| Endangered Species: Roanoke Bass |
A Christiansburg Elementary Project
Submitted by Jameson
Christiansburg Elementary School, Christiansburg, U.S.A.
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Photography courtesy of Virginia's Endangered Species |
Why Study This Topic?
Do you like fish? Well, I do. I am here talk about
a fish called the Roanoke Bass. The reason I picked this fish was that
I wanted to know about how its feeding habits, where it lived, and I wanted
to know what the differences were between the Roanoke Bass and the regular
bass.
What Was Already Known
I already knew that bass eat small fish, and the bass
was a game fish. Therefore, a lot of people caught them. That could probably
be the reason for their endangerment.
Search for Information
I searched for information in an encyclopedia. That
was where I found its predators and prey, and all of the habitat needs
of the Roanoke Bass. I also looked in a fish book that showed me some of
the reasons for the endangerment of the Roanoke Bass.
I did have some problems which I encountered while
I was doing this research. For example, I did have some problems finding
the fish on a web site on the Internet.
Description
The roanoke bass can get 9 to 10 inches long. That's
pretty long for a freshwater fish. The Roanoke Bass can also get up to
20 pounds. Fisherman are lucky to find a fish that big!
The shape of the bass is an oval body with with
a boomeranged-shaped tail, and has a big or small mouth. The color of the
Roanoke Bass is a blackish tan, but it does have scales. The tail is also
a white brown and yellow color.
Some bass form schools and live together like a
family.
Habitat Requirements
The Roanoke Bass eats small fish and little left over
pieces of food that bigger fish might leave behind.
The Roanoke Bass can only live in freshwater, because
that's its habitat. The bass lives by rocks so predators could't reach
it. It also lives by lilipads to keep it safe from humans.
Adaptations
Its predators are fish bigger than the bass such as
the muskie. Another predator are commercial fisherman, and sport fisherman.
Reasons for Endangerment
The two main reasons the Roanoke Bass are endangered
are the waters where it lives are polluted, and many people catch these
bass.
Restoration Actions
I think people need to start throwing back more Roanoke
Bass, rather than keep them. A catch and release program can help save
this endangered species.
The Natural Heritage Program ranks this bass ghs2, which
means it is very rare.
Some actions are being taken to restore its habitat. But
I still think that scientist working on the habitat should work on increasing
its population.
What Was Learned
Some research benefits to me were that when I got
on the web I found a lot of imformation on the Roanoke Bass.
I also got some self benefits, because I found a
lot of information in books on the bass before I started writing the report.
Conclusions From Research
No information provided.
Bibliography
Terwilliger, Karen 1991 "Virginia's Endangered
Species" pages 190-191
World Wide Web pages at this URL: www.fish.com
World Wide Web pages at this URL: www.fishaccociate.com
Return
to Fish page.
If you would like to add to these Endangered Species
pages then email your contributions to Christiansburg
Elementary
© copyright 1997
Christiansburg Elementary |
Last updated on March 12, 1997
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