Host specificity among Ancyrocephalinae (Monogenoidea) of Nebraska sunfish

This study addressed the problem of local patterns of host specificity among Ancyrocephalinae (Monogenoidea) on bass and sunfish species, when the hosts occur in different species combinations in separate ponds. One hundred fifty-three fish of the Centrarchidae, from 4 study sites in Nebraska, were collected. Host species included bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), green sunfish (L. cyanellus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), white crappie (P. annularis), and rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris). These fish occurred in different species combinations, depending on the pond sampled. Results indicated that several centrarchid species could inhabit the same pond and yet support distinct monogene communities. Clavunculus bursatus, Onchocleidus helicis, O. principalis, and Syncleithrum fusiformis were found only on largemouth bass, regardless of what other centrarchids were present in a particular pond. Haplocleidus dispar occurred on green sunfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, and black crappie, and H. furcatus occurred on both bluegill and largemouth bass. Onchocleidus cyanellus and O. ferox were found on both bluegill and green sunfish. Rock bass were present in only 1 of the 4 ponds, but were not infected with any monogenes, even though co-occurring centrarchids were often heavily infected. Largemouth bass had the most diverse ancyrocephaline communities. The degree of parasite host specificity among these monogenes was inversely related to the diversity of host species present in a particular pond. In general, the parasites were more host specific than might be inferred from the literature; parasite species did not necessarily colonize supposedly receptive host species even when the latter were present, and host relatedness was the major factor in determining whether host species shared a common parasite species.     

Introgressive hybridization and species turnover in reservoirs: a case study involving endemic and invasive basses (Centrarchidae: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Micropterus</Emphasis>) in southeastern North America

Invasive species threaten native taxa with extirpation and extinction via several biological mechanisms. One such mechanism, hybridization and subsequent introgression of invasive alleles into native genomes is a serious concern, especially for taxa displaying weak reproductive barriers, as is the case for black basses. Black basses introduced outside of their native ranges thus pose elevated threats to endemic congeners, particularly in the southern United States where restricted ranges preclude refuge from introgression. The recently delineated Bartram’s bass (M. sp. cf M. coosae) is endemic to the upper regions of the Savannah River basin, throughout which anthropogenic modification, including impoundment, has been extensive. Non-native Alabama bass (M. henshalli) and smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu) have been introduced into this system on multiple occasions and now threaten Bartram’s bass via introgression. In this study we sampled four reservoirs (Jocassee, Keowee, Hartwell, and Russell) in the upper Savannah River during 2004 and 2010. Results from three codominant nuclear loci and one mitochondrial locus revealed extensive introgression between Alabama and Bartram’s bass. Results show that Alabama bass have replaced Bartram’s bass in lakes Keowee and Russell, where they were first introduced, while the frequencies of hybrids in lakes Jocassee and Hartwell are increasing. Hybridization involving Bartram’s bass with native largemouth bass and introduced smallmouth bass was detected in very low frequencies. Results highlight the importance of continual study over geographic and temporal scales to inform management and conservation of rare fishes threatened with extinction via interspecific hybridization.     

Occurrence of acanthocephalans in largemouth bass and smallmouth bass (Centrarchidae) from Gull Lake, Michigan

A total of 65 largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, and 27 smallmouth bass, M. dolomieu, collected in April-September 2000 and April-July 2001 from Gull Lake, Michigan, were examined for acanthocephalans. Leptorhynchoides thecatus and Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus infected all the bass examined. Leptorhynchoides thecatus had the highest mean intensity (258.2 +/- 185.4 in 2000 and 145.0 +/- 61.0 in 2001) of the species infecting smallmouth bass. Although N. cylindratus had higher mean intensities (42.1 +/- 37.9 in 2000 and 68.9 +/- 70.5 in 2001) than did L. thecatus in largemouth bass, the values were not significantly different between bass species. The prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance of Pomphorhynchus bulbocolli in the bass species were below the values for the other acanthocephalan species. Leptorhynchoides thecatus and N. cylindratus are the most abundant intestinal helminths in bass from Gull Lake.     

