|
Buzz Bait
|
|
Written by Scott MacGregor
|
|
Friday, 12 June 2009 19:41 |
In an experiment spanning over 20 years, researchers at the University of Illinois have found that vulnerability to being caught by anglers is a heritable trait in largemouth bass.
The researchers breed bass that were more often caught and then breed bass that hadn't been caught. The result is that the offspring of each were likely to exhibit an even higher tendancy to either get caught or stay off the hook.
David Philipp, ecology and conservation researcher at U of I, explained that the experiment sped up what's actually happening in nature. "In the wild, the more vulnerable fish are being preferentially harvested, and as a result the bass population is being directionally selected to become less vulnerable.
So, if during the spawning season the more vulnerable bass (the ones that are easier to catch) are angled and held off of their nests for more than a few minutes, other fish have found the nest and are quickly eating the babies (the babies who would be more likely to be caught).
The researchers recomment that to preserve bass populations across North America, and populations that are more likely to be caught, management agencies need to protect the nesting males during the spawning season.
The full article Born To Be Caught: Largemouth Bass Vulnerability To Being Caught By Anglers Is A Heritable Trait was filed on ScienceDaily.com (Apr. 15, 2009).
{rokintensedebate}
|
Three membership levels to suit every kayak fisherman. Tarpon members receive a subscription to Kayak Angler magazine and kayak fishing hat. Join Today
