@article{neal_noble_2008, title={Comparison of diploid and triploid largemouth bass growth and maturation through age 1 in Puerto Rico}, volume={28}, ISSN={["0275-5947"]}, DOI={10.1577/m07-046.1}, abstractNote={Abstract Triploid largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides could be valuable both in sport fish management and in food fish production. This study compared the growth and reproductive development of diploid and triploid largemouth bass through age 1 in Lucchetti Reservoir, Puerto Rico. We produced and stocked 487 diploids and 477 triploids tagged with binary coded wire tags and recaptured these fish over 2 years. Growth rates, condition (relative weight (W r )), and reproductive investment (gonadosomatic index (GSI)) were compared for diploid and triploid fish. Rates of mean daily growth did not differ between diploids (0.81 mm/d; SE = 0.07) and triploids (0.91 mm/d; SE = 0.09) as juveniles or overall through age 1. Diploid largemouth bass exhibited advanced reproductive development during age 1, while triploids did not. Mean GSI was higher for diploid females (mean = 1.98; SE = 0.81) than for triploid females (mean = 0.29; SE = 0.05), but male mean GSI did not significantly differ between the two groups. No difference in W r was observed. Experimental fish in this study reached maturity in the middle of the spawning season at age 1 and therefore may not have reproduced. Additional research on triploid largemouth bass beyond age 1 is necessary to determine whether sterile triploids have growth advantages over reproductive adult diploids.}, number={3}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Neal, J. Wesley and Noble, Richard L.}, year={2008}, month={Jun}, pages={688–693} }
 @article{neal_noble_lilyestrom_2006, title={Evaluation of the ecological compatibility of butterfly peacock cichlids and largemouth bass in Puerto Rico reservoirs}, volume={135}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/T04-191.1}, abstractNote={Abstract Introduction of peacock cichlids Cichla spp. into tropical and subtropical systems where they can successfully overwinter and reproduce has been a common practice in fisheries management. We evaluated the compatibility of nonnative butterfly peacock cichlids Cichla ocellaris and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in Puerto Rico reservoirs using (1) controlled juvenile interaction experiments, (2) examination of hatching periodicity and diet overlap of juveniles in a reservoir environment, and (3) comparison of adult catch data from 10 Puerto Rico reservoirs. In the juvenile interaction experiments, butterfly peacock cichlid juveniles in ponds with largemouth bass had slower growth in length ( P = 0.020) and weight ( P = 0.003) and lower survival ( P = 0.002) than in ponds with only butterfly peacock cichlids. In reservoirs, largemouth bass spawning typically occurred 2–3 months before butterfly peacock cichlid spawning, which resulted in substantial size differences between the juveniles of the two species. Butterfly peacock cichlids fed almost exclusively on threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense ; the largemouth bass diet included threadfin shad but was much more diverse. Correlation coefficients were negative for comparisons of adult largemouth bass and butterfly peacock cichlid catch rates in the reservoirs sampled. Pooled catch data from all reservoirs showed a significant inverse relationship in relative abundance ( P = 0.026). Catch rates from reservoirs with and without butterfly peacock cichlid populations indicated that largemouth bass densities were higher in single‐predator systems (mean = 85.1/h) than in dual‐predator systems (9.8/h).}, number={2}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Neal, J. Wesley and Noble, Richard L. and Lilyestrom, Craig G.}, year={2006}, month={Mar}, pages={288–296} }
 @article{neal_bacheler_noble_shea_cope_2005, title={The  mystery of Dos Bocas Reservoir, Puerto Rico: Explaining extreme spatial heterogeneity in largemouth bass distribution}, volume={41}, number={4}, journal={Caribbean Journal of Science}, author={Neal, J. W. and Bacheler, N. M. and Noble, R. L. and Shea, D. and Cope, W. G.}, year={2005}, pages={804–814} }
