Fish predation and other distinctive features in the diet of Nogies Creek, Ontario, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides.

Abstract

Fish prey averaged only 3% of the predator's body weight, well below average available sizes, and below sizes reported elsewhere. Of the 6 main forage species, 4 showed a wide length range (15-125 mm TL) and significant positive correlation with their predator length. Contrarily, very narrow length ranges of 70-80 mm TL for golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas and 25-55 mm TL for basses, were consumed. Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus was the most abundant prey, followed by rock bass Ambloplites rupestris, yellow perch Perca flavescens and several cyprinids. Next to the consumption of 'small-packaged' fish prey, the most distinctive feature of Nogies Creek largemouth bass diet was the high predation on tadpoles. Ages 1 and 2 took Ephemeroptera, Odonata, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch; their diet was distinct from older bass which were primarily fish/frog feeders. Bass fed from mid-April to mid-October, ceasing at 10oC water temperature.-from Authors