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<br />TABLE 1. Predator-prey combinations observed in Wyoming impoundments <br />(< 200 hectares) with naturalized black bass populations. Based on records <br />of Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Cheyenne. <br /> <br />Largemouth bass <br /> <br />Prey species present <br /> <br />Number of impoundments <br /> <br />No forage fish <br />Black bullhead <br />Green sunfish <br />White sucker <br />Black crappie <br />Fathead minnow <br />Pumpkinseed <br />Yellow perch <br />Creek chub <br />Green sunfish, black bullhead <br />Green sunfish, white sucker <br />Green sunfish, golden shiner <br />Black bullhead, black crappie <br />Black bullhead, pumpkinseed <br />Black bullhead, fathead minnow <br />Fathead minnow, creek chub <br />Fathead minnow, pumpkinseed <br />Fathead minnow, bluegill <br />3 or more species <br /> <br />81 <br />10 <br />7 <br />7 <br />5 <br />4 <br />2 <br />2 <br />1 <br />7 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />21 <br />155 <br /> <br />Smallmouth bass <br /> <br />Prey species present <br /> <br />Number of impoundments <br /> <br />No forage fish <br /> <br />3 or more species <br /> <br />1 <br />7 <br />8 <br /> <br />The production of bass in northerly impoundments is limited by growing <br />season and food availabilty, which can be functions of both forage density <br />and vulnerability. Dense growths of aquatic macrophytes in many ponds may <br />reduce foraging efficiency of bass. Several predator-prey combinations <br />could possibly produce better fisheries if macrophytes were controlled. <br />The routine inclusion of white amur into impoundment stocking strategies <br />may increase the frequency of quality fisheries. <br />Whatever the intensity of pond management or the predator-prey combin- <br />ations, the potential yield of bass is limited by the short growing season. <br />Potential yield estimates are not available, but it is quite probable that <br />strict harvest restrictions would have to be enforced to maintain angling <br />quality (Funk 1974). <br /> <br />17 <br />