Predator-Induced Changes in Thermoregulation of Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, from a Thermally Altered Reservoir

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Abstract
In the absence of a predator, small bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) had a mean upper avoidance temperature of 30.0.degree. C as compared with 29.8.degree. C for large bluegill. In the presence of a predator (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill upper avoidance temperatures were significantly higher; however, predator size did not influence this relationship. In the presence of a small and large bass, small bluegill had a mean upper avoidance temperature of 34.0 and 33.9.degree. C, respectively, while large bluegill had a mean upper avoidance temperature of 33.8 and 33.1.degree. C. The preferred temperatures of large bluegill (.hivin.X = 26.3.degree. C) were statistically higher than of small bluegull (.hivin.X = 25.2.degree. C). There was no significant difference in the preferred temperatures for bluegill from heated and normothermic sites.