Male Largemouth Bass Micropterus Salmoides Research Articles

COVID-19 reduced recreational fishing effort during the black bass spawning season, resulting in increases in black bass reproductive success and annual recruitment

In Opinicon Lake, Ontario during two non-pandemic years (2019 and 2022) the hook-wounding rates from recreational angling observed among nesting male largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (LMB), and nesting male smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu (SMB), were quite high, but typical of those observed in the lake over the last 20 years of monitoring. That level of illegal, preseason angling resulted in very low percentages of both LMB and SMB nesting males being successful at raising their broods to independence, rates comparable to those observed for this lake in previous years. In 2020 and 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, however, access to fishing in Ontario was severely limited during the bass spawning season, which serendipitously provided a natural “whole-lake bass spawning sanctuary” to study. Not surprisingly, the hook-wounding rates for nesting male LMB and SMB in Opinicon Lake were the lowest rates ever observed over the last 30 + years. Concomitantly, the percentage of nesting male LMB and SMB that were successful at raising their broods to independence was approximately 3–4 times greater than that in the non-COVID years. Not unexpectedly, those increases in nesting success translated to similar increases in LMB and SMB reproductive success (production of post parental care, independent fry). More importantly, those increases further resulted in large increases in the annual recruitment of both LMB and SMB. This unanticipated COVID-driven experiment revealed that using bass spawning sanctuaries would be more efficient than closed seasons as a management strategy to conserve levels of black bass annual recruitment.

Bile from reproductively mature male largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides attracts conspecific females and offers a practical application to control populations

Bile from reproductively mature male largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides attracts conspecific females and offers a practical application to control populations

Survey of Intersex Occurrence in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) from the Upper Illinois River Waterway

Abstract Intersex condition (ooctyes in testicular tissue) has been documented in many watersheds among a diverse variety of fishes worldwide. However, few studies have tested for the occurrence of the condition in fishes from rivers of the American Midwest. Midwestern watersheds, such as the Illinois River Waterway, U.S.A. may provide important new information about the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on fishes because of the variety of urban, industrial, and agricultural land uses within the watersheds. A first step in the study of EDCs in any ecosystem is a survey to document the symptoms of EDC exposure, such as intersex condition. Our objective was to test for intersex condition in male largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in the lower Des Plaines River, an area directly affected by surface runoff and wastewater effluents from the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Histological analysis indicated that testicular oocytes were present in 21 of 51 (41%) largemouth bass sampled and oocyte numbe...

Factors Affecting the Vulnerability to Angling of Nesting Male Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

Abstract Some, but not all, jurisdictions in North America have regulations in place designed to protect nesting male largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and smallmouth bass M. dolomieu from angling. The underlying assumption that brood-guarding males are particularly vulnerable to angling, however, is untested. In this study, we quantified the vulnerability of brood-guarding largemouth bass and smallmouth bass to angling and determined the factors that influenced that vulnerability. For this, male largemouth bass and smallmouth bass guarding newly spawned eggs were located by snorkel survey. The aggression of these males towards a brood predator was quantified, the male's susceptibility to angling lures was assessed, and the quantity of eggs in his nest and his size were recorded. Male largemouth and smallmouth bass were quite vulnerable to angling while guarding their nests, 70% of nesting male smallmouth bass and 54% of nesting male largemouth bass being hooked during the experimental angling trials....

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

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...