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- Engstedt, Olof, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Annual spawning migration of anadromous pike (Esox lucius L.) in streams entering the Baltic Sea
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The movement of pike (n = 3415) was investigated in four streams entering the Baltic Sea in the Kalmar Sound region, Sweden. Migration patterns were monitored during spawning in three of the streams and during the whole year in the forth stream using passive integrated transponders and outer tags. The study was conducted yearly between 2006 and 2010. Mature pike returned (22 – 45%) to the same streams year after year and some fish returned to the same regions of the streams. No incidence of fish visiting another stream than the one where they were marked was recorded and no fish missed the spawning season to return the next year. These results indicated that the reason for fish not returning was due to mortality. The proportions of returning fish indicated homing and the spawning ground fidelity (stream) was high. Return rates were influenced by size of fish, sex and stream identity. We also investigated if sex, size or individual behaviour influenced timing of arrival, departure or duration of stay in freshwater. Diurnal activity was examined in one year in each stream suggesting activity peaks in the morning and evening. The results show that pike in the Baltic Sea are anadromous and that the migration behavior is likely to create barriers for gene flow. The separation in populations by spawning are similar to salmonid species and the management of pike in the Baltic Sea must consider this process in strategies and plans of fishing.
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| 2. |
- Engstedt, Olof, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Experimental validation of Sr uptake in juvenile pike (Esox Lucius L.) otoliths – from water and food.
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Strontium (Sr) or Sr:Ca ratios in otoliths have been widely used in the last decade to describe migration histories of fish between fresh and marine waters. However, reference experimental studies on particular species and waters are necessary to confirm the underlying assumption and evaluate the usefulness of this tool for field data. We conducted an experiment with the aim to answer these questions for anadromous pike (Esox lucius L.) in the Baltic Sea. Juvenile pike were reared in successively increasing salinities (10 steps from 0 to 7 ‰) for 110 days, and then in constant maximum salinity (7 ‰) for an additional 50 days. Pikes in the experiment were divided into two food treatments, given prey fish from brackish environments (7 ‰) and fish from freshwater lakes. Sr:Ca in pike otoliths were positively related to Sr in water (i.e salinity) in both treatments, suggesting that Sr:Ca ratios may be used to describe migration histories between rivers and the Baltic Sea. A significant difference in Sr.Ca ratios was found between the food treatments, showing that differences in diet may contribute to variation in otolith Sr:Ca, at least for pike in the Baltic Sea. Maximum Sr:Ca values for pike given marine food corresponded with field collected fish from the Baltic Sea.
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| 3. |
- Engstedt, Olof, 1980-
(author)
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Anadromous Pike in the Baltic Sea
- 2011
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The pike (Esox lucius) is a major predator and top-down regulator in the Baltic Sea where it exists in two sympatric forms. One spawn in streams and rivers and the other one spawn in the sea. During the last decades, the habitats for both of these forms have developed in a negative way. In some freshwater systems, up to 90 % of the water areas have disappeared, mainly through drainage and straightening of watercourses for agricultural purposes. In the sea, reproduction habitats decrease due to construction of harbours and human activities that create disturbances. The perhaps largest single factor negatively affecting recruitment of pike in the sea is the eutrophication. Bottoms are overgrown with filamentous algae and shallow bays are covered with dense Phragmites belts decreasing the habitats suitable for spawning. Further on, a predator on egg and fish larvae, the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) has increased in abundance. It is difficult to restore and enhance pike production in the sea and probably the only economically viable alternative is to make restorations in freshwater. However, there is a limited knowledge about the freshwater spawning pike in the Baltic Sea. Thus in this thesis I, together with my coauthors, set out with an aim to increase the knowledge base regarding anadromous pike behaviour.We found that pike of natal freshwater origin were common in the Baltic Sea. Through Sr:Ca studies in otoliths, about 45 % of the pike were interpreted to be of freshwater origin. The majority of the pike had emigrated out of freshwater at a length below 6 cm. These results indicate that freshwater recruitment is successful, contrasting the vast areas available for spawning in the sea. This creates incitements that restoration measures in these watercourses could have a significant effect on the pike population in the Baltic Sea.Further, in four streams running out in the Baltic Sea, more than three thousand pike were marked to study spawning migration. About 30-40 % returned to the same river the subsequent year. Most of the pike used the lower parts of the stream for spawning. The homing of pike to a watercourse indicate that freshwater pike in the Baltic Sea consist of specific populations and this is crucial information when taking decisions on fish restoration measures.Three wetlands adjacent to streams were restored for pike production. The most successful restoration involved minimal digging, with flooded grasslands providing optimal conditions for spawning. The first spawning season after restoration increased the pike production hundredfold.In conclusion, the anadromous pike are numerous in the Baltic Sea. To compensate for the decline in pike populations in the sea, “pike-factories” created along the coastline are probably the most justifiable option.
