Quantification and Evaluation of Factors Influencing Largemouth Bass Predation of Stocked Advanced Fingerling Yellow Perch

摘要

Over 2 years, we examined the survival of stocked advanced fingerling Yellow Perch Perca flavescens involving over 16 stocking events in eight lakes in Nebraska. The survival of stocked fish was estimated with respect to both handling mortality during stocking and predation by Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. Handling mortality during stocking was found to be zero, while Largemouth Bass consumption of stocked Yellow Perch averaged 26.4%. Consumption was highest on the day of stocking (0.35 perch/bass stomach), with only minimal consumption (0.01 perch/stomach) occurring beyond 4 d. Largemouth Bass populations with small size structure (PSD <29) were predictive of greater Yellow Perch mortality, suggesting that there is greater perch survival in lakes with bass populations of larger size structure