Spawning season and nesting habitat of invasive smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in the Chikuma River, Japan

Peterson, Miles I.; Kitano, Satoshi; Ida, Hideyuki

doi:10.1007/s10228-019-00694-w

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Nests were found primarily under dock cover, and male size was significantly correlated with nest physical characteristics in both years as larger males constructed longer, wider, and deeper nests (Figure 7). This correlation of male size and nest characteristics is typical and has been found in the native range as well as in Japan (Peterson et al, 2020;Suski & Philipp, 2004). The use of dock cover is also consistent with previous observations in Lake Nojiri (Iguchi et al, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…In Japan, smallmouth bass were first introduced in 1925 and spread throughout the country after a second illegal stocking in the 1990s, thought to be in Nagano Prefecture (Peterson & Kitano, 2021a; Yodo & Iguchi, 2003). They are currently found in numerous lakes as well as in many river systems, which have been colonized recently (Peterson et al, 2020). In certain areas, especially Nagano Prefecture, they are considered a threat to native fish and are actively culled and removed according to the invasive alien species act (Higuchi et al, 2012; Peterson & Kitano, 2021b; Senou, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The current study aims to build on previous observations (Iguchi et al, 2001) by determining the spawning season at a daily level and habitat use of spawning smallmouth bass in Lake Nojiri and provide a detailed examination of male guarding behavior and egg predation when males are removed. Previous studies in Japan have typically only surveyed individual nests a few times during the spawning season and primarily focus on physical characteristics of suitable spawning habitat (Iguchi et al, 2001;Peterson et al, 2020). The extensive daily nest observations in the current study will provide a much more detailed understanding of spawning season progression and egg development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Japan, natural spawning of smallmouth bass has been confirmed in a variety of lakes and rivers (Iguchi et al, 2001; Iguchi et al, 2004; Peterson et al, 2020). Spawning is generally successful where suitable habitat is present, and there seems to be a lack of native eggs predators (Peterson et al, 2020), although Iguchi and Yodo (2004) proposed that Japanese dace could be effective egg predators. Iguchi et al (2001) surveyed smallmouth bass spawning site selection in Lake Nojiri and Lake Aoki.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spawning season and nest guarding behavior of invasive smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in a Japanese Lake

Peterson

Kitano

2022

Ecological Research

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Spawning of invasive smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) was studied in 2020 and 2021, in Lake Nojiri, Nagano, Japan. Male smallmouth bass began nest construction once water temperatures reached 14°C, and eggs progressed to fry dispersal in approximately 2 weeks. The main spawning season was in late May through early June, with a smaller second peak of nests in late June through early July. Nests were constructed primarily under dock cover, and nest size and depth were positively correlated with male body size. Of the nests that received eggs, nearly all progressed successfully to fry dispersal. Time lapse videos of male guarding behavior revealed that as nests progressed, males rotated less and were suspended off the bottom substrate. Similarly, the presence of egg predators was determined by experimental removal of guarding males. Freshwater gobies (Rhinogobius kurodai) were the only egg predators observed and arrived on all nests in the egg stage. However, only a handful of gobies visited each nest, the total number of eggs predated was low, and eggs or alevins in the progressed stage were rarely predated. These results indicate that in Lake Nojiri, smallmouth bass spawning is highly successful and egg predators appear to have minimal effect on egg survival. The stable smallmouth bass fishery without stocking at this lake is likely a product of these favorable spawning conditions. The lack of native egg predators may also be a driving factor in the continued spread of smallmouth bass throughout Japan.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%