Alex Row MSc Student, Tufts Lab Spatial Ecology of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the St. Lawrence River Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are an important top predator in many freshwater ecosystems in North America. They are also one of the most popular species for recreational anglers. Although there is a lot of research describing the ecology of Smallmouth Bass, most studies have been carried out on populations in relatively small inland lakes and rivers. At present, much less is known about the ecology of this species in aquatic ecosystems at the scale of the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River, which have very different physical attributes and food webs. In recent years, Smallmouth Bass populations in the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River have also been experiencing intense pressure from competitive fishing events (bass tournaments), as well as invasive nest predators (Round Gobies). Since management and conservation efforts are most effective when there is a strong foundation of biological information, there is an urgent need for more information about the ecology of Smallmouth Bass in these unique aquatic ecosytems. On this background, this study uses acoustic telemetry to describe the spatial ecology of Smallmouth Bass in an area where Lake Ontario flows into the St Lawrence River. The annual movements and home ranges reported in this study may be the largest described for this species. The results of this thesis also provide important considerations for assessing, managing, and conserving this population of Smallmouth Bass.
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