Short-term salinity tolerance of northern pike, Esox lucius, fry, related to temperature and size

Abstract  The short-term tolerances of northern pike, Esox lucius L., fry reared in a freshwater hatchery, to salinity were examined in the laboratory. Survival of two size groups of pike fry (mean length 21 ± 2 mm SD and 37 ± 4 mm SD) was examined over 72- to 96-h periods at 9–14 ppt salinity in combination with temperatures of 10, 14 and 18 °C. A parametric survival model found a significant correlation between survival of pike fry and temperature and salinity, respectively. L _C50 values after 72 h were between 11.2 and 12.2 ppt, being lowest at 10 °C. Pike fry did not survive more than 13 ppt. Mortality at 12 ppt was significantly faster at 18 °C than 10 or 14 °C. Moreover, mortality was higher and faster for large than for small pike fry at 12 ppt and 14 °C. These results imply that pike raised in fresh water can survive stocking into brackish waters below 11 ppt at least for a short time.     

The desaturation and elongation of 14C-labelled polyunsaturated fatty acids by pike (Esox lucius L.) in vivo

To examine the ability of pike (Esox lucius L.) to modify exogenous PUFA by desaturation and elongation, ¹⁴C-labelled 18:2(n-6), 18:3(n-3), 20:4(n-6) and 20:5(n-3) were injected intraperitoneally and the distribution of radioactivity in tissue lipid classes and liver PUFA measured. In all tissues examined, radioactivity from all ¹⁴C-PUFA was recovered in many classes of acyl lipids and the level of recovery generally reflected the relative abundance of the lipid classes. Triacylglycerols, CGP and EGP usually contained high levels of all incorporated ¹⁴C-PUFA. PI contained higher levels of radioactivity from ¹⁴C-20:4(n-6) than from other injected substrates. In liver lipid, the 6 desaturation products of ¹⁴C-18:2(n-6) and ¹⁴C-18:3(n-3) contained no measurable radioactivity although the elongation products of the 6 desaturation products were labelled, as were the direct elongation products of these injected substrates. No radioactivity from ¹⁴C-18:2(n-6) or ¹⁴C-18:3(n-3) was detected in C₂₀ or C₂₂ products of 5 and 4 desaturation. Almost all radioactivity from injected ¹⁴C-20:4(n-6) was recovered in this PUFA. Of the total radioactivity from ¹⁴C-20:5(n-3) incorporated into liver lipid, 7% was present as 24:5 and 16.4% was recovered in hexaenoic fatty acids. In liver, 24:5(n-3) and 24:6(n-3) each accounted for 1% of the mass of total fatty acids and were located almost exclusively in triacylglycerols. The presence of radioactivity in these C₂₄ PUFA suggests that in pike the synthesis of 22:6(n-3) from 20:5(n-3) may proceed without 4 desaturase via the pathway which involves chain shortening of 24:6(n-3). It is concluded that under the circumstances employed in this study pike, do not exhibit 5 desaturase activity and are unable to synthesize 20:4(n-6) and 20:5(n-3) from 18:2(n-6) and 18:3(n-3), respectively. This suggests that pike may require 20:4(n-6) and 20:5(n-3) preformed in the diet.Abbreviations CGP choline glycerophospholipids - CL cardiolipin - EGP ethanolamine glycerophospholipids - PG phosphatidylglycerol - PI phosphatidylinositol - PS phosphatidylserine - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids - SM sphingomyelin - TLC thin-layer chromatography     

Changes in lipid class and fatty acid composition during development in pike (Esox lucius L) eggs and larvae