大口黑鲈微卫星DNA指纹图谱的构建和遗传结构分析

以国内目前养殖的大口黑鲈[Micropterus salmoides(Lacépède)]群体(CH)、2009年引进的佛罗里达亚种(FL-09)、2010年引进的佛罗里达亚种(FL-10)、2010年引进的北方亚种(NT-10)为实验材料,应用43个微卫星DNA标记对这4个大口黑鲈群体进行遗传检测,构建了各群体的微卫星DNA指纹图谱,并对其遗传结构进行分析。结果显示:CH、FL-09、FL-10和NT-10群体的平均等位基因数(A)分别为2.58、3.74、3.70和4.21,平均期望杂合度(He)分别为0.4549、0.4896、0.5010和0.6138,平均多态信息量(PIC)分别为0.3786、0.4443、0.4566和0.5546,表明国内目前养殖的大口黑鲈群体遗传多样性水平远远低于国外新引进的大口黑鲈群体。利用UPGMA法对4个群体进行聚类,结果 FL-09和FL-10聚为一支,遗传距离为0.0506;NT-10和CH聚为另一支,遗传距离为0.4244,推测FL-09和FL-10两个佛罗里达亚种属于相同的群体,而NT-10和CH两个北方亚种来自不同的群体,甚至不同的水系。同时从指纹图谱中,筛选到5个特异的微卫星标记(JZL114、MiSaTPW11、Lma120、Mdo6和Msal21),可以鉴别FL、NT-10和CH群体,其中MiSaTPW11和Msal21这两个标记组合可以完全鉴别这3个群体。将5个特异性微卫星标记的图谱数据转化成计算机可以识别的数码指纹,可以方便应用于大口黑鲈不同群体及其杂交种的鉴定。研究结果可以为我国大口黑鲈种质资源保存、品种鉴定和良种选育提供理论依据。     

Differential effects of largemouth and smallmouth bass on habitat use by stoneroller minnows in stream pools

Previous investigations of within-reach distribution patterns of the stoneroller minnow, Campostoma anomalum Rafinesque, suggest that this species behavioural response to piscivorous bass differs among streams with different bass species. This study compares the responses of Camposloma to two common piscivorous fishes, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides Lacepede, and smallmouth bass, M. dolomieui Lacepede. Field experiments in Brier Creek, Oklahoma, U.S.A. showed that Campostoma responded to the presence of adult largemouth bass by shifting to shallow water habitats (commonly < 20 cm), but responded weakly or not at all to adult smallmouth bass. The magnitude of the response of Campostoma was positively related to activity level of the predators. Differences in behaviour between these two predator species may contribute to the differences in spatial distribution patterns of Micropterus and Campostoma observed in earlier investigations, but differences in stream channel morphology and temperature regimes among streams may also be important.     

Distribution and diet of Suwannee bass and largemouth bass in the lower Santa Fe River,Florida

Synopsis Suwannee bass,Micropterus notius, and largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides, were collected by electrofishing in six habitats in the lower Santa Fe River, Florida during May 1981–March 1982. Both bass species were collected concomitantly in all habitats and habitat segregation was not evident. Crayfish (Procambarus spp.) were the primary food of Suwannee bass. Fish were the primary food of largemouth bass, but crayfish were common in the diet of largemouth bass ≥300 mm long. Suwannee bass have a greater throat width and consumed longer and wider forage than did largemouth bass of equal length. Available evidence suggests that Suwannee bass exhibit a positive selection for crayfish and a diverse forage resource, including abundant crayfish, is necessary for a Suwannee bass to coexist with a largemouth bass. This is Journal Series Number 6034 of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Predation of Japanese dace, Tribolodon hakonensis, by largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, in experimental aquaria

 To test the size range of prey fish that largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, can successfully consume, live Japanese dace, Tribolodon hakonensis, were given as prey fish to individual largemouth bass in aquaria. The ratio of maximum standard length (SL) of the Japanese dace consumed by largemouth bass was 46–69% of bass SL. The maximum length of Japanese dace consumed did not differ significantly between largemouth bass and smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu) previously studied, although largemouth bass have relatively larger mouth sizes than smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass occasionally injured and killed Japanese dace larger than the limit that could be consumed.     

