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Smallmouth Bass Reproduction in Elevated Temperature Regimes at the Speciesˈ Native Southern Limit
Author(s) -
Wrenn William B.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1984)113<295:sbriet>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - bass (fish) , reproduction , biology , micropterus , zoology , nest (protein structural motif) , fishery , ecology , environmental science , biochemistry
The effects of elevated temperatures on reproduction of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui were evaluated in large outdoor channels (112 m long; 0.05 hectare) on the Tennessee River in Alabama, the southern limit of the speciesˈ native range. Replicated treatments were the ambient temperature of the Tennessee River and 3, 6, and 9 C above ambient (December 1978‐October 1979). Peak egg deposition was advanced about 8 days per 3 C increase over ambient but occurred at temperatures (18–22 C) within the normal range reported for spawning by this species (15–26 C). Peak spawning time ranged from March 22 in the +9 C treatment to April 16 in the ambient regime. Duration of spawning periods (11 to 19 days) in the four temperature treatments was similar to those reported for natural populations. Survival rates from egg deposition to emergence from the nest were about 90% in all treatments. A maximum weekly average temperature of 26 C during the spawning season will allow survival of smallmouth bass eggs and larvae. This study indicated that the southern limit of the original range of smallmouth bass was not determined by the influence of temperature on reproduction and that above‐normal temperatures would not affect reproduction and recruitment to the extent that low temperatures affect northernmost populations. Received April 9, 1983 Accepted March 19, 1984