To establish the changes which occur during embryogenesis and early larval development, eggs, yolk sac larvae and swim-up larvae of pike were examined for lipid class and fatty acid composition. At a water temperature of 15.5°C, the embryonic phase was short (6 days) and characterized by a 41.3% decline in the lipid content of eggs, accompanied by large reductions in the amount of phosphatidylcholine (41.4% decrease), sterol esters and triacylglycerols (respectively a 41.2% decrease and a 58.1% decrease), but not phosphatidylethanolamine which increased markedly (35.6%). By the time of yolk sac absorption (7 to 11 days after fertilization) the larvae remained inactive and a limited utilization of lipids was observed. Yolk sac phosphatidylcholine was selectively incorporated into larval bodies while the levels of other lipid classes remained unchanged in the yolk. When the swim bladder was filled and the swimming stage was reached (11 days to 13 days af), the yolk was completely depleted and yolk phosphatidylcholine together with yolk triacylglycerols were catabolised. Yolk phosphatidylethanolamine and yolk sterol esters were partly incorporated into the body lipids. In the subsequent swim-up larval stage (13 to 15 days af), a steady decrease in lipids was observed (41.6%). Fluctuations in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids or saturated fatty acids examined from eggs or larvae were consistent with changes in lipid classes during pike development. During yolk sac absorption, pike incorporated yolk PUFA released on hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine into the larval body. The results are discussed with reference to water temperature and in relation to the ontogenic and ecological context of pike development. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic population structure of pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758) in the brackish lagoons of the southern Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a unique ecosystem and the largest body of brackish water in the world. It is inhabited by several originally freshwater fish species, one of them being pike (Esox lucius), which is adapted to the mesohaline conditions of the southern Baltic Sea and colonises its south‐western bays and lagoons. Using twelve microsatellite markers, we analysed the genetic structure of 407 Baltic Sea pike collected from ten locations in the coastal zone of the southern Baltic region and adjacent rivers and nearby lakes. We used traditional F‐statistics and a Bayesian approach implemented in STRUCTURE to investigate spatial structuring. Our results show an overall isolation by distance pattern with two distinct coastal clusters. The border area between the two clusters is characterised by a sharp salinity leap, indicating that the dispersal barrier is not physical, but physiological in nature. A third cluster was formed by three lake populations, presumably as a result of past stocking measures. Additional otolith microchemical studies demonstrate the brackish origin and residency of the majority of the pike from the coastal lagoons, supporting previous studies which suggest that the anadromous pike “ecotype” is scarce in this area of the Baltic Sea. Our results contribute to current knowledge on the population genetics of Baltic Sea pike in a previously unsampled area.     

High salinity tolerance in eggs and fry of a brackish Esox lucius population

Abstract Knowledge on the biology and physiology of pike, Esox lucius L., populations inhabiting saline environments is scarce. An experimental setup was used to examine egg development and fry behaviour and growth under varying salinity levels in a brackish‐water pike population from the western Baltic Sea. Eggs and fry developed at 8.5 psu, which is higher than hitherto reported for other populations. Fry exhibited stress behaviour and reduced growth when subjected to salinities above 13 psu. This indicates that early life stages of E. lucius tolerate ambient salinity conditions equivalent to the natural environment in its nursery area in the Stege Nor lagoon. The population should therefore not be dependent on access to freshwater environments during spawning. However, the results also suggest that the population’s natural environment is on the margin of its physiological capacity. The results have significance for management of brackish‐water E. lucius populations, e.g. in relation to stocking strategies.     

Annual movement of adult pike (Esox lucius L.) in a lowland river

Abstract –  The movement of ten radio-tagged adult pikes (57–113 cm) in the River Gudenå, Denmark, was investigated from September 1998 to September 1999. The movements of pike were characterised by long resident periods in the submergent vegetation, interrupted by short excursions to nearby areas. Two periods with more intense movement were observed; one period during early winter; and one period during spring from mid-March to mid-May. The increased movement during early winter may have been initiated by a slight temperature increase at this time, whereas the increased movement during spring coincided with the spawning of pike. Despite suitable spawning areas nearby the areas where pike resided most of the year, several pike, mainly females, migrated to distant localities during spring.     

