Florida's State Freshwater Fish: The Florida Bass

<p>In today’s episode we’re talking about Florida’s state freshwater fish, the Florida bass. We will discuss why it’s no longer called the largemouth bass, where they can be found, how they survive and support our freshwater ecosystems and more.  </p><p><strong>Learn More: </strong></p><ul><li><p>Florida Bass/Largemouth Bass - <a href="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/largemouth-bass/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/freshwater/largemouth-bass/</u></a>  </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>State Freshwater Fish - <a href="https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-freshwater-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-freshwater-fish/</u></a>  </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Florida Bass Research - <a href="https://myfwc.com/research/freshwater/sport-fishes/florida-bass/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://myfwc.com/research/freshwater/sport-fishes/florida-bass/</u></a>  </p></li></ul><p><strong>How You Can Help:  </strong></p><ul><li><p>Encourage aquatic plant management in your community, if you have natural lakes. Diverse, abundant submerged aquatic plants help with water clarity. A goal of 50% submerged lake bottom coverage by native plant species is highly correlated with higher water clarity and less algae.  </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Get a fishing license or one of specialty license plates - <a href="https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/freshwater-fishing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/freshwater-fishing/</u></a>  </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Learn about the Trophy Catch program - <a href="https://license.gooutdoorsflorida.com/Angler/Home?id=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://license.gooutdoorsflorida.com/Angler/Home</u></a>  </p></li></ul><p><strong>Sources: </strong></p><ul><li><p>Phylogenomics and species delimitation of the economically important Black Basses (Micropterus) - <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9170712/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9170712/</u></a>  </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Aging: Biologists use otiliths to determine the age of fish - <a href="https://myfwc.com/research/freshwater/fisheries-resources/techniques/aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://myfwc.com/research/freshwater/fisheries-resources/techniques/aging/</u></a>  </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Trophic state indicators are a better predictor of Florida bass condition compared to temperature in Florida’s freshwater bodies - <a href="https://klwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/trophic-state-predicts-bass-condition-boucek-et-al-2017.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://klwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/trophic-state-predicts-bass-condition-boucek-et-al-2017.pdf</u></a>  </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepe`de, 1802): impacts of a powerful freshwater fish predator outside of its native range - <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11160-019-09570-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11160-019-09570-2.pdf</u></a>  </p></li></ul><p></p>