Independent Evaluation of A Bioenergetics Model For Largemouth Bass

Authors:
  • JRJames A. Rice
    James A. Rice
  • PCPhilip A. Cochran
    Philip A. Cochran
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Abstract
We evaluated a bioenergetics model for largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, using independent field data on temperature, feeding, and growth of bass in Lake Rebecca, Minnesota. Model predictions of body mass based on observed temperatures and daily ration estimates fell within 2 SE of observed mean body masses on seven of nine sampling dates over a 4—mo period. We employed three statistical methods to evaluate the fit between predicted and observed growth. A lack—of—fit test detected no significant lack of fit between simulated and observed body masses; partitioning mean squared error showed that 76% of the variance was due to random variation rather than to systematic errors, and a reliability index indicated agreement between predicted and observed masses within a factor of 1.12. Growth simulations were relatively robust with respect to simulated errors in the input variables temperatures and swimming speed, but were sensitive to errors in initial body mass. The model used to observed growth to predict cumulative food consumption over the sampling season; the prediction was within 8.5% of an extrapolation from field data. Estimation of consumption rate as a constant proportion of maximum ration for the whole season was shown to be inappropriate; however, three intervals that used different constant proportions of maximum ration fit the data and corresponded to observed changes in bass diet.

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