Settlement and habitat use by juvenile pike in early winter

The spatial distribution and social behaviour of young-of-the-year pike Esox lucius was investigated in early winter. Reed beds were selected in the early exploration phase but thereafter, pike congregated in the pool habitat. A significant increase in pool occupancy combined with a decrease in reed bed occupancy and movement indicated settlement within 3 days. There was no evidence of territoriality, which has been reported previously in adult pike: indeed, inter-individual spacing was consistent with social grouping rather than territory defence. The strong preference for reed cover among juveniles reported in other studies that were undertaken during summer was not observed here. Among-individual variation in exploratory behaviour was observed but this was not related to activity levels or habitat use.     

Foraging among cannibals and kleptoparasites: effects of prey size on pike behavior

The northern pike (Esox lucius) is an important and selective piscivorethat chooses smaller prey than predicted from energy / timebudgets. In a laboratory experiment, we investigated pike predatorybehavior to explain this selectivity. Northern pike feedingon different prey sizes in aquaria were observed when foragingalone, when in the presence of chemical cues from similar-sizedor larger conspecifics, and when in the presence of conspecifics thatwere allowed to interact with the focal pike. The results showthat prey handling time increases with prey size and that theduration of manipulating and handling prey inflicts a risk ofexposure to cannibals and kleptoparasites on the pike. Therefore,the risk of falling victim to cannibals or kleptoparasites increaseswith prey size. Attracting and experiencing intraspecific interactorscan be regarded as major fitness costs. Chemical cues from foragingconspecifics have only minor effects on pike foraging behavior.Furthermore, the ability to strike and swallow prey head first improvespike predatory performance because failing to do so increases handlingtime. Our findings emphasize the increasing potential costswith large prey and explain previous contradictory suggestionson the underlying mechanisms of behavior, selectivity, and trophiceffects of northern pike predation.     

The growth of young pike in small Finnish lakes with different acidity-related water properties and fish species composition

Pike growth was generally slower in small Finnish lakes than has been reported from large lakes or brackish coastal waters. Growth was unrelated to pH, alkalinity, COD, or conductivity of the water, but length of 1–2-year-old pike correlated positively with water colour (i.e. humic content), nitrogen content, and phosphorus content. These water properties also correlated with each other. Growth of 1–2-year-old pike was negatively correlated with lake area in lakes smaller than 20 ha.
In lakes with a strong roach population or without ruffe the 0 group pike grew faster than in lakes without roach or with ruffe. The growth of pike aged 1–4 years in two very acid and practically fishless lakes did not differ clearly from the rest of the lakes, although the pike were forced to forage for abundant acid resistant invertebrates like dragonfly nymphs (Odonata) or Asellus aquatlcus .
The results of this work support earlier studies where the growth rate above all depends on water temperature and food availability. Acidity was not shown to affect the growth rate of pike.     

微卫星标记分析白斑狗鱼遗传多样性

为了解我国境内白斑狗鱼(Esox lucius)野生群体的遗传多样性现状,利用8对微卫星引物对额尔齐斯河流域185河段、635河段、乌伦古湖及吉力湖4个地理群体的遗传多样性进行了研究。结果显示,8个微卫星位点的平均等位基因数为6.625 0,多态信息含量为0.603 6～0.656 5,可有效用于白斑狗鱼遗传多样性和遗传结构分析。4个群体的平均期望杂合度为0.712 6～0.660 0,表明我国境内野生白斑狗鱼群体有较高的遗传多样性水平。整个群体的总近交系数为0.266 6,少数个体存在近交现象,白斑狗鱼群体有近交倾向。平均分化系数为0.062 2,群体间的遗传变异占总群体变异的6.22%,白斑狗鱼各群体间的分化程度不大。群体间的基因流值变化范围为10.077 5～3.360 6,说明白斑狗鱼不同群体间存在较为广泛的基因交流。     

The population biology of pike, Esox lucius L., in two gravel pit lakes, with special reference to early life history

The population biology of pike in two gravel pit lakes of contrasting habitat type were studied. The density of pike (1 + and over) in November 1987 in the Main Lake was 7.7 fish ha⁻¹ (19 kg ha⁻¹) and in St Peter's was 71 fish ha'(53 kg ha⁻¹). The age distribution showed that recruitment was consistent in St Peter's but variable in the Main Lake. The main factor causing this difference in recruitment is abundance of aquatic vegetation. Survival up to November 1987 of 0-group pike in the Main Lake was 0.00175% from potential egg deposition, producing 6.6 fish ha⁻¹ (0.83 kg ha⁻¹). In St Peter's survival was 0.00315%, producing 23 fish ha⁻¹ (3.04 kg ha ¹).     

