Effects of hatchery rearing on Florida largemouth bass Micropterus floridanus resource allocation and performance under semi‐natural conditions. Issue 6 (25th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garlock, T. M.; Monk, C. T.; Lorenzen, K.; Matthews, M. D.; St Mary, C. M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 85:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 1830
• Page End: 1842
• Publication Date: 2014-09-25
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12514
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jfb12514-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p id="jfb12514-para-0001">This study examined the growth, activity, metabolism and post‐release survival of three groups of Florida largemouth bass <italic>Micropterus floridanus</italic>: wild‐caught fish, hatchery fish reared according to standard practice (hatchery standard) and hatchery fish reared under reduced and unpredictable food provisioning (hatchery manipulated). Hatchery‐standard fish differed from wild‐caught fish in all measured variables, including survival in semi‐natural ponds. Hatchery‐standard and hatchery‐manipulated fish showed higher activity levels, faster growth and lower standard metabolic rates than wild‐caught fish in the hatchery. Fish reared under the manipulated feeding regime showed increased metabolic rates and increased post‐release growth, similar to wild‐caught fish. Their activity levels and post‐release survival, however, remained similar to those of hatchery‐standard fish. Activity was negatively correlated with post‐release survival and failure of the feed manipulation to reduce activity may have contributed to its failure to improve post‐release survival. Activity and post‐release survival may be influenced by characteristics of the rearing environment other than the feeding regime, such as stock density or water flow rates.</p> </abstract>