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Why is the redeye bass the miracle fish of North America?
Red-eyed bass (Ambloplites rupestris), also known as rock bass, roundeye and black bass, is a freshwater fish native to eastern and central North America and has attracted the attention of many fish enthusiasts. Their survivability and adaptability make them a wonder of North American waters. Here's a look at their living habits, habitats, and reproductive patterns, and reveal why this fish thrives in a changing environment.
Distribution
Redeye bass are widely distributed in various lakes and rivers from the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes systems to the upper and middle Mississippi River basins and into the eastern United States. The creatures are found from Quebec to Saskatchewan in Canada, as far south as Missouri and Arkansas, and further south to the Savannah River and in places such as Alabama and Georgia in the southeastern United States. Even in some French waters, red-eyed bass have successfully reproduced themselves, demonstrating their resilience.
Appearance features
Red-eyed bass have unique appearance characteristics. They are smaller in size, have body colors ranging from golden brown to olive, and have a white or silver belly. Its most distinctive features are its red eyes and dark spots on its sides. These fish are usually between 6 and 10 inches (150 and 250 mm) long, with adult types weighing less than a pound, while the largest red-eye bass can reach 43 cm (17 inches) and 1.4 kg (3.1 pounds). weight.
Habitat
Redeye bass prefer clear, rocky, plant-covered stream pools and lake edges. In New England lakes and reservoirs, these fish often inhabit rocky shores. Their habitats like to contain some algae and rocky bottoms, and the water temperature ranges from cool to warm. It is worth noting that red-eyed bass are quite tolerant of human activities and can easily survive whether it is under the lakeside pier or near swimming areas.
Eating habits
As a carnivorous fish, the diet of red-eyed bass mainly includes small fish, insects and crustaceans. Sometimes, they even feed on their own young. Its hunting behavior is often most active in the evening and early morning. This habit allows the red-eyed bass to effectively compete with smallmouth bass for food resources.
Protect the current situation
According to the IUCN Red List, red-eyed bass is listed as a species of "least concern", indicating that its population is relatively stable. This means that in the North American environment, redeye bass do not require special monitoring or conservation management plans. As a sport fish, relevant agencies will set regulations for redeye bass in some waters, such as setting size limits in certain waters.
Reproductive behavior
Red-eyed bass mature sexually at about 2 to 3 years of age and breed between April and June each year in water temperatures of 12 to 15°C (54 to 59°F). The female lays approximately 2,000 to 11,000 eggs, while the male digs the nest and guards the eggs. This complex reproductive behavior allows red-eyed bass to swarm during the breeding season, forming dense breeding areas.
Recreation and misunderstanding
Red-eye bass are considered a recreational fish by many anglers, with their full set record weighing 1.36 kilograms (3 pounds) according to the International Fishing Federation (IGFA). However, there are some misconceptions about different species of bass. For example, the Ozark bass and shadow bass, although similar to red-eyed bass, are actually different species.
The red-eyed bass's strong adaptability and long-lasting ability to survive have made it a part of the North American aquatic ecosystem. They grow faster than ordinary fish and can quickly adapt to environmental changes, which is a miracle in nature.
As people's understanding of the natural environment deepens, how to more effectively protect and utilize this precious water resource will become an important issue in the future?