白斑狗鱼血液生理、生化指标值和血液流变学常值的研究

作者于１９９５年１１月在新疆额尔其斯河水系进行了调查，首次测试了白斑狗鱼血液生理，生化常值和血液流为学常值，结果发现，白斑狗鱼的全血粘度和血浆粘度均比茯它鱼类高，影响白斑狗鱼全血粘度的主要因子有红细胞压积（ＨＣＴ），血红蛋白（Ｈｂ），红细胞聚集性Ａ１，Ａ２，血浆粘度（η）而影响其血浆粘度的主要因子为血清胆固醇（ＣＨＯ），白斑狗鱼血清白蛋白（ＡＰ）与血清球蛋白（ＧＰ）之比为０．５７。     

温度和pH对白斑狗鱼消化酶活性的影响

目的:通过改变酶的反应温度和pH,离体分析白斑狗鱼体内淀粉酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性变化.方法:分别采用Folin酚法、DNS法和氢氧化钠滴定法测定蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性.结果:在白斑狗鱼肝胰脏、胃二部位,淀粉酶的最适温度均为30℃,肠道淀粉酶的最适温度为40℃;最适pH值分别为4.0、2.0、7.0.肝胰脏、胃二部位脂肪酶的最适温度均为40℃,肠道脂肪晦的最适温度为50℃;最适pH值分别为5.0,4.0、5.0.肝胰脏、胃、肠道蛋白酶的最适温度均为50℃;最适pH值分别3.0、3.0、9.0.结论:在各自最适温度下,脂肪酶、淀粉酶、蛋白酶比活力均为:肠道＞胃＞肝胰脏.     

A Test for Male Parental Care in a Fundulid, the Bluefin Killifish, Lucania goodei

Under field conditions, breeding male bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei, have been observed aggressively defending territories from other breeding males, non-breeding females, and minnows (mainly Notropis harperi). We performed an aquarium experiment to test whether male aggression serves to protect newly deposited eggs from predation. We allowed a male and a female to spawn in a yarn mop, removed the female, and exposed the eggs to one of four treatments (spawning male present, two minnows present, spawning mal+two minnows present, no adult fish present). Mops were censused daily for seven days. Egg predation rates were highest in the male+minnows and male only treatments. Egg predation rates in the male+minnows treatment did not differ from the predicted predation rate (sum of male only and minnows only treatments). Hence, there is no evidence for male parental care in L. goodei. In addition, we compared the egg predation rates (filial cannibalism) between males of 3 different color morphs and found no evidence for differential egg cannibalism.     

Can seasonal home‐range size in pike Esox lucius predict excursion distance?

The hypothesis that vagility, or tendency to move, in pike Esox lucius can be predicted from individual home range was tested using telemetry. Independently of fish size, mean annual excursion distance was positively correlated to winter (0·02–0·95 ha) and spring (0·02–0·59 ha) home ranges but not summer and autumn home ranges.     

Changes in the fish community and water quality during seven years of stocking piscivorous fish in a shallow lake

SUMMARY 1. Piscivores (annual stocking of 1000 individuals ha^?1 of 0+ pike and a single stocking of 30 kg ha^?1 of large 20–30 cm perch) were stocked in seven consecutive years in a shallow eutrophic lake in Denmark. The stocking programme aimed at changing food‐web structure by reducing zooplanktivorous and benthivorous fish, with resultant effects on lower trophic levels and ultimately water quality. 2. The fish community and water quality parameters (Secchi depth, concentrations of total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and suspended solids) were monitored between 1996 and 2000 and relationships were evaluated between predatory fish and potential prey and between zooplanktivorous or benthivorous fish and water quality parameters. In addition, potential consumption of piscivorous fishes was calculated. 3. The density of fish feeding on larger zooplankton or benthos (roach >15 cm, crucian carp >15 cm) declined distinctly during the study period. This effect was attributed to predation by large (>50 cm) pike. Based on scale readings, we cautiously suggest that the stocking of 0+ pike boosted the adult pike population to produce an unexpected impact in later years. Conversely, no direct impact of stocked 0+ pike was detected on 0+ roach. 4. A major decline in the recruitment strength of 0+ roach was observed in 2000. A combination of (i) the indirect effect of large pike preying on adult roach, with negative effect on roach reproduction and (ii) the direct predation effect of 0+ pike and/or 1+ and 2+ perch recruited in the lake, provides the most likely explanation of this phenomenon. 5. A marked increase in Secchi depth in 2000 and declining trends in suspended solids, chlorophyll‐a and total phosphorus concentrations were observed. These changes may also be attributable to changes in the fish community, although the relationships were not straightforward. 6. This 7‐year study indicates that piscivorous fish may be a significant structuring force in shallow eutrophic lakes, suggesting that stocking piscivores can increase predation pressure on cyprinids. However, the general lack of impact of 0+ pike points to the need of refining current stocking practices in several countries across Europe.     

The link between respiratory capacity and changing metabolic demands during growth of northern pike, Esox lucius L.

The relationship between metabolic rate of pike (Y, mgO2) and body weight (X, g) over the range 40–1291 gat 15° C is of the form: Y=aX^b. For resting metabolic rate (V_o2, rest), the scaling coefficient, b , is 0.80 and for maximum metabolic rate measured after exhaustive swimming (V₀₂, max), b is 0.99. Factorial metabolic scope (V₀₂, max/ V₀₂, rest) increases with body weight. Peak postprandial oxygen consumption (V₀₂, ASDA) is a constant multiple of V₀₂ rest for any discrete meal (expressed as % of body weight) up to 10% body weight. V₀₂ASDA after a single meal can utilize the entire metabolic scope (V₀₂, max—V₀₂, rest) of juvenile but not adult pike.