Genetic differentiation between and within ecotypes of pike (Esox lucius) in the Baltic Sea

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Investigation on fecundity, follicles and free embryo size of pond-reared pike (Esox lucius) of different age and size

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the gonadosomatic index (GSI %), the absolute and relative fecundity of one-year-old pike weighing over 400 g and at the same time to study the dependence between the egg size and the size, behavior and vitality of the free embryos obtained from one- and two-year-old spawners. The study involved two weight groups of females, differing in age and body weight and length—one-year-old (W = 514 g, SL = 36.1 cm) and two-year-old matured pike (W = 1454 g, SL = 49.3 cm). Ovary samples were fixed and egg follicles containing maturing oocytes counted and weight. The weight and length of the free embryos from semi-artificial spawning were measured. The results showed that, when raising this species under farmed conditions, more than 40% (in rarer cases 90%) of one-year-old pike females reached over 400 g and 35 cm (SL) and reached puberty. Absolute fecundity of 15,030 follicles (30 follicles per gram body weight) was observed; the GSI was nearly 15% and the follicle weight reached 3.7 mg. This data differs significantly from that obtained from the larger two-year-old fishes: absolute fecundity 41,363 follicles (28 follicles per gram body weight), GSI nearly 20%, follicle weight 5.8 mg. Results showed that the different follicle size determines the free-embryo size. A positive linear correlation was found between the egg follicle weight and the free-embryos weight (r = 0.7143). The free embryos obtain from the one- and two-year-old spawners differed significantly both in terms of their weight (7.13 mg against 10.61 mg) and total length (0.81 cm against 0.97 cm), the differences being 1.5- and 1.2-fold, respectively.     

Using otolith microchemical analysis to investigate the importance of brackish bays for pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758) reproduction in the southern Baltic Sea

The brackish Baltic Sea is inhabited by several primary freshwater fish species. The pike (Esox lucius) is the largest of these species and acts as the top predator in the marine food web of the Baltic Sea. Prior studies have shown the importance of brackish bays as spawning grounds for the Baltic Sea pike. To identify the spawning habitat of the pike population around the island of Rügen (southern Baltic Sea)—either freshwater streams flowing into the Baltic or brackish lagoons of the Baltic—we used the ICPMS method to quantify the strontium to calcium (Sr:Ca) ratios in sagittal otoliths of 79 adult pike. In total, only six per cent (n = 5) of the analysed Baltic Sea individuals were classified as being of freshwater origin. Ninety‐four per cent (n = 74) of analysed pike were classified as having hatched in brackish water. Compared to previous studies on Baltic Sea pike, our sample shows a high proportion of pike that is of brackish origin: this highlights the adaptive capacity of this species with regard to its ability to reproduce in different salinities. Our data highlight the importance of brackish bays for pike reproduction in the southern Baltic Sea, even if pike live on the upper limit of their salinity tolerance in this area. This is an important finding considering decreases in commercial catches in the last 30 years indicating a population decline supposedly related to recruitment failures.     

A quantitative comparison between diet and body fatty acid composition in wild northern pike (Esox lucius L.)

The fatty acid compositions of wild female northern pike (Esox lucius L.) and their principle prey species were compared to assess the extent to which pike modify the relative abundance of dietary fatty acids during assimilation and to indicate the optimum dietary content of essential fatty acids (EFAs) for pike. Only minor differences existed between the estimated whole body fatty acid composition of pike and diet fatty acid composition as calculated from the contribution of each prey species to the pike's diet. Saturated fatty acids comprised a slightly higher percentage of diet lipids (25% wt) than of pike lipids (21% wt) whereas monounsaturated fatty acids were less abundant in diet lipids (26% wt) than in pike (29% wt). Percentages of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n - 3 fatty acids, and n - 6 fatty acids were approximately 43, 30, and 13% wt respectively and differed by less than 1% wt between pike and diet lipids. Among individual PUFAs, the largest differences occurred in 20:5 (n-3) and 22:6(n-3) which comprised, on average, 9.6 and 14.7% wt respectively of diet lipids and 5.9 and 18.3% wt respectively of pike lipids. The close similarity in fatty acid composition between pike and their diet suggests that pike may have limited abilities to elongate and desaturate 18 carbon PUFAs and may require specific long chain PUFAs in the diet. The n-3 PUFA content of the pike's natural diet may exceed the minimum EFA requirements of better studied species such as rainbow trout and turbot.     

