The Failure Of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus Salmoides Floridanus (Lesueur), To Spawn In Eutrophic, Over-Crowded Environments
Nonreproductive populations of adult largemouth bass have been found in a number of lakes. In all cases, these environments are characterized as highly eutrophic and over-crowded with bream and forage species. Reproductive failure was demonstrated to be due to a refusal ofthe adult population to spawn. Ripened ovaries were retained long after the spawning season and the deteriorated ova eventually reabsorbed. In some cases, only a portion of the adult largemouth bass population spawned, yet produced substantial yearclasses. Reproductive inhibition was attributed to the excretion and build...
