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Population Dynamics, Trophic Interactions, and Production of Northern Pike in a Shallow Bog Lake and Their Effects on Simulated Regulation Strategies
Author(s) -
Pierce Rodney B.,
Tomcko Cynthia M.,
Drake Melissa T.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(2003)023<0323:pdtiap>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - pike , esox , bog , perch , population , trophic level , predation , fishery , ecology , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , peat , demography , sociology
Bog lakes provide a unique but common environment for northern pike Esox lucius within the native range of northern pike. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources intensively removed nearly half of the population of age‐2 and older northern pike from a 28.3‐ha bog lake. The removal provided a unique opportunity to study the population dynamics, diet, and secondary production of northern pike. These northern pike formed a dense population with moderate growth rates and a relatively high total mortality rate. Estimated density for fish of ages 2 and older was 59.0 fish/ha, growth through age 4 for both sexes was comparable to an international growth standard, total annual mortality was 63%, and natural mortality was a critically large component of the total mortality. Yellow perch Perca flavescens prey sustained much of the growth and secondary production of northern pike. Estimated secondary production was 4.0 kg/ha/year for male northern pike and 4.8 kg/ha/year for females, with the bulk of the production attributed to ages 2–3. Exploitation removed approximately 25% of the estimated secondary production of northern pike. The high rate of natural mortality prevented stockpiling of larger, older fish, and limited the effectiveness of different simulated regulation strategies.