An Experimental Study of Consumption of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus by Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides when Alternative Prey Are Available

Sismour, Edward; Nellis, Shelley; Newton, Scott H.; Mays, Darcy P.; Fine, Michael L.

doi:10.1643/ce-12-052

Cited by 24 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Injuries and fatalities from catfish spines have been recorded in a number of predator taxa: fish (Scott and Crossman 1973;McAda 1983;Pimental et al 1985;Ryden and Smith 2002;Bosher et al 2006;Fine et al 2011;Sismour et al 2013), birds (BunkleyWilliams et al 1994), snakes (Smith 1956;Kofron 1978;Burr and Stoeckel 2000;Gibbons and Andrews 2004;Gibbons and Dorcas 2004;Šukalo et al 2012, 2014, and humans (Murphey et al 1992;Baker 1997;Blomkalns and Otten 1999). The introduction of the Brown Bullhead to Bosnia and Herzegovina has proved dangerous for grass snakes, Natrix spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pectoral spine of catfishes has long been described as an anti-predator adaptation (Sörensen 1895;Reed 1924;Alexander 1965), although experimental evidence in support of this idea is relatively recent (Fine et al 1997;Bosher et al 2006;Sismour et al 2013). Rather than using the spines preemptively to ward off would-be predators, Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, erect their pectoral spines to discourage ingestion only when restrained by a predator (Bosher et al 2006;Sismour et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rather than using the spines preemptively to ward off would-be predators, Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, erect their pectoral spines to discourage ingestion only when restrained by a predator (Bosher et al 2006;Sismour et al 2013). Abduction of the pectoral spines can more than double the width of Channel Catfish, inhibiting prey handling and ingestion by gape-limited predators, such as the Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides (Sismour et al 2013). Pectoral spines do not deter Largemouth Bass from capturing Channel Catfish, but the spines do, ultimately, decrease risk of mortality and discourage repeated predation attempts (Bosher et al 2006;Sismour et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abduction of the pectoral spines can more than double the width of Channel Catfish, inhibiting prey handling and ingestion by gape-limited predators, such as the Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides (Sismour et al 2013). Pectoral spines do not deter Largemouth Bass from capturing Channel Catfish, but the spines do, ultimately, decrease risk of mortality and discourage repeated predation attempts (Bosher et al 2006;Sismour et al 2013). Compared with fish predators, adult Snapping Turtles are only marginally gape-limited.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specialized modification of the bone and muscle tissue allows these spines to be locked in an erect position at a right angle to the fish's body (Alexander 1965;Fine et al 1997;Miano et al 2013). Flaring and locking of the pectoral spines increases the effective size of the catfish and, thus, deters gape-limited predators (Forbes 1989;Fine et al 2011;Sismour et al 2013). Predators may be discouraged from consuming these catfish as a result of injury inflicted by the spines or reduced profitability due to lengthy handling time (Moser 1986;Werner et al 2001;Bosher et al 2006;Nellis 2010;Sismour et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anti-predator defenses of Brown Bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) and interactions with Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina)

et al. 2015

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. 2015. Anti-predator defenses of Brown Bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) and interactions with Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina). Canadian Field-Naturalist 129(2): 189-193.Ictalurid catfishes have sharp spines on their dorsal and pectoral fins that can be hazardous to predators. The pectoral spines may lock in an abducted position, effectively increasing body size and preventing ingestion by gape-limited predators. Further, sharp spines may injure predators or increase prey handling time, affording catfish opportunities for escape. As part of a longterm mark-recapture study of turtle ecology in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, we documented the presence of Brown Bullheads, Ameiurus nebulosus, in the diet of Snapping Turtles, Chelydra serpentina. Here, we report on injuries inflicted by the pectoral spines of bullheads on Snapping Turtles during predator-prey interactions and provide a brief literature review of the functional significance and potential dangers of catfish pectoral spines to predators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anti-predator defenses of Brown Bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) and interactions with Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina)

et al. 2015

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Alternative Prey Reduces Largemouth Bass Predation Mortality on Newly Stocked Channel Catfish Fingerlings

Becher

Tyszko

Zweifel

et al. 2021

N American J Fish Manag

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Management agencies commonly stock Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus as advanced yearlings instead of fingerlings (age 0) to help reduce potential predation mortality despite uncertainty regarding the degree to which predation limits fingerling poststocking survival. To better understand whether fingerling survival during the first 7 d after stocking—when predation risk is likely greatest—could benefit from the presence of alternative prey fish, we conducted an experiment in 0.4‐ha ponds (N = 18; 6 ponds/treatment) that measured fingerling (TL range = 56–186 mm) survival in ponds with predators only (adult Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides; mean TL = 327 mm; SE = 21), with predators and alternative prey fishes (Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and Goldfish Carassius auratus), or with neither (i.e., control ponds). Without alternative prey, fingerling Channel Catfish survival 1 week after stocking was significantly (P < 0.01) lower (89%) than in the ponds with alternative prey (98%) or in the control treatment with no predators (97%). Our experiment also indicated the potential for alternative prey to promote fingerling survival by reducing water clarity, not just by serving as a buffer from predation. Further research, however, is needed to determine the degree to which our findings apply to larger ecosystems and to learn whether stocked fingerlings survive well enough after the initial stocking period to achieve desired management goals. Even so, our results suggest that alternative prey can reduce Largemouth Bass predation mortality on fingerlings immediately after stocking, which could influence Channel Catfish stocking approaches in some managed systems.

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Fish Sound Production: Insights

Parmentier

Fine

2016

Springer Handbook of Auditory Research

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An Experimental Study of Consumption of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus by Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides when Alternative Prey Are Available

Cited by 24 publications

References 32 publications

Anti-predator defenses of Brown Bullheads (<em>Ameiurus nebulosus</em>) and interactions with Snapping Turtles (<em>Chelydra serpentina</em>)

Anti-predator defenses of Brown Bullheads (<em>Ameiurus nebulosus</em>) and interactions with Snapping Turtles (<em>Chelydra serpentina</em>)

Alternative Prey Reduces Largemouth Bass Predation Mortality on Newly Stocked Channel Catfish Fingerlings

Fish Sound Production: Insights

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