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| 4. |
- Engstedt, Olof, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Elemental fingerprinting in otoliths reveals natal homing of anadromous Baltic Sea pike (Esox lucius L.)
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Northern pike (Esox lucius) inhabit the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea. A large part of the fishes show anadromous behaviour and spawn in streams and rivers but spend most of the time foraging in the sea. We examined spawning migration in four streams in the southwest part of the Baltic, situated within a radius of 50 km. Using juvenile pike in the streams as references, otolith analysis by microPIXE revealed unique elemental patterns (Sr, Zn, Br, Co and Mn) for the juveniles in each of the four 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 (size of juveniles). Adult marked pike in their migrating spawning phase were caught in each of the streams and otoliths were analysed. Defining earlier freshwater origin by the Sr signal from the otolith core to the increase in Sr when the fish as juvenile pike migrated to the sea, element composition was determined. A principal component analysis showed that the elemental fingerprint during the freshwater phase several years back was similar for adult fish and juveniles inhabiting the stream today. The results indicated native homing of the adults to a specific stream, a process further corroborated by results from electronic marking (Pit-tags) with the return of adult individuals over several consecutive years. We interpret the results as evidence that pike in the Baltic Sea consists of several sub-populations and are developed by homing to specific spawning streams. The results of the study may have implications for fishery management as pike in the Baltic Sea cannot be seen as homogenous “stock“, but instead consists of different, unique populations similar to the pattern demonstrated in salmon (Salmo salar).
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Engstedt, Olof, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Strontium (Sr) uptake from water and food in otoliths of juvenile pike (Esox lucius L.)
- 2012
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In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. - : Elsevier. - 0022-0981 .- 1879-1697. ; 418-419, s. 69-74
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The strontium (Sr) or Sr:Ca ratio in otoliths has been widely used in the last decade to describe the migration histories of fish between fresh and marine waters. However, reference experimental studies of particular species and waters are necessary to confirm the underlying assumptions and evaluate the applicability of this tool to field data. Laboratory experiments indicated that juvenile, anadromous pike (Esox lucius L) from the Baltic Sea reared in successively increasing salinities (from 0 to 7 parts per thousand) for 110 d accumulated Sr in their otoliths according to a positive relationship with waterborne Sr. When the pike were given prey fish from brackish (7 parts per thousand) environments, the otolith Sr:Ca ratio increased more than in fish given prey from freshwater lakes. Pike held at constant salinity (7 parts per thousand) and given prey fish from the same salinity environment had an Sr:Ca ratio of 6.9 x 10(-3). The ratio decreased successively for fish given prey from freshwater (4.4 x 10(-3)) or kept in freshwater and given food from brackish water (3.1 x 10(-3)). Fish exposed to freshwater and given prey fish from freshwater displayed no increase in Sr:Ca ratio (1.6 x 10(-3)). The experiments demonstrated that the Sr:Ca ratio may be used to describe the migration history of pike between rivers and the Baltic Sea. The maximum Sr:Ca value for pike given marine-origin food corresponded to those of fish collected from the Baltic Sea.
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| 7. |
- Nilsson, Jonas, et al.
(author)
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Wetlands for Northern Pike Recruitment and Nutrient Reduction
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Wetlands are important ecosystems, harbouring biodiversity, capturing nutrients, and providing recruitment habitats for several fish species. The Baltic Sea, among the largest brackish, semi-enclosed seas in the world, is exposed to large amounts of nutrients as well as the overexploitation of several fish species. One measure to counteract eutrophication is to restore or build wetlands for nutrient catchment (phosphorus) or removal (nitrogen). To function optimally for nutrient removal, these wetlands should cover large areas, be shallow, and be covered by vegetation, creating zones of high microbial denitrification. Wetland environments are also suitable spawning and nursery areas for several fish species inhabiting the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea. Pike (Esox lucius) a predatory species that has decreased in abundance in recent decades, use wetlands as recruitment areas during their anadromous life cycle. After restoring wetlands near the coast and opening the waterways towards the sea, pike larval emigration increased from a few thousand to over a hundred thousand individuals. The habitat and food choice, growth and migration of larvae and juveniles were followed over time, revealing that 80–95% left the wetlands within one month (at a size <6 cm). An optimal wetland enriches nutrients and creates a high primary production base for zooplankton that are used as food for pike larvae. Wetlands near the sea can function both as nutrient traps and as recruitment areas for fish.
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