Examination of the effects of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) on the ecosystem attributes of lake Kawahara-oike,Nagasaki, Japan

The introduction of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) into the freshwater ecosystems of Japan has resulted in the suppression and/or replacement of native species, generating considerable concerns among resource managers. The impacts of largemouth bass and bluegill on native fauna have been examined in aquaria and isolated farm ponds, but there is limited work examining the likelihood to fundamentally modifying Japan's lakes. The objective of the present study is to examine the direct and synergistic ecological effects of largemouth bass and bluegill on the biotic communities of Lake Kawahara-oike, Nagasaki, Japan, using an ecosystem (Ecopath) modeling approach. Specifically, we examine whether the two fish species have played a critical role in shaping the trophodynamics of the lake. We attempt to shed light on the trophic interactions between largemouth bass and bluegill and subsequently evaluate to what extent these interactions facilitate their establishment at the expense of native species. We also examine how these changes propagate through the Lake Kawahara-oike food web. Our study suggests that the introduction of bluegill has induced a range of changes at multiple trophic levels. The present analysis also provides evidence that largemouth bass was unable to exert significant top-down control on the growth rates of the bluegill population. Largemouth bass and bluegill appear to prevail over the native fish species populations and can apparently coexist in large numbers in invaded lakes. Future management strategies controlling invasive species are urgently required, if the integrity of native Japanese fish communities is to be protected.     

Description of two new gill myxozoans from smallmouth (Micropterus dolomieu) and largemouth (Micropterus salmoides) bass

Two previously undescribed species of myxozoan parasites were observed in the gills of bass inhabiting the Potomac and James River basins. They are described using morphological characteristics and small-subunit (SSU) rDNA gene sequences. Both were taxonomically identified as new species of Myxobolus; Myxobolus branchiarum n. sp. was found exclusively in smallmouth bass, and Myxobolus micropterii n. sp. was found in largemouth and smallmouth bass. Small, spherical, white plasmodia of M. branchiarum from smallmouth bass were observed grossly in the gills; these plasmodia had an average length of 320.3 μm and width of 246.1 μm. The development of the plasmodia is intralamellar in the secondary lamellae of the gills. Mature spores were pyriform in shape with a length of 12.8 ± 1.4 (8.1-15.1) μm and width of 6.9 ± 1.1 (4.0-9.0) μm. Analysis of SSU rDNA identified M. branchiarum in a sister-group to 3 species of Henneguya , although morphologically caudal appendages were absent. Myxobolus micropterii observed in the gills of largemouth and smallmouth bass had larger, ovoid, cream-colored plasmodia with an average length of 568.1 μm and width of 148.1 μm. The cysts developed at the distal end of the gill filament within the primary lamellae. The mature spores were ovoid in shape with a length of 10.8 ± 0.7 (9.2-12.2) μm and width of 10.6 ± 0.6 (9.0-11.8) μm. SSU rDNA analysis placed M. micropterii in a sister group with Henneguya lobosa and Myxobolus oliveirai . The highest prevalence of M. branchiarum was observed in the gills of bass collected from the Cowpasture River (50.9%). Prevalence was 44.6% in bass from the Potomac River and only 4.3% in bass collected from the Shenandoah River. A seasonal study of M. branchiarum , which included both infected and uninfected smallmouth bass, determined that a significantly higher intensity was observed in the spring than in the summer (P < 0.001) or fall (P = 0.004). In an analysis excluding uninfected bass, a higher intensity was observed in the spring than in the summer (P = 0.001) or fall (P = 0.008). Prevalence and seasonal differences were not determined for M. micropterii .     