Movement patterns of adult pike (Esox lucius L.) in a Belgian lowland river

Northern pike, Esox lucius, needs different habitats to survive and reproduce and thus depends on the availability and accessibility of these habitats. To efficiently manage pike, information is needed on its spatial and temporal patterns of migration. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of adult pike migration and which environmental variables influenced migration. From December 2010, we followed 15 pike for 1 year by use of radio telemetry in the River Yser, a typical lowland river characterised by anthropogenic impacts such as artificial embankments. Pike migrated most in February and March, which could indicate they frequented spawning habitat in this period. Four environmental variables significantly affected pike migration, ranging from the location where pike were observed (strongest effect), over water temperature and flow to diel water temperature change (weakest effect). The relation between migration and the location where pike were observed could demonstrate that pike preferred specific regions in the river. Increasing water temperature triggered migration for both sexes, and males started migrating at lower temperatures than females, which suggests that males start migrating earlier. This was the only substantial difference observed between male and female pike migration. The results suggest that migration was inhibited by high flow, as no migration was observed at high flow. River managers can use this information to efficiently manage their pike populations, for example, by removing or temporarily opening hydraulic structures like valves, weirs and sluices. This may facilitate access to suitable habitats at moments pike needs these habitats to fulfil its life cycle.     

Patterns of movement of adult northern pike (Esox lucius L.) in a regulated river

Abstract –  We performed a tagging study on one of the spawning populations of northern pike ( Esox lucius L.) of the River Kajaaninjoki in Finland. Northern pike is the main predator in many lakes and rivers in the northern hemisphere. Previous tagging studies have shown a general tendency to sedentary behaviour by pike. Whether individuals in a fish population adapt a sedentary or moving strategy may affect population persistence. To study if the spawning population consists of sedentary or moving individuals and the pattern of movements, we tagged 40 pike with radio transmitters and followed them from May 2002 to June 2003. Pike were caught and tagged during the spawning season in the mouth of the River Kajaaninjoki which flows into one of the largest lakes in Finland, Lake Oulujärvi. Our results suggest that the pike spawning population consisted of sedentary pike ( N  = 16) dwelling the whole year in the river, and moving pike ( N  = 24) which moved to Lake Oulujärvi after the spawning period. Pike exhibited homing behaviour, as most of the migrating pike returned to the same spawning area in the following year. Large pike had a higher movement rate than small pike during the summer and seasonally the movement rate was lowest during the spring and highest during the summer.     

Elemental fingerprinting in otoliths reveals natal homing of anadromous Baltic Sea pike (Esox lucius L.)

We examined the element pattern in the otoliths of a migratory fish species that inhabit the coastal areas in the brackish of the Baltic Sea. The northern pike (Esox lucius) show migratory behaviour, spawning in streams and rivers and foraging in the sea. We examined spawning migration in four nearby streams in the south‐west part of the Baltic. Otolith analysis by microPIXE revealed unique elemental patterns (Sr, Zn, Br, Co and Mn) for the juveniles in each of the different streams. The strontium signal in the otolith of the juveniles was used as an indicator of freshwater origin and the time spent in the stream. Adult pike in their migrating spawning phase were caught in each of the streams. The elemental composition in otoliths in their freshwater phase (using juvenile pike in the streams as references) was determined. A principal component analysis showed that the elemental fingerprint during the freshwater phase several years back in time was similar for the adult fish and for juveniles inhabiting the stream today. The results indicated natal homing of the adults to a specific stream, a conclusion that was strengthened by the fact that marked fish returned to spawn over consecutive years. Anadromous pike in the Baltic Sea may thus be divided in subpopulations. The results of the study may have implications for fishery management, as pike in the Baltic Sea cannot be seen as homogenous population.     

