Angling for Black Bass Conservation

Black bass of the genus Micropterus support some of the most popular and economically significant sport fisheries in North America. Recent research has uncovered incredible biodiversity within the genus, with up to 19 forms currently recognized in the scientific literature.

Many of these black bass forms are of some conservation concern. Some forms are endemic to one or a few drainages and inhabit stream systems that have been altered by damming and poor land use practices. An additional threat is posed by the (often illegal) introduction of non-native black bass forms, wherein introgressive hybridization can overwhelm and replace native genomes.

Unfortunately, resources to research and conserve many of these black bass forms are currently limited. The purpose of this citizen-science group is to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge by contributing presence locations of native and non-native black basses, with a focus on endemic forms of the southeastern U.S. These presence locations will be used by research scientists and conservation practitioners to best allocate efforts to preserve habitats and conserve native black bass populations.

Together, we angle for black bass conservation.

Contact:
Andrew Taylor, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University
andrew.t.taylor "@" okstate.edu less ↑