to explore the potential consequences of growth depression. We found that a 10% reduction in population growth rate is conceivable when 39% of the population experiences a stress causing the growth rate depression documented in this study. Our study is novel in highlighting that individual and potentially population-level growth depression can result from a single stress event of short duration.

Black Bass Diversity: Multidisciplinary Science for Conservation

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Lake Erie ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Lake Surface ◽  
Oneida Lake ◽  
Black Bass ◽  
Lake Surface Area

<em>Abstract</em>.—Impacts of angling for black bass <em>Micropterus</em> spp. during the nesting stage have received much recent attention, with particular focus on individual nest and genetic implications. However, few empirical studies of population-level impacts have been conducted. New York State historically protected nesting bass with a closed season. In 1994, a special spring bass season was opened in the New York waters of Lake Erie, and in 2007, a spring catch-and-immediate-release season was opened in most of New York’s remaining waters. Long-term monitoring programs were in place on two inland lakes and New York’s portion of Lake Erie prior to the regulation changes, facilitating assessment of impacts of liberalizing regulations on year-class production. In Canadarago Lake (surface area 770 ha), fall electrofishing surveys sampled both young-of-year Largemouth Bass <em>M. salmoides</em> and Smallmouth Bass <em>M. dolomieu</em>. Mean catch per hour of Largemouth Bass during the 6 years prior to the spring season was 15.6, compared to 27.8/h over the postchange years (<em>p</em> = 0.63). For Smallmouth Bass in Canadargo Lake, prechange catch rates averaged 1.2/h, with a rate of 0.6/h after the change (<em>p</em> = 0.32). In Oneida Lake (surface area 20,670 ha), trawl surveys provided an index of young-of-year Smallmouth Bass. Average catch-per-haul during the 6 years prior to the regulation change was 0.4 compared to 1.8/haul during the following 6 years (<em>p</em> = 0.04). Gill-net surveys of age-2 Smallmouth Bass in Lake Erie produced a year-class index of 3.0/net over 15 years prior to opening of a spring bass fishery and a catch of 6.0/net over the following 17 years (<em>p</em> = 0.04). In three of four cases, year-class production increased following the opening of spring angling for bass, and increases were statistically significant for Smallmouth Bass in Oneida Lake and Lake Erie. Our results provide no evidence that spring fishing for black bass in large lake systems results in negative population level impacts on bass recruitment.

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.

First-year growth and recruitment of coastal largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): spatial patterns unresolved by critical periods along a salinity gradient

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 1911-1924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam C Peer ◽  
Dennis R DeVries ◽  
Russell A Wright
Keyword(s):  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
First Year ◽  
Winter Mortality ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Hatch Date ◽  
Growth Differences ◽  
Food Consumed

Although critical periods often explain first-year growth and recruitment patterns of young fishes, isolated subpopulations in spatially heterogeneous environments can be influenced by distinct factors, preventing critical periods from explaining growth and recruitment for the overall population. When we explored first-year growth and recruitment variability of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) along an upstream–downstream gradient in the Mobile–Tensaw Delta, Alabama, USA, growth was consistently faster at sites closest to or within brackish habitats in 2002 and 2003, despite different abiotic conditions between years. Energetic content of food consumed by faster-growing fish, particularly those furthest downstream, was greater than that for slower-growing fish. Although the timing of the switch to piscivory did not explain growth differences, the degree of piscivory was important. Hatch date had no influence on growth differences and consequently did not affect fall condition, overwinter survival, or age-1 recruitment. Contrary to several studies in freshwater systems at this latitude, first-winter mortality was neither size-selective nor excessive, and largemouth bass continued to grow through the winter. These results demonstrate that early growth can vary substantially among subpopulations in spatially heterogeneous environments and that these differences are not necessarily explained by the same factors thought to be important for freshwater largemouth bass populations.

Balancing Fisheries Management and Water Uses for Impounded River Systems

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
The United States ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Reservoir Fisheries ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Management Priorities

<em>Abstract</em>.—Management of reservoir fisheries in Puerto Rico has been an evolving process. Puerto Rico has few native freshwater species, so reservoir fish communities have been created using nonindigenous species introduced to the island from various parts of the world. Early management efforts in reservoirs met with limited success due to low priority and limited use of reservoir fisheries, and management primarily followed temperate models focusing on largemouth bass <em>Micropterus salmoides</em>. Beginning in 1990, management priorities shifted and focus on reservoir fisheries began to increase. This was partly due to the increasing popularity of largemouth bass sport fishing and the organization of fishing clubs and tournament angling. An important early step was the creation of reservoir management stations, which included full-time management biologists, access ramps, and picnic and camping facilities. Cooperative research with university scientists was initiated in 1991. The ensuing research findings, changes in priorities, and establishment of on-site management biologists have combined to create an atmosphere of adaptive management, accompanied by significant changes in reservoir regulations and management protocols. In this overview, the progression of research-based adaptive management is chronicled for Puerto Rico reservoirs, which can help provide a template for management endeavors in the United States and elsewhere.

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