Effect of EPA/DHA ratios on the growth and survival of Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns, 1842) larvae reared under different salinity regimes

Despite the importance of certain highly unsaturated fatty acids in osmotic regulation, few studies have been addressed to determine the essential fatty acid requirements for a given species cultured under different salinities. As Galaxias maculatus is a diadromic species, the present study aimed to determine the effect of salinity on the optimum dietary EPA/docosahexaenoic (DHA) ratio for survival and growth during the larval stages. Larvae were fed for 20 days with rotifers containing two different EPA/DHA ratios (low: 0.64 and high: 2.18) at three different salinities (0, 10 and 15 g L^?1). The results of this study showed a marked effect of water salinity on larval dietary lipid utilization in G. maculatus larvae. These results suggested that G. maculatus larvae reared at higher salinities may have a higher dietary requirement for DHA, whereas larvae reared at 0‰ showed higher requirements for EPA. The overall results of the present study indicate that even small changes in salinity can determine the optimum dietary EPA/DHA ratio and the quantitative essential fatty requirements of fish. This may have important repercussions and affect the rearing performance of G. maculatus cultured under different salinities.     

Changing of fat content and fatty acid profile of reared pike (Esox lucius) fed two different diets

Fat content and fatty acid profile of two pike yearling groups grown on two different diets were compared. The groups originated from culture on artificial feed. One group (cultured pike fed first pellet then prey‐fish (PF)) was fed with natural food, live prey‐fish, while the other one (cultured pike fed exclusively pellet (PP)) by trout feed through a 3‐month experimental period. Growth of pike was lower with PP than with PF. The trout feed resulted in an increase of the fat content of fillet and the formation of abdominal fat depots. Feeding of natural food decreased the fat content. The proportion of the saturated fatty acids in fillet was higher in the (PF) group. The n‐6 fatty acids (arachidonic C20:4n‐6 and docosatetraenic C22:4n‐6 acids) were lowest in PP‐fed pike. Regarding total n‐3 fatty acids ratio there was no significant difference between the groups, but the level of α‐linolenic (C:18:3n‐3) acid showed significant difference among groups.     

Protracted spawning of St Lawrence River northern pike (Esox lucius): simulated effects on survival, growth, and production

Abstract –  An individual-based early life history model demonstrated that the timing and distribution of St Lawrence River northern pike ( Esox lucius ) spawning could affect subsequent young-of-year (YOY) production during nursery and influence year-class formation. Three different spawning patterns have emerged from empirical studies, where egg deposition occurred along the entire littoral gradient beginning in seasonally flooded emergent habitats in tributaries, progressing to submerged aquatic vegetation in shallow bays, and ending in deep water littoral habitats (up to 6 m). The spawning period is protracted, and typically lasts 6–8 weeks due to the presence of a strong thermal gradient. The model used temperature as the driving variable to predict egg abundance, stage-specific development, growth, survival, and ultimately relative production of YOY northern pike within 1-ha plots representative of the three habitats. Earlier spawning (mean 21 days) and higher mean daily survival and growth yielded higher YOY net production for tributaries (mean = 3095.4 g ha⁻¹, SD = 2028.6) relative to the shallow bay habitat (202.5 g ha⁻¹, SD = 125.7). In contrast, deep littoral habitat represented an ecological sink with little production (<0.9 g ha⁻¹). The results demonstrate the importance of the linkage between spawning and nursery processes in determining reproductive success.     

