Trophic Ecology of the Guadalupe Bass Micropterus treculii

The Guadalupe bass, Micropterus treculii, is endemic to streams of central Texas and occurs primarily in the Edwards Plateau.  We investigated the trophic ecology of Guadalupe bass using gut content data as well as carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes.  We also sampled potential prey items to determine whether or not diet differences among populations are due to differences in resource availability.  Guadalupe bass gut contents consisted largely of fish and large macroinvertebrates including megaloptera larvae and crayfish.  Additionally, we examined diet variation among individuals within populations using stable isotope data.  The results of this study will provide insight into factors affecting resource use variation among individuals as well as provide information on geographic variation in diet among populations of Guadalupe bass.