Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Florida
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie are popular sport fishes that are widely distributed across Florida and most of the United States. However, there is limited information about how long-term environmental alterations (e.g., changes in climate, aquatic vegetation coverage, lake trophic status) affect these species and the valuable fisheries they support. This knowledge gap, combined with the ecological and socioeconomic significance of centrarchid fisheries, makes it important to study the effects of environmental alterations on Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie population dynamics (e.g., growth, survival). Such information will fulfill a management need for these high-profile species in Florida. Our primary objective is to evaluate if and how climate change, hydrilla expansion, and cultural oligotrophication have affected Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie population dynamics in lakes across Florida over the last 15 years. We will develop a variety of statistical models to understand historical trends in Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie population dynamics using data from the FWC Freshwater Fisheries Long-term Monitoring Program. We will also conduct a detailed social-ecological investigation of a unique, intensively managed reservoir fishery noted for its Largemouth Bass abundance and size structure to understand interactions among fish populations, aquatic habitats, and fisheries stakeholders. Our research will yield insights for understanding long-term trends in Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie population dynamics and interrelationships among fish, habitats, and people across Florida, yielding management-relevant information for FWC and other partners in fisheries management.