First record of Neoergasilus japonicus (Poecilostomatoida: Ergasilidae), a parasitic copepod new to the Laurentian Great Lakes

The parasitic copepod Neoergasilus japonicus, native to eastern Asia, was first collected from 4 species of fish (fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas; largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides; pumpkinseed sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus; and yellow perch, Perca flavescens) in July 1994 in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, Michigan. Further sampling in the bay in 2001 revealed infections on 7 additional species (bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus; carp, Cyprinus carpio; channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; goldfish, Carassius auratus; green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus; rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris; and smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu). An additional 21 species examined in 2001 were devoid of the parasite. A limited collection of fish from Lake Superior (n = 8) and Lake Michigan (n = 46) in 1994 showed no infection. Neoergasilus japonicus is most frequently found attached to the dorsal fin and, in decreasing frequency, on the anal, tail, pelvic, and pectoral fins. Prevalence generally ranged from 15 to 70 and intensity from 1 to 10. The greatest number of copepods on a single host was 44. The copepod Neoergasilus japonicus appears to disperse over long distances rather quickly, spreading across Europe in 20 yr and then moving on to North America over a span of 10 yr. Its main vehicle of transport and introduction into the Great Lakes is probably exotic fish hosts associated with the fish-culture industry.     

Performance as a fish predator of largemouth bass [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Micropterus salmoides</Emphasis> (Lacepède)] invading Japanese freshwaters: a review

This review focuses on how predator performance of the invasive largemouth bass [Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède)] has been, or will be, formed in Japanese freshwaters. Predation impacts of largemouth bass on fish communities appear pervasive in both Japanese as well as North American freshwaters. Factors affecting performance as a piscivorous predator are (1) light intensity and water clarity, (2) oxygen depletion, (3) prey size and gape size, (4) behavioral refuge of prey, (5) weed beds as refuge for prey fish, (6) interaction with bluegill. Size and behavioral refuges requirements are so rigorous that they may have evolved only in some North American prey fish species like bluegill; therefore, most Japanese native fish species are unlikely to be equipped with such refuges. However, refuge habitats like aquatic weed beds could develop in Japanese freshwaters, allowing prey fish species to survive under predation pressure. The density, architecture, and species composition of aquatic plants may affect their suitability as refuges. Studies in Japanese waters have suggested that the presence of rich aquatic vegetation or invasive bluegill in bass-introduced waters have suppressed the predation impact of largemouth bass on fish communities. In addition to these environmental factors, original genotypic and phenotypic traits of the introduced largemouth bass, and hybridization between different lineages of largemouth bass or with Florida bass [Micropterus floridanus (Lesueur)] may be involved in further adaptation of invasive largemouth bass to Japanese freshwaters.     

Nutritional condition and physiology of paternal care in two congeneric species of black bass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Micropterus</Emphasis> spp.) relative to stage of offspring development

Parental care requires a complex integration of physiology and behaviour, yet little is known about the physiological and energetic consequences or correlates of these behaviours. Using two species of male black bass (smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu; largemouth bass, M. salmoides) as a model, the focus of this study was to determine the biochemical and hematological indicators of change in nutritional status and potential for chronic stress. This was accomplished by randomly sampling individuals at four stages across parental care. Additionally, a subset of individuals was repeatedly sampled at three brood development stages to track changes in biochemical factors within the individual. Though there were changes in physiological factors across parental care in randomly sampled fish of both species (declines in plasma glucose in largemouth bass; decreases in hematocrit and plasma chloride in smallmouth bass), repeated sampling of individuals was determined to be a more appropriate sampling technique due to natural variability in biochemical factors among individual fish. Repeated sampling of smallmouth bass did not adversely influence physiological metrics or brood abandonment. However, there were higher incidences of nest abandonment in repeatedly sampled largemouth bass. Amongst the repeatedly sampled smallmouth bass, nutritional indicators such as plasma triglyceride levels decreased indicating individual fasting across the majority of parental care. Increases in plasma calcium and magnesium towards the end of care indicated that feeding most likely resumed when the brood was close to independence after ~3 weeks of care. Lastly, several indicators of chronic stress, such as plasma glucose and chloride levels, increased throughout the parental care period. These sublethal stressors are indicative of decreasing body condition associated with prolonged activity and fasting which may have marked impacts on the ability of an individual to continue parental care for the current brood and impact subsequent individual fitness. Further research into the mechanistic relationships between behaviour, physiology, and energetics during the parental care period will provide a better understanding of the decisions by individuals facing multiple trade-offs that ultimately lead to differences in individual fitness.     

