Effects of Forage on Home-Range Size of Largemouth Bass

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The influence of supplementary forage on home‐range size of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides was studied via radio‐telemetry. Largemouth bass were caught in Cedar Lake, Illinois, tagged, and released back to the lake either at an experimental feeder from which fathead minnows Pimephales promelas escaped at a rate of 10/hour or at a control feeder that never contained prey. Three largemouth bass released at the experimental feeder established home ranges that included the feeder. These home ranges were significantly (P = 0.05) smaller than the areas utilized by three largemouth bass released at the control feeder, and significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than natural home ranges for largemouth bass in the lake. The home ranges of fishes at the experimental feeder were 0.05, 0.09, and 0.10 hectares; fish released at the control feeder utilized areas of 1.27, 6.10, and 70.47 hectares. After the stocking of supplementary forage was stopped, two largemouth bass at the experimental feeder increased their home‐range size from 0.10 to 0.79 hectares and from 0.05 to 7.17 hectares, and the other was never located again. Received February 17, 1983 Accepted August 10, 1983