 @article{neal_neal_noble_mcgee_2004, title={Artificial propagation and induction of triploidy in largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and ploidy discrimination using erythrocyte length}, volume={35}, ISSN={["0893-8849"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1749-7345.2004.tb01058.x}, abstractNote={We describe an artificial propagation procedure and simple ploidy discrimination techniques using erythrocyte major axis length for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Hormonal treatments of 5 mg/kg of carp pituitary and 50 μg/kg of leutinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) produced viable gametes in 21-24 h, and triploidy was induced using a pressure treatment of 563 kg/cm2 on embryos for a 1-min duration exactly 5 min following fertilization. We produced about 500 fingerling triploids and about 500 diploid controls, and verified genetic status of a subset of each group using flow cytometry. Erythrocyte length was measured for 10 known diploid and 10 known triploid individuals. Remaining fish were internally microtagged with group-specific tags and mixed to test the model. We developed ploidy discrimination intervals based on the 99% confidence limits of mean erythrocyte length (MEL, N= 25 erythrocytes) for individual fish, which were 14.43-16.66 μ.m for triploids, and 10.23-13.62 μm for diploids. Logistic regression provided the discrimination model: Ploidy status (±) = -196.16 + 13.97 x MEL, with positive (+) outcomes considered triploid. Both discrimination techniques were 100% effective at differentiating ploidy of the 22 microtagged largemouth bass recollected from the mixed population. We did not observe a significant change in erythrocyte length as fish size increased, indicating that erythrocyte length is an accurate predictor of ploidy for all sizes of largemouth bass.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY}, author={Neal, JW and Neal, DM and Noble, RL and McGee, MV}, year={2004}, month={Mar}, pages={46–54} }
 @article{bacheler_neal_noble_2004, title={Diet overlap between native bigmouth sleepers (Gobiomorus dormitor) and introduced predatory fishes in a Puerto Rico reservoir}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1600-0633"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1600-0633.2004.00040.x}, abstractNote={Abstract – Native fish species coexist with introduced species in Puerto Rico's freshwater systems, yet competition between these species has not been evaluated. We examined the extent of diet overlap between native bigmouth sleepers Gobiomorus dormitor and introduced largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and peacock bass Cichla ocellaris in a Puerto Rico reservoir. Bigmouth sleepers and largemouth bass exhibited an ontogenetic shift in feeding habits, whereas peacock bass were exclusively piscivorous at all sizes collected in this study. Biologically significant diet overlap was observed between large bigmouth sleepers and largemouth bass, but not between large bigmouth sleepers and peacock bass, or between large largemouth bass and adult peacock bass. No significant diet overlap in any species combination was observed in small or medium size classes. Better understanding of the ecology of these coexisting predators should lead to improved conservation of bigmouth sleepers, and improved fisheries management for all three predatory species.}, number={2}, journal={ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH}, author={Bacheler, NM and Neal, JW and Noble, RL}, year={2004}, month={Jun}, pages={111–118} }
 @article{bacheler_neal_noble_2004, title={Reproduction of a landlocked diadromous fish population: Bigmouth sleepers Gobiomorus dormitor in a reservoir in Puerto Rico}, volume={40}, number={2}, journal={Caribbean Journal of Science}, author={Bacheler, N. M. and Neal, J. W. and Noble, R. L.}, year={2004}, pages={223–231} }
 @article{neal_noble_2002, title={Growth, survival, and site fidelity of Florida and intergrade largemouth bass stocked in a tropical reservoir}, volume={22}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1577/1548-8675(2002)022<0528:GSASFO>2.0.CO;2}, abstractNote={Differential performance of genetic strains of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides is an important management consideration. In Puerto Rico, largemouth bass are widely stocked without attention to which stock is the superior genetic stock for island reservoirs. We simultaneously stocked fingerling Florida largemouth bass M. s. floridanus and intergrade (hybrids of Florida and northern largemouth bass M. s. salmoides) largemouth bass at four sites within Lucchetti Reservoir, Puerto Rico. Recapture efforts 24–26 d following stocking revealed no differences in initial growth or survival. Dispersion from stocking sites varied among sites and between groups at two sites and for all sites pooled; Florida largemouth bass were significantly more mobile after stocking. Relative abundance of each group was similar at age 1, but Florida largemouth bass accounted for 76% of the catch at age 2 and 100% at ages 3 and 4. Initial growth rate was rapid for both groups (1.25 mm/d) until about 275 mm total length, but growth slowed to 0.25 mm/d by age 1 and was only 0.06 mm/d after age 2. Mean relative weight (Wr) of intergrade largemouth bass was significantly higher than that of Florida largemouth bass at ages 1 and 2 during the spawning season (although the Florida groups' Wr remained at nearly 100). Because Florida largemouth bass displayed greater longevity, we recommend future stockings to use only this subspecies in Puerto Rico.}, number={2}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Neal, JW and Noble, RL}, year={2002}, month={May}, pages={528–536} }
