Effect of Air Temperature on Growth of Largemouth Bass in North America

Abstract We examined the relationship between air temperature and growth for geographically disparate populations of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides by use of published data in conjunction with climatological records. The thermal component of climate best correlated with growth was accumulated day-degrees over 10°C. This measure ofclimate was suggested by a simple model in which growth rate is proportionate to temperature in excess of 10°C. Correlations (0.79–0.84) between total mean lengths each year (years 3–8) and accumulated day-degrees were significant, and indicated that more than half the variability in growth may be attributed to environmental temperature. Theoretical growth curves reconstructed from these regression lines agreed well with those observed for natural populations.