Does capture method or the presence of aquatic protected areas influence the selective harvest of behavioural types in largemouth bass?

Abstract

Selectively removing fish based on particular traits, such as body size, may shift trait abundance in the remaining population, resulting in a phenomenon called fisheries-induced evolution. Recently, there is growing interest in evaluating the effects of fisheries-induced evolution on fish behaviour. Aquatic protected areas (APAs) have been designated in some habitats in efforts to prohibit harvesting and maintain natural ranges of phenotypic variation for impacted species. Here, we attempted to test whether APAs that prohibit all forms of fishing have an evolutionary influence on adult largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) behaviour by investigating the relationship between capture method and behavioural type. Fish, caught via active (angling) and passive (hoop net) capture techniques in both protected (70+ year old APAs in eastern Ontario) and adjacent nonprotected areas, were subjected to standard tests of boldness (refuge emergence, general activity, and flight-initiation-distance). A behavioural syndrome characterized by consistent within-individual variation and correlation of boldness behaviours (activity and refuge emergence) was present. Our results provide evidence that APAs may promote behavioural diversification and protect traits selectively targeted by recreational angling.

Comparative Behavior of Wild Bluegill Captured Inside and Outside of a Long‐Standing Aquatic Protected Area

“…The only prior work that has addressed the role of APAs on boldness/exploratory parameters in centrarchid fishes was conducted by Cooke et al. (). These authors found no influence of APAs on the exploratory and risk‐taking behaviors of Largemouth Bass or on their activity patterns relative to fish that were sourced from the fished areas in the lake.…”

“…Cooke et al. () found that angled Largemouth Bass that were obtained from both heavily fished and protected populations exhibited comparable refuge emergence timing and FID scores, suggesting little action for FIE in modulating the behavioral dynamics, in this particular context, of this species at the population level. However, given that other behavioral traits that are associated with boldness in Largemouth Bass appear to be influenced by APAs, including overall aggression scores and lure strikes per cast (e.g., Twardek et al.…”

“…; Cooke et al. ). Therefore, the comparable behavioral phenotypes that were exhibited by the Bluegill from the three locations in the lake may simply represent a lack of selection for these traits in a fisheries‐related context.…”

“…; Cooke et al. ). The trials for FID were conducted in a large raceway‐style tank (152.8 × 27.4 × 35.5 cm) that consisted of opaque side and floor panels.…”

“…The flight-initiation-distance test.-The second behavioral test involved determining each focal fish's flight initiation distance (FID). This behavioral assay is widely used and standardized in teleosts for assessing an individual's level of phenotypic boldness (Kim et al 2009;Wilson et al 2015;Cooke et al 2017). The trials for FID were conducted in a large raceway-style tank (152.8 × 27.4 × 35.5 cm) that consisted of opaque side and floor panels.…”