The presence of piscivorous fish has a significant effect on the structure of fish
assemblages. Exotic, piscivorous largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
have been introduced to a number of Japanese farm ponds that were originally characterized
by a high level of biodiversity. We evaluated the effects of exotic bass on the structure
of the fish assemblage following their introduction into the farm ponds. We collected fish
and measured environmental conditions in 14 ponds of northeastern Japan. The species
richness of pond-dwelling fish assemblages was negatively correlated with the relative
abundance of exotic bass. In addition, the relative abundance of lentic cyprinid species
(e.g., Rhodeus ocellatus ocellatus, Pseudorasbora parva
and Carassius sp.) was negatively correlated with the relative
abundance of exotic bass. The abundance of these species was also influenced by
environmental factors, including transparency and/or coverage of aquatic vegetation,
likely related to their influence on the predatory efficiency of exotic bass. Our results
suggest that the structure of fish assemblages in farm ponds with exotic piscivorous fish
was influenced by both biotic (i.e., predation) and abiotic factors and that some
environmental factors mediate the effects of exotic bass on fish species richness and
composition.