Gape Limitation, Prey Size Refuges and the Top–down Impacts of Piscivorous Largemouth Bass in Shallow Pond Ecosystems

Top–down control of phytoplankton biomass through piscivorous fish manipulation has been explored in numerous ecological and biomanipulation experiments. Piscivores are gape-limited predators and it is hypothesized that the distribution of gape sizes relative to distribution of body depths of prey fish may restrict piscivore effects cascading to plankton. We examined the top–down effects of piscivorous largemouth bass on nutrients, turbidity, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish in ponds containing fish assemblages with species representing a range of body sizes and feeding habits (western mosquitofish, bluegill, channel catfish, gizzard shad and common carp). The experimental design consisted of three replicated treatments: fishless ponds (NF), fish community without largemouth bass (FC), and fish community with largemouth bass (FCB). Turbidity, chlorophyll a, cyclopoid copepodid and copepod nauplii densities were significantly greater in FC and FCB ponds than in NF ponds. However, these response variables were not significantly different in FC and FCB ponds. The biomass and density of shallow-bodied western mosquitofish were reduced and bluegill body depths shifted toward larger size classes in the presence of largemouth bass, but the biomass and density of all other fish species and of the total fish community were unaffected by the presence of largemouth bass. Our results show that top–down impacts of largemouth bass in ecosystems containing small- and deep-bodied fish species may be most intense at the top of the food web and alter the size distribution and species composition of the fish community. However, these top–down effects may not cascade to the level of the plankton when large-bodied benthivorous fish species are abundant.     

Molecular characterization of a ranavirus isolated from largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides.

An iridovirus, isolated from largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides following a die-off among adult fish and provisionally designated largemouth bass virus (LMBV), was characterized by analysis of viral protein synthesis in infected cells, viral DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), and sequence determination of the major capsid protein and viral DNA methyltransferase genes. All 3 approaches yielded results consistent with the suggestion that LMBV was a member of the genus Ranavirus. Moreover, LMBV was nearly identical to 2 isolates from Southeast Asia which had been previously detected in imported ornamental fish. It remains to be determined whether infection of largemouth bass resulted from exposure to an imported virus, or whether the presence of similar viruses in southeast Asia and the southeastern United States indicates that iridovirus species are not geographically limited as suggested earlier, but rather globally distributed.     

Survival of largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish embryos after electroshocking

Survival to hatching was determined after electroshocking embryos of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides , bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus . Embryos at different developmental stages were exposed for 20 s to homogeneous electric fields (4–16 V cm⁻¹) of direct current (DC) or 60 or 120 Hz pulsed direct current (PDC) in water of 100 μS cm⁻¹ ambient conductivity. For all species, DC reduced survival of embryos at developmental stages before, during, or soon after epiboly; but survival did not differ from controls during later developmental stages. Survival of largemouth bass and bluegill was not reduced by 60 or 120 Hz PDC except for bluegill exposed at 12 h post‐fertilization. Channel catfish embryo survival was <5% when exposed to 60 or 120 Hz PDC at 8 h post‐fertilization, survival improved for embryos exposed at 67 h to 60 Hz but not to 120 Hz, and all embryos survived exposure to PDC at 150 h post‐fertilization. Exposure durations as short as 5 s resulted in <10% survival of largemouth bass during sensitive stages. All bluegill embryos aged 22 h post‐fertilization hatched prematurely after exposure to 16 V cm⁻¹ DC, but survival was not affected. The use of PDC for electroshocking near largemouth bass and bluegill nests could reduce the negative effects on survival of these species; however, PDC can reduce survival of channel catfish embryos.     

Does prey community composition affect the way different behavioral types interact with their environment?

We examined how different exploratory behavioral types of largemouth bass responded to differing prey communities by determining effects on growth, survival and diet in experimental ponds. We found evidence that non-explorer largemouth bass target young-of-year bluegill early on in life, but bluegill were not an important diet item by late summer. The presence of young-of-year bluegill as prey does appear to affect the foraging strategy of the two exploring types differently. In the absence of small bluegill, both behavioral types feed primarily on benthic invertebrates and zooplankton. When small bluegill were present, we saw a shift away from zooplankton as prey for largemouth bass. However, that shift was toward more benthic invertebrates for non-exploring behavioral types and toward terrestrial insects for exploring behavioral types. Thus, it appears that prey community composition can have important effects on the way in which different behavioral types interact with their environment.     

