A short review of pike ecology

Abstract

A brief review is provided in some advances in understanding the ecology of pike Esox lucius Linnaeus over the last 10 years. Based on longterm studies and manipulative, often short-term experiments (laboratory, field and mesocosms) several established theories have been supported, as well as new concepts developed. Despite their wide distribution pike show low levels of polymorphism and divergence indicative of a recent common ancestral population. Recent genetic studies, however, indicate a single refugium in North America compared to several refugia in Europe. Pike are found in rivers, lakes and weakly saline waters. Variables such as growth and mortality are mainly affected by factors such as temperature, water transparency, productivity, availability of prey and density of pike and other predators. In choice of habitat pike have been shown to support the ideal free-distribution theory. The importance of macrophyte habitat in the life history of pike has been reconfirmed and pike have been shown to be flexible in response to water clarity. Pike are extremely 'plastic' in choice of prey types, prey size and in response to prey behaviour (e.g. they are unaffected by shoal size). Predation by pike not only affects abundance and biomass of prey (including younger and smaller pike through cannibalism which plays a major role in population dynamics, other fishes and invertebrates) but also evolution and adaptation of their morphology (in particular body shape) and behaviours. There appears to be no relationship between stock and recruitment. Recruitment is influenced by several abiotic factors in lakes and rivers. Pike play a major role in structuring freshwater communities and have been used in stocking programmes to improve water quality (biomanipulation). Many new concepts have been developed in pike behaviour in maximizing these stocking programmes both in biomanipulation and fisheries management. Despite many recent advances in understanding the ecology of pike, particularly at the individual level, developments in quantifying and modelling the role of pike as a top predator in large ecosystems have been limited, probably due to the difficulties of sampling natural populations.

Paternal identity impacts embryonic development for two species of freshwater fish

“…In recent years, reproduction of Ide in captivity has received increasing attention to meet the demand of high quality juveniles for restocking (Wojda, 2004;Krejszeff et al, 2009), sport fishing, aquarium industry (Jamróz et al, 2008;Cejko et al, 2010), toxicity studies (Witeska et al, 2014) and as a bio-monitoring agent (Fenske et al, 2006). On the other hand, Northern pike is an iteroparous, large-bodied and long-living (>10 years) fish species inhabiting the northern hemisphere (Craig, 2008;Forsman et al, 2015). There is interest in fishing this species but it has also been cultivated extensively in Europe and Asia since the middle ages (Steinberg, 1992).…”

Habitat use and preference of adult perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in a deep reservoir: variations with seasons, water levels and individuals

“…Even if we did not show any effect of WLF on adult perch habitat preference, they could act differently on other species such as pike, a more demanding species in terms of spawning substrate (Craig, 2008). Very recently, Cooke et al (2016) submitted that: "quantifying and describing the spatial ecology of fish and their habitat is an important component of freshwater fishery assessment and management".…”

Sustainable Management of Eutrophic Lakes and Reservoirs

“…Tatrai et al [105] have reported multiyear control of phytoplankton by keeping cyprinid fish populations around 100 kg/ha with piscivore populations sustained at a biomass ratio > 15% and total fish biomass < pike. Vegetation provides a spawning habitat that contributes to spawning success and survival of young [19].…”