Spring 2010 <strong>Biology</strong> 3B Paper 8 7 # <strong>of</strong> Fish Caught 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Low Light Conditions Bright Light Conditions Light Conditions Figure 2. Catch rate <strong>of</strong> Largemouth bass in low light vs. bright light conditions. # <strong>of</strong> Fish Caught 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Brightly-colored Lure Naturally-colored Lure Low Light Conditions Figure 3. The amount <strong>of</strong> fish caught in low light conditions comparing the brightly colored vs. naturally colored lures. (p=0.33+/- S.E.M. 1.5) 6 5 # <strong>of</strong> Fish Caught 4 3 2 1 0 Brightly-colored Lure Naturally-colored Lure Bright Light Conditions Figure 4. The amount <strong>of</strong> fish caught in bright light conditions comparing the brightly colored vs. naturally colored lures. (p=0.33 +/-S.E.M. 0.5) 2 0 3 0 0 3 0 Figure 5. The large numbers from April 9 th -18 th represent the number <strong>of</strong> fish caught on each day <strong>of</strong> fishing. 49 <strong>Saddleback</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biology</strong> Spring 2010
Spring 2010 <strong>Biology</strong> 3B Paper The data were collected to compare the number <strong>of</strong> fish (n=10) caught with each lure in bright and low lights conditions. The data showed no significant difference in the number <strong>of</strong> fish caught in low light conditions versus bright light conditions (p=0.33. The data showed that fishing in low light conditions did not produce more fish caught then fishing in bright light conditions. Temperature was not analyzed because there was no significant difference in light conditions and the temperature stayed fairly constant throughout the whole data collecting process. Discussion When considering the rate <strong>of</strong> success with any given kind <strong>of</strong> bait, one must look at how Micropterus experiences the bait through all six <strong>of</strong> its senses. According to a study on pisciverous feeding in Micropterus “In the pursuit phase <strong>of</strong> the predation cycle, largemouth bass are more likely to choose prey with large apparent size, closer proximity, or greater motion.” (Howick and O’Brien, 1983). A complete analysis <strong>of</strong> their finding showed that bass use multiple mechanisms simultaneously to determine which organisms to prey on. First, we examine sight. The brightly colored lures are easier to see in murky water, however, it is still unknown the range <strong>of</strong> colors which Micropterus can actually see. According to a recent study, bass may have some, but not full, color vision (Kawamura and Kashimoto, 2002). This most likely is the cause <strong>of</strong> the bass’ lack <strong>of</strong> interest in the unnatural, brightly colored lures. A keen sense <strong>of</strong> smell is perhaps another contributing factor to why Micropterus rarely approaches lures. In such murky (visibility <strong>of</strong> the lake was measured to be between 8ft-15ft in bright condition and 3-9ft in low light conditions) water, it is highly likely that bass depend less on their eyesight and more so on their other senses. If a lure gives <strong>of</strong>f a plastic scent, or perhaps even no scent at all, it is likely that the bass are not even considering it an option as a food item as they hunt through the algae. A sense <strong>of</strong> taste is imperative to many organisms in determining what food items will be most nutritious. Largemouth bass use a glossopharyngeal taste system (Ogawa and Capio, 1999) to sample and understand potential food items before consuming them. The bass will swallow potential prey and spit it out or swallow it depending on taste. A big part <strong>of</strong> the reason that bass take in so much information about their prey before attempting to consume them is because <strong>of</strong> the mechanism by which they feed. The final sense that Micropterus uses is the lateral line system that all fish use to detect vibrations and pressure differences in the water (Bleckmann and Zelick, 2009). Micropterus use this sense to hunt prey in the wild by having the ability to even detect the heartbeat <strong>of</strong> nearby prey. Using these senses in unison is what has made Mircropterus a popular sport-fishing trophy, because it does not take merely a fishing pole and hook to capture this predator (i.e. stocked trout). As the results show, there is still no scientifically proven, most favorably condition to fish for largemouth bass. The break <strong>of</strong> dawn or dusk nor 3 days before and after a new or full moon had no effect on the data collected. It became apparent after recording the data that Mircropterus gave more attention to the lures painted to imitate the colors <strong>of</strong> fish in the wild (naturally-colored lures), therefore it would appear that the lure choice is only important when there is enough light for the fish to see the colors (which start a dawn and end at dusk), though this was not a significant difference (p=0.33). The results did not show a significant difference, but if more research with even more varying largemouth bass fishing techniques was conducted then it could possibly show that Mircropterus will spend more time analyzing the naturally-colored lures and be slightly more prone to take to the lure around the full and new moon. The results are from a small sample set and in the future data might be taken from pr<strong>of</strong>essional fishermen in order to have more accurate and precise results. Literature Cited Bleckmann Horst, Zelick Randy, (2009). Lateral line system <strong>of</strong> fish. Integrative Zoology 4, 13-25 Carrol, A. M., (2004). Muscle activation and strain during suction feeding in the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> Experimental <strong>Biology</strong> 207, 983-991 Grant, B. E., Devon, Gershaneck L., Plata D. L., and Golub J. L. (2002). Ontogenetic Changes in Response to Heterospecific Alarm Cues by Juvenile Largemouth Bass are Phenotypically Plastic. Behavior, 139(7), 913-927. Howick, G. L., O’Brien, J. W., (1983). Piscivorous Feeding Behavior <strong>of</strong> Largemouth Bass: An Experimental Analysis. Transactions <strong>of</strong> the American Fisheries Society. 112, 508-516. Johnke, W. K., (1995). The Behavior and Habits <strong>of</strong> Largemouth Bass. Dorbil Publishing Co.. New York. Kawamura, G., Kashimoto, T., (2002). Color vision, accommodation and visual acuity in the largemouth bass. Fisheries Science. 68(5), 1041-1046. Linser, P. J., Carr, William E. S., Cate, H. S., Derby, C. D., & Netheron, J. C. (1957). Functional 50 <strong>Saddleback</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biology</strong> Spring 2010
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