THE NEST RANGE OF SMALLMOUTH BASS (MICROPTERUS-DOLOMIEU) - PARENTAL CARE AFTER SWIM-UP

Male smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) remain in association with their broods for an extended period of time after swim-up. The diurna l pattern of brood dispersion after swim-up consists of expansion duri ng the day and contraction in the evening. We measured the areas occup ied by both the broods and parental males after swim-up to determine i f males adjust their parental surveillance to the dispersion of the bl ood. Male nest range, as determined from sonic tracking procedures, wa s found to be significantly related to the dispersion of the brood and not to the developmental stage (larval versus juvenile) of the offspr ing. This relationship indicates that parental vigilance after swim-up continues to be non-depreciable in the same manner as parental defens e prior to swim-up.