The Introduced Butterfly Peacock (Cichla ocellaris) in Florida. III. Length Distribution Analyses

Abstract

In 1995, 614 butterfly peacock (Cichla ocellaris) and 577 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) ≥254 mm total length (TL) were electrofished from six metropolitan southeast Florida canals and compared with similar samples taken between 1986 and 1988. Changes in the length distribution of the largemouth bass were statistically significant in five of six canals sampled, and the mean length and modal peak of largemouth bass increased in five canals. The 1995 composite catch rate, mean total length, and modal peak for the butterfly peacock and the largemouth bass were nearly identical (0.24 and 0.26 fish/ min, 349 and 351 mm TL, and 340 and 320 mm TL, respectively). Overall, these data suggest the populations of both species are healthy, and that they coexist well in these highly disturbed habitats.

Keywords:

• introduced fish
• butterfly peacock
• largemouth bass
• length distributions
• species associations.