Foraging in Non-Native Environments: Comparison of Nile Tilapia and Three Co-Occurring Native Centrarchids in Invaded Coastal Mississippi Watersheds

We examined the diet of the alien Nile tilapia and bluegill, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass over a two-year period in coastal Mississippi. Nile tilapia diet was visually separated from the three natives based on group-average linkage cluster analysis. Sequential two-way nested analysis of similarities indicted there was no season effect (Global R = 0.026, P = 24.3%), but there was a moderate size class effect (Global R = 0.457, P = 0.1%) and a strong species effect (Global R = 0.876, P = 0.1%). Pairwise tests indicated species fed on different components of and locations within the environment, with bluegill, redear sunfish and largemouth bass (all R ≤ 0.683, P = 0.1%) having the most similar dietary components and Nile tilapia (all R ≥ 0.953, P = 0.1%) having the most distinct. Multivariate dispersion indicated that largemouth bass (1.425) and bluegill (1.394) had the most diverse diets compared to redear sunfish (0.906) and Nile tilapia (0.918). Similarities of percentages indicated that diets were separated based on prey: bluegill and redear sunfish consumed chironomids and insects; largemouth bass consumed fish and insects; and Nile tilapia fed most often on sediment resources such as nematodes, rotifers, bryozoans and hydrozoans. Nile tilapia had the highest frequency of mud, sand and detritus in their stomachs, suggesting they fed directly on bottom sediments. These data and the fact that Nile tilapia has a 1.3–7.6 times longer intestine on average than its body length, support our contention that this alien species feeds at the base of the food web and is well adapted to survive and proliferate in non-native environments.     

Low temperature cardiac response to exhaustive exercise in fish with different levels of winter quiescence

We examined the cardiac responses of different fish species to anaerobic exercise at low temperatures (3 degrees C). Three species of sympatric warmwater fish with perceived differences in winter activity were used for this comparative study: the winter-quiescent largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides); the winter-active white bass (Morone chrysops); and the intermediately winter-active black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus). Perceived differences in winter activity were reflected in cardiac responses; e.g. basal cardiac values were lowest for largemouth bass, highest for white bass, and intermediate for black crappie. In addition, cardiac recovery was most rapid for white bass, slowest for largemouth bass and intermediate for black crappie. When disturbed at low temperatures, largemouth bass and black crappie elevated cardiac output principally through increases in heart rate despite substantial decreases in stroke volume. Conversely, white bass principally used stroke volume modulation to change cardiac output. The results of this study indicate that different species respond differently to exercise at low temperatures. Management strategies should recognize that such variation exists and ensure that management decisions are based upon an understanding of the low temperature exercise physiology and winter biology of the species of interest.     

Size-specific growth of bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish in relation to prey availability and limnological variables

Growth of sympatric populations of three important sport fish species: bluegill Lepomis macrochirus , largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus , in 14 Illinois reservoirs was assessed in an attempt to relate size-specific growth to environmental conditions. Multiple regression relationships for most species and size classes explained a large percentage of the variation in growth. Growth of small bluegill (50 mm total length, L _T) showed a strong negative relationship with bluegill catch per unit effort (cpue), per cent littoral area and pH. Large bluegill (150 mm L _T) growth was negatively related to Daphnia spp. and benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and lake volume, and positively related to bluegill cpue. Growth of small (100 mm L _T) and large (250 mm L _T) largemouth bass was not well explained by any of the measured variables. Growth of both small (300 mm L _T) and large (450 mm L _T) channel catfish was strongly positively related to forage fishes and ichthyoplankton abundance, and per cent littoral area while negatively related to benthic macroinvertebrates. By identifying environmental conditions associated with increased growth rates, these models provide direction for managing fish populations and suggest testable hypotheses for future study of the complex interactions between environmental conditions and growth.