Effects of Stress on Largemouth Bass Reproduction

Abstract

Although largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides are frequently subjected to sublethal stressors (e.g., angling), the associated effects on their reproductive success have not been assessed. We examined the reproduction of largemouth bass that were subjected to the stress of exhaustive exercise, air exposure, culling, live-well conditions, and weigh-in procedures. Age-0 largemouth bass produced from parents subjected to stress were smaller (total length, 31 ± 0.4 mm (mean ± SE)) and weighed less (0.59 ± 0.04 g) than controls that were not stressed (35 ± 0.4 mm; 0.76 ± 0.03 g). Adults that were stressed had offspring with later swim-up dates than did controls. Our results provide evidence that stress before spawning has the potential to negatively affect largemouth bass reproductive success.