Fish Community Responses to the Establishment of a Piscivore, Northern Pike (Esox lucius), in a Nebraska Sandhill Lake

Abstract

Northern pike (Esox lucius) was first documented in West Long Lake, Nebraska, in 1998 when two pike <380 mm were collected. In 2002, a Peterson mark-recapture population estimate on northern pike revealed density and standing stock (i.e., biomass) estimates of 35.8 fish/ha (95% CI= + 8.8) and 22.0 kg/ha (95% CI= + 5.41, respectively. Consequently, West Long Lake was sampled in 2002 to compare relative abundance, size structure, and growth of bluegill (Lepomis macrochims), largemouth bass (Microptems salmoides), and yellow perch (Percaflavescens) prior to and after the establishment of a high-density northern pike population. Bluegill, largemouth bass, and yellow perch relative abundances were significantly lower in 2002 than 1998. Similarly, size structures of all three species were significantly different between years. Size structure declined for both bluegill and yellow perch, and increased for largemouth bass. Growth was significantly higher for bluegill, largemouth bass, and yellow perch in 2002 than 1998. While the fish community changes were expected with the establishment of northern pike, they occurred in a relatively short time period (i.e., four years).

Substitution of top predators: effects of pike invasion in a subarctic lake

“…4+) originated from the first spawning of invading adults, adult pike must have invaded the lake to spawn in spring 2001. Finally, similar fast establishment and increase in pike populations with corresponding decrease in prey fish abundances has been documented in another system (DeBates, Paukert & Willis, 2003).…”

“…, 1996; Findlay et al. , 2000, 2005; DeBates et al. , 2003) including lake living salmonids (Mills & Hurley, 1990; Spens, 2006).…”

Apparent extirpation of prey fish communities following the introduction of Northern Pike (<em>Esox lucius</em>)

“…the addition of small Northern Pike to a shallow Polish lake for four years resulted in near failure of recruitment of Roach (Rutilus rutilus) and White Bream (Blicca bjoerkna), due to intense predation on small-bodied fishes, and near-extirpation of Belica (Leucaspius delineatus) (Prejs et al 1994). Dramatic reductions in Yellow Perch and White sucker in lakes in the United states have been associated with recruitment failure in these species following Northern Pike addition (Colby et al 1987;DeBates et al 2003). Conversely, Yellow Perch and White sucker increased in abundance following the removal of Northern Pike from harriet lake, UsA (Colby et al 1987).…”

“…Invasions by piscivorous fish tend to reduce the abundance and diversity of native fish species in lakes, a change that can cause a trophic cascade and have an impact on entire food webs (Ricciardi and MacIsaac 2011). several instances have been documented of extreme reduction or extirpation of native fish populations in lakes following the introduction of Northern Pike (Esox lucius), a voracious top predator fish species (e.g., DeBates et al 2003;Byström et al 2007;haught and von hippel 2011). Predation by introduced Northern Pike has been associated with shifts in prey fish community structure from mainly small-bodied, soft-rayed species to deeper-bodied or spiny-rayed species (he and Wright 1992).…”

Spawning population characteristics of pike Esox lucius L. in Lake Rubikiai (Lithuania)

“…As a top-level piscivore, the pike plays an important role in the regulation of fish communities in river and lake ecosystems [3][4][5][6][7]. Therefore, pike are a well-studied fish in many respects.…”