Final answer:
The statement that bluegill sunfish mate randomly with any available partner is NOT true. They exhibit selective mating strategies, including territorial behavior and parental care, which contradicts the notion of random mating.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the statements concerning bluegill sunfish mating strategies, the one that is NOT true is that bluegill sunfish mate randomly with any available partner. Bluegill sunfish are known to exhibit multiple mating strategies which include territorial behavior, engaging in parental care, and some degree of selectivity in their mating choices. The process involves courtship behavior, thereby allowing the female some degree of choice in selecting a mate which contradicts random mating. In fact, similar to some bird species, the courtship behaviors and territoriality are indicative of these selective mating strategies. Additionally, the male bluegill sunfish often guards the nest and the eggs, showing a clear engagement in parental care. Also, during mating season, bluegill sunfish males become more territorial, a behavior often linked with ensuring better survival chances for their offspring. Overall, the third option about bluegill sunfish mating randomly is not supported by the evidence on their reproductive behaviors.