Assessment Of Climate Change Effects On Predation Activity And Growth Of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus Salmoides (Lacepede, 1802) By Water Temperature Variations

Water temperature influences the life of species in aquatic ecosystems. Our study was carried out in Deroua Fish farm hatchery (Fkih Ben Salah, Morocco) to assess the effect of climate change effects on predation activity and growth of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. It was conducted in six circular tanks (1.5m(3)) each one receives five specimens of largemouth bass with a weight ranging from 64g to 185g. To carry out this experience we choose two different ranges of water temperature. The first range was water natural temperature; the second range was thermo-regulated by using an electric heating system. The largemouth daily consumption of prey is 5.1% per day of its fresh weight at a temperature range of 16-18 degrees C and 8.7% per day of its fresh weight at a temperature range of 21-24 degrees C. The duration consumption of the same quantity of prey at the temperature range of 21-24 degrees C it is twice more than at a temperature range of 16-18 degrees C but the daily mean growth rate of largemouth bass at a temperature range of 16-18 degrees C is 0.935g/day, while it reaches 2.11g/day at a temperature range of 21-24 degrees C. Fish farm approach following the waters variations demonstrated an increase of the amount of final product of largemouth bass, highlighting the prediction of long-term specie-specific responses to climate change.