Biological Synopsis of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) T.G. Brown, B. Runciman, S. Pollard, and A.D.A. Grant Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Branch, Pacific Region Pacific Biological Station 3190 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 6N7 CANADA 2009 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2884 Fisheries and Oceans Peches et Oceans 1+1 Canada Canada Canada Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Manuscript reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which deals with national or regional problems. Distribution is restricted to institutions or individuals located in particular regions of Canada. However, no restriction is placed on subject matter, and the series reflects the broad interests and policies ofthe Department ofFisheries and Oceans, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Manuscript reports may be cited as full publications. 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Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2884 2009 BIOLOGICAL SYNOPSIS OF LARGEMOUTH BASS (Micropterus salmoides) by T.G. Brown, B. Runciman, S. Pollard, and A.D.A. Grant Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Branch, Pacific Region Pacific Biological Station 3190 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 6N7 ii © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2009 Cat. No. Fs 97-4/2884E ISSN 0706-6473 Correct citation for this publication: Brown, T.G., Runciman, B., Pollard, S., and Grant, A.D.A. 2009. Biological synopsis of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2884: v + 27 p. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT...........................................................................................................v 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................1 1.1 NAME, CLASSIFICATION AND IDENTIFIERS..........................................1 1.2 DESCRIPTION...........................................................................................2 1.2.1 Taxonomy and genetics.......................................................................3 2.0 DISTRIBUTION...............................................................................................3 2.1 GLOBAL NATIVE DISTRIBUTION..............................................................3 2.2 NON-NATIVE DISTRIBUTION ....................................................................4 3.0 BIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY............................................................6 3.1 AGE AND GROWTH..................................................................................6 3.2 PHYSIOLOGICAL TOLERANCES .............................................................6 3.2.1 Temperature ........................................................................................6 3.2.2 Dissolved oxygen and pH ....................................................................7 3.2.3 Turbidity...............................................................................................7 3.2.4 Salinity .................................................................................................7 3.3 REPRODUCTION ......................................................................................7 3.3.1 Spawning behaviour ............................................................................8 3.3.2 Larval care and development...............................................................8 3.3.3 Factors affecting reproductive success................................................9 3.4 FEEDING AND DIET..................................................................................9 3.4.1 Juvenile diet.........................................................................................9 3.4.2 Transition to piscivory ..........................................................................9 3.4.3 Adult diet............................................................................................10 3.5 HABITAT REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................11 3.5.1 Aquatic vegetation .............................................................................11 3.6 INTERSPECIFIC INTERACTIONS ..........................................................12 3.7 BEHAVIOUR AND MOVEMENTS............................................................12 3.7.1 Translocation .....................................................................................12 3.7.2 Diel movements .................................................................................12 3.7.3 Feeding behaviour .............................................................................12 3.8 DISEASES AND PARASITES..................................................................13 3.8.1 Largemouth bass virus.......................................................................13 3.8.2 Bass tapeworm ..................................................................................13 4.0 USE BY HUMANS .......................................................................................14 4.1 RECREATIONAL FISHING......................................................................14 4.2 COMMERCIAL FISHING..........................................................................14 4.3 AQUACULTURE ......................................................................................14 iv 5.0 IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH INTRODUCTIONS ....................................15 5.1 IMPACTS ON FAUNA..............................................................................15 5.1.1 Plankton, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrates ................................15 5.1.2 Fish other than salmonids..................................................................15 5.1.3 Salmonids ..........................................................................................16 5.1.4 Wildlife ...............................................................................................18 5.2 IMPACT SUMMARY ................................................................................18 6.0 LITERATURE CITED...................................................................................18 v ABSTRACT Brown, T. G., Runciman, B., Pollard, S., and Grant, A.D.A. 2009. Biological synopsis of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2884: v + 27 p. This synopsis reviews biological information on the largemouth bass in support of a risk assessment evaluating the impacts of its expansion into non-native areas of Canada. Largemouth bass is native to the fresh waters of eastern-central North America. Its North American expansion started in the late 1800s and it is now one of the most widely distributed fishes