 @inbook{neal_noble_churchill_2002, title={Timing of largemouth bass supplemental stocking in a tropical reservoir: impacts on growth and survival.}, volume={31}, booktitle={Black Bass: Ecology, conservation, and management: Proceedings of the symposium Black Bass 2000 (American Fisheries Society symposium ; 31)}, publisher={Bethesda, Md.: American Fisheries Society}, author={Neal, J. W. and Noble, R. L. and Churchill, T. N.}, year={2002}, pages={691–701} }
 @article{neal_lopez-clayton_2001, title={Mortality of largemouth bass during catch-and-release tournaments in a Puerto Rico reservoir}, volume={21}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1577/1548-8675(2001)021<0834:MOLBDC>2.0.CO;2}, abstractNote={In Puerto Rico, unique protocols are used during fishing tournaments for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Live wells are not required, and many anglers retain their catch on metal stringers. During day tournaments, fish are collected and weighed by a roving weigh-in boat; night tournaments use a central weigh-in station. We monitored 15 fishing tournaments over 1 year in Lucchetti Reservoir, Puerto Rico, to quantify mortality rates and to evaluate the impact of tournaments on the adult fish population. Initial mortality was documented at weigh-in, and delayed mortality was determined by holding largemouth bass for 4 d in floating mesh pens with control (electrofished) largemouth bass. Initial and delayed mortality averaged 8% (range, 0–38%) and 43% (10–98%), respectively. The delayed mortality rate was adjusted by the control mortality rate (mean, 7%; range, 0–50%) for each tournament to yield adjusted delayed mortality rate (mean, 36%; range, 10–68%), which we used to calculate total mortality rate (mean, 42%; range, 13–68%). Although surface water temperature ranged only between 23°C and 28°C, total mortality was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) during January–February, being positively correlated with temperature. Night tournaments experienced significantly greater total mortality rates than day tournaments, most likely because of the eightfold longer retention of bass before weigh-in during night tournaments. Retention time was positively correlated with initial mortality rates. We estimated that tournament mortality removed 6% of the adult largemouth bass population and accounted for 23% of all fishing mortality. We recommended reducing tournament fishing during hotter, high-mortality periods; modification of night tournaments; and use of well-maintained live wells. Combined with angler education, such modifications of tournament procedures can reduce the impact of tournaments in tropical reservoirs.}, number={4}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Neal, JW and Lopez-Clayton, D}, year={2001}, month={Nov}, pages={834–842} }
 @article{neal_rice_noble_1999, title={Evaluation of two sizes of hybrid striped bass for introduction into small ponds}, volume={61}, ISSN={["1548-8454"]}, DOI={10.1577/1548-8454(1999)061<0074:EOTSOH>2.0.CO;2}, abstractNote={Abstract Private recreational fisheries in small impoundments provide a potential new market for the growing industry producing hybrid striped bass Morone saxatilis. We estimated growth, condition, and survival of hybrid striped bass (female striped bass × male white bass M. chrysops) in two small ponds with established fisheries for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus that eventually experienced severe weather-induced fish kills 266 d and 348 d after stocking. Both ponds were stocked with 40 phase 2 (120–169 mm total length, TL) and 22 phase 3 (241–344 mm TL) hybrid striped bass/ha. Growth and condition were monitored from introduction until the occurrence of fish kills. Fish collections immediately following the kills allowed minimum estimates of survival for time at large before each event. Mean growth rates were near 0.35 mm/d for phase 2 hybrids and ranged from 0.13 to 0.21 mm/d for phase 3 hybrids. Mean relative weight (Wr ), which at the time of stocking was optim...}, number={1}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUACULTURE}, author={Neal, JW and Rice, JA and Noble, RL}, year={1999}, month={Jan}, pages={74–78} }