Behavior of pike (Esox lucius L.) >50 cm in a turbid reservoir and in a clearwater lake

Abstract – Pike from two different waters were radio-tagged and released immediately upon recovery. In Bygholm Reservoir 19 pike (52–72 cm) and in Lake Ring 15 pike (53–77 cm) were tagged in late February and early March. Bygholm (58 ha) is a shallow eutrophic reservoir and Ring (22 ha) is a natural mesotrophic lake. The positions of the tagged fish were recorded through weekly trackings and a number of 3-day tracking sessions during a 9-month period. Diel activity patterns, home range sizes and habitat utilization by pike was compared between the reservoir and the lake. The pike in the lake occupied larger areas than the pike in the reservoir and were less associated with vegetation. In both waters pike were found more often in, or close to, vegetation during summer than during winter. No difference in average movement of pike was seen between the waters, but pike were more stationary in the reservoir than in the lake. There was no difference in the level of movement between different times of the day, but the diel rhythm of the pike changed significantly over the year. There were large behavioral differences between pike in the lake and in the reservoir and even more variation between individuals within each population.     

Food consumption of northern pike (Esox lucius L.), estimated with a bioenergetics model

Abstract– A bioenergetics model was used to estimate the food consumption of northern pike ( Esox lucius L.) in two lakes in northeastern Finland, and the results compared with those obtained by a method based on stomach contents and gastric evacuation rates. The annual specific food consumption was 7–5 g per one gram pike for one- and two-year-old pike, and 4–3 g g⁻¹ in age groups 3–6 years old, according to the bioenergetics model. The proportion of ingested food used for growth was 10–30%, and was highest in the youngest age groups. The food consumption rates estimated by the stomach contents method were considerably lower, only about half those produced by the bioenergetics model. The method based on stomach contents tends to underestimate the food consumption. The bioenergetics model was considered more valid for estimating food consumption, but some of the parameter values for northern pike may differ in populations from different latitudes. According to a sensitivity analysis, the food consumption estimate of the bioenergetics model was most sensitive to parameters in the allometric function for respiration.     

不同密度白斑狗鱼受精卵孵化率及初孵仔鱼成活率比较

2009年4-5月在河北省赞皇县正和水产良种有限公司,进行了白斑狗鱼规模化全人工繁育技术研究。对不同密度受精卵孵化率及初孵仔鱼成活率进行了比较研究,结果表明:受精卵孵化密度在8 000~15 000粒/槽较为适宜,最佳密度为10 000~13 000粒/槽;初孵仔鱼培育密度10 000~15 000尾/m3水体较为适宜,最佳密度为11 000~13 000尾/m3水体。     

Dispersal strategies of juvenile pike (Esox lucius L.): Influences and consequences for body size,somatic growth and trophic position

Individual variability in dispersal strategies, where some individuals disperse and others remain resident, is a common phenomenon across many species. Despite its important ecological consequences, the mechanisms and individual consequences of dispersal remain poorly understood. Here, riverine Northern pike (Esox lucius) juveniles (age 0+ (young-of-the-year) and 1+ years) were used to investigate the influence of body size and trophic position (at capture) on the dispersal from off-channel natal habitats and the subsequent consequences for body sizes, specific growth rate and trophic position (at recapture). Individuals that dispersed into the river (“dispersers”) were not significantly different in body size than those remaining on nursery grounds (“stayers”). For trophic position, 0+ dispersers were of significantly lower trophic position than stayers, but with this not apparent in the 1+ fish. Following dispersal into the river, the dispersers grew significantly faster than stayers and, on recapture, were significantly larger, but with no significant differences in their final trophic positions. Early dispersal into the river was, therefore, not associated with early dietary shifts to piscivory and the attainment of larger body sizes of individuals whilst in their natal habitats, contrary to prediction. These results suggest that despite an increasing risk of mortality for individuals dispersing early from natal areas, there are long-term benefits via elevated growth rates and, potentially, higher fitness. Such early dispersal behaviour could be driven by early competitive displacement.