Biocomplexity at North Temperate Lakes LTER: Coordinated Field Studies: Large Mouth Bass Growth 2006

Lakeshore residential development is associated with changes in littoral habitat,
riparian habitat, and ecosystem function with potential impacts ramifying through aquatic
food webs. Effects of these changes on economically important game fishes may vary with fish
size. We investigated largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) size-specific growth rates
across 16 lakes spanning the range of lakeshore residential development in Wisconsin’s
Northern Highland Lake District using a longitudinal multilevel model. Growth rates of small
fish had a strong positive relationship with lakeshore residential development. The strength
of the relationship decreased with length and became increasingly negative for fish longer
than 210 mm. This pattern may be driven by a release from density-dependent growth, shifts
in available prey sources, reduced macrophyte cover, or angling-induced selection pressures.
Regardless of the mechanism, our results indicate, relative to undeveloped lakes, largemouth
bass in highly developed lakes take 1.5 growing seasons longer to enter the fishery (356
mm).