Food of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) from a South Carolina Reservoir Receiving Heated Effluent

Abstract

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) collected from an area of a South Carolina reservoir at ambient temperatures contained greater amounts of food than bass taken at the entrance of a heated effluent in the same reservoir. Unidentifiable fish occurred in the highest frequency at both areas; sunfish (Lepomis sp.) had the highest frequency of occurrence of all identifiable items. All major dietary components were found in stomachs of bass from both areas from March through May although the relative occurrences of these items varied in the winter, spring, and fall. Increased metabolic requirements on fish living in the heated portion of the reservoir are possibly reduced by individuals entering the waters at extreme temperatures to feed, followed by movement to deeper, stratified waters at lower temperatures.