Size‐specific growth of bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish in relation to prey availability and limnological variables

摘要: Growth of sympatric populations three important sport fish species: bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus ,i n 14 Illinois reservoirs was assessed in an attempt to relate size-specific growth environmental conditions. Multiple regression relationships for most species size classes explained a large percentage the variation growth. small (50 mm total length, LT) showed strong negative relationship with catch per unit effort (cpue), cent littoral area pH. Large (150 negatively related Daphnia spp. benthic macroinvertebrate abundance lake volume, positively cpue. (100 (250 not well by any measured variables. both (300 (450 strongly forage fishes ichthyoplankton abundance, while macroinvertebrates. By identifying conditions associated increased rates, these models provide direction managing suggest testable hypotheses future study complex interactions between # 2007 The Authors Journal compilation Fisheries Society British Isles