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

Abstract

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.

Received November 26, 2013; accepted February 25, 2014

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank staff of the North Platte and Kearney Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offices, and the University of Nebraska Kearney for their help in the field and laboratory, especially B. Newcomb, B. Eifert, J. Kreitman, B. Peterson, R. Alberts, N. Munter, J. Munter, C. Uphoff, D. Schumann, and M. Cavallaro. We also thank R. Holland, who was instrumental in the design and implementation of the study. Yellow Perch were provided by D. Higgins of the North Platte Fish Hatchery, NGPC. This project was funded by NGPC through Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration, Project F-190-R.