Locomotory Impairment of Nesting Male Largemouth Bass Following Catch-and-Release Angling

Abstract

Abstract Catch-and-release angling of black bass Micropterus spp. during the parental care period may lead to brood predation and premature nest abandonment. Furthermore, physiological disturbance incurred while landing angled males may impair their ability to provide parental care long after release. To assess the extent of this physiological disturbance, we examined the relative energetic expenditures of nesting (N = 4) and nonnesting (N = 2) male largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides exposed to staged angling events in experimental ponds. Information on fish locomotion, through activity of the axial musculature, was remotely collected using electromyogram transmitters. During angling, nonnesting fish fought with a higher intensity, probably expending significantly more energy than did nesting fish. In addition, although the locomotory activity of nonnesting fish appeared to recover as early as 2 h after angling release, the locomotory activity of nesting fish was still impaired 24 h postangling. Overal...