Abstract
Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, known as one of the world's most disastrous invasive species, was introduced into Lake Aoki, central Japan in the last 10 years and is of concern for the conservation of the native biodiversity. We investigated spawning and brood defense under novel conditions to devise measures to eradicate a local population of this species. Compared to their native habitat, the size distribution of nesting males was less skewed to the right in this invasive population but rather a skewed normal distribution probably due to prevention of younger cohorts entering the nesting stock. The number of offspring deposited in nests was not positively related to the size of the nesting male. These observations imply that a shortage of suitable nest sites leads to an escalation in male–male competition, followed by a relaxation of female mate choice based on male size. Further, when presented with a model of a potential predator of the offspring, nesting males reacted individually and the intensity of site tenacity was independent of the male size. We propose that the removal of cover accompanied by the use of native predators of young bass can effectively decelerate the expansion of invasive smallmouth bass.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azuma, M. 1992. Ecological release in feeding behaviour: The case of bluegills in Japan. Hydrobiologia 243/244: 269-276.
Azuma, M. & Y. Motomura. 1998. Feeding habits of largemouth bass in a non-native environment: The case of a small lake with bluegill in Japan. Environ. Biol. Fish. 52: 379-389.
Baylis, J.R., D.D. Wiegmann & M.H. Hoff. 1993. Alternating life history of smallmouth bass. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 122: 500-510.
Bøhn, T. & P-A. Amundsen. 2001. The competitive edge of an invading specialist. Ecology 82: 2150-2163.
Brown, P.J., D.C. Josephson & C.C. Ktirhrt. 2000. Summer habitat use by introduced smallmouth bass in an oligotrophic Adirondack lake. J. Freshw. Ecol. 15: 135-144.
Hosoya, K. 1997. Introduction of exotic species and biohazard. Bull. Natl Res. Inst. Aquac. (Suppl. 3): 155-156.
Huntingford, F.A. 1976. The relationship between anti-predator behaviour and aggression among conspecifics in the threespined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Anim. Behav. 24: 245-260.
Iguchi, K. 1991. Visual stimuli causing the aggressive behaviour of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis. Bull. Natl Res. Inst. Fish. Sci. 2: 15-23. (in Japanese with English abstract).
Iguchi, K., T. Yodo & N. Matsubara. 2001. Spawning habit of introduced smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu. Suisanzosyoku (J. Jpn. Aquac. Soc.) 49: 157-160 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Jude, D.J., J. Janssen & G. Crawford. 1995. Ecology, distribution, and impact of the newly introduced round tubenose gobies on the biota of the St. Clair & Detroit Rivers. pp. 447-460. In: M. Munawa, T. Edsall & J. Leach (ed.) The Lake Huron Ecosystem: Ecology, Fisheries and Management, SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam.
Katano, O. & Y. Aonuma. 2001. Maximum length of Japanese dace Tribolodon hakonensis preyed on by smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 67: 866-873. (in Japanese with English abstract).
MacRae, P.S.D. & D.A. Jackson. 2001. The influence of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) predation and habitat complexity on the structure of littoral zone fish assemblages. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58: 342-351.
Maeda, N. & T. Hidaka. 1979. Ethological function of the parr marks in a Japanese trout, Oncorhyncus masou f. ishikawai. Zool. Mag. 88: 34-42.
Moyle, P.B. & T. Light. 1996a. Biological invasions of fresh water: Empirical rules and assembly theory. Biol. Conserv. 78: 149-161.
Moyle, P.B. & T. Light. 1996b. Fish invasions in California: Do abiotic factors determine success? Ecology 77: 1666-1670.
Nakai, K. 1999. Recent trends in fish diversity of Lake Biwa, central Japan: Drastic decline in many endemic species and explosive increase in some exotic species. Jpn. J. Limnol. 60: 403-426.
Raffetto, N.S. & J.R. Baylis. 1990. Complete estimates of reproductive success in a closed population of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui). Ecology 71: 1523-1535.
Ridgway, M.S. 1988. Developmental stage of offspring and brood defense in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui). Can. J. Zool. 66: 1722-1728.
Ridgway, M.S., G.P. Goff & M.H.A. Keenleyside. 1989. Courtship and spawning behaviour in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui). Amer. Midl. Nat. 122: 209-213.
Ridgway, M.S., B.J. Shuter & E.E. Post. 1991. The relative influence of body size and territorial behaviour on nesting asynchrony in male smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui (Pisces: Centrachidae). J. Anim. Ecol. 60: 665-681.
Ridgway, M.S. & T.G. Friesen. 1992. Annual variation in parental care in smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu. Environ. Biol. Fish. 35: 243-255.
Ross, S.T. 1991. Mechanisms structuring stream fish assemblages: Are there lessons from introduced species? Environ. Biol. Fish. 30: 359-368.
Sakai, H. 1989. Ugui, Leuciscus (Tribolodon) hakonensis. pp. 259-264. In: H. Kawanabe & N. Mizuno (ed.) Freshwater Fishes of Japan, YAMA-KEI Publishers, Tokyo (in Japanese).
Smith, C. & R. Relay. 1991. Cannibalism in teleost fish. Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 1: 41-964.
Turner, G.E. & H.R. MacCrimmon. 1970. Reproduction and growth of smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui, in a Precambrian Lake. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 27: 395-400.
Takahashi, K., T. Onodera & A. Kumagai. 2001. Appearance of largemouth bass and changes in species composition of fish caught by set net at Izunuma and Uchinuma. Miyagi Prefecture Rep. Fish. Sci. 1: 111-117 (in Japanese).
Townsend, C.R. 1996. Invasion biology and ecological impacts of brown trout Salmo trutta in New Zealand. Biol. Conserv. 78: 13-22.
Vander Zanden, M.J., J.M. Casselman & J.B. Rasmussen. 1999. Stable isotope evidence for the food web consequences of species invasions in lakes. Nature 401: 464-467.
Vermeij, G.J. 1996. An agenda for invasion biology. Biol. Conserv. 78: 3-9.
Wiegmann, D.D. & J.R. Baylis. 1995. Male body size and parental behaviour in smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui (Pisces: Centrarchidae). Anim. Behav. 50: 1543-1555.
Wiegmann, D.D., J.R. Baylis & M.H. Hoff. 1992. Sexual selection and fitness variation in a population of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui (Pisces: Centrarchidae). Evolution 46: 1740-1753.
Williamson, M. 1996. Biological Invasions, Chapman & Hall, London. 244 pp.
Winemiller, K.O. & D.H. Taylor. 1982. Smallmouth bass nesting behavior and nest site selection in a small Ohio stream. Ohio J. Sci. 82: 266-273.
Yodo, T. & K. Iguchi. 2003. Feeding habits of introduced smallmouth bass in Lakes Aoki and Nojiri, Japan. Jpn. J. Ichthyol. 50: 47-54 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Yodo, T. & S. Kimura. 1998. Feeding habits of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in Lakes Shorenji and Nishinoko, central Japan. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, 64: 26-38 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Iguchi, K., Yodo, T. & Matsubara, N. Spawning and Brood Defense of Smallmouth Bass Under the Process of Invasion into a Novel Habitat. Environmental Biology of Fishes 70, 219–225 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EBFI.0000033337.44116.e8
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EBFI.0000033337.44116.e8