Overview of black bass habitat in Florida:
Habitat components that have been found
to be important to bass and other freshwater fishes include water
quality and quantity, structure, biota and location. Water quality
includes factors such as toxic pollutants, water clarity, water
color and the amount of nutrients and minerals in the water. Water
quantity addresses the overall size and depth of the water body as
well as natural seasonal variations, or water schedules and minimum
flow rates where man-made structures alter natural conditions.
Structure includes such things as deep cuts in the bottom or
irregular contours along the shoreline, the makeup of the bottom
material (rocky, sandy, muddy or deep muck), and things like fallen
trees, piers or artificial fish attractors. Biota is very critical
and refers to not only the other fish and wildlife in the water
body that are potential predators, competitors or prey, but also
the aquatic vegetation. Vegetation can be microscopic algae, or
submersed, emergent or floating plants. A proper combination of
plants is essential to healthy aquatic ecosystems. Location
primarily refers to whether water bodies are coastal or inland, sit
on karst topography that creates sink holes, and how far
north-south they are in the state, which affects temperatures,
rainfall and spawning seasons.
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