J. M. Pestrak

Suppression of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) fingerling production in 0.01 ha ponds with high blue tilapia (Tilapia aurea) densities (760-1,900 kg/ha; 1,300-2,500 fish/ha) was studied to determine if the suppression is caused by direct competition for spawning sites. Bass spawned successfully in 8 of 9 ponds with tilapia but mean (x = 340) production of bass fingerlings was 84% less than in ponds without tilapia (x = 2183; N = 3). Difference in young-of-year bass production between ponds with and without tilapia was statistically significant; however, differences...

In pond predation studies, 4 total length (TL) groups (152 - 406 mm TL) of Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridaiu.Ls) were each provided 4 length groups (51 - 140 mm TL) of blue tilapia (Tilapia aurea) as forage. Estimated maximum length of tilapia that 38 - 500 mm TL bass can swallow ranged from 36 61% of the bass's total length. Bass <254 mm TL ate tilapia which approximated the maximum estimated length they could swallow. Bass >381 mm TL rarely ate tilapia >27% of their total length. Regression analysis of blue tilapia total length (mm) versus body depth (D;...