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Full-Text Articles in Laboratory and Basic Science Research
Emerald Bowfin Amia Ocellicauda Ecology In Three Minnesota Lakes: Abundance, Age Analysis, Diet Composition, And Stable Isotope Food Web, Griffin Blegen
Emerald Bowfin Amia Ocellicauda Ecology In Three Minnesota Lakes: Abundance, Age Analysis, Diet Composition, And Stable Isotope Food Web, Griffin Blegen
Biology Graduate Theses
The Emerald Bowfin Amia ocellicauda is a predatory fish species native to Minnesota that has often been discriminated against. This research expands ecological knowledge of Bowfin in Minnesota and provides population data to guide future management. Bowfin were sampled in the spring of 2024 and 2025 and a multi-census mark–recapture model was used to estimate abundance in three lakes. Estimated populations were 196 individuals in Little Toad Lake (95% CI: 116, 242) or 4.4 fish/littoral ha (95% CI: 2.7,5.7), 657 in Lake Sarah (95% CI: 436, 1014) or 4.2 fish/littoral ha (95% CI: 3.0, 6.7), and 612 in Gun Lake …
Statewide Northern Pike Response To Minnesota’S 2018 Regulation Change, Elijah Wozniak
Statewide Northern Pike Response To Minnesota’S 2018 Regulation Change, Elijah Wozniak
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Management of northern pike (Esox lucius) is challenging because it attempts to balance ecological sustainability with angler interests. Northern pike often stunt their own growth by diminishing the size and abundance of prey fish, their food source. Anglers are often displeased when small pike occur in high population densities. In response to populations of small northern pike, the DNR implemented a new, statewide northern pike regulation in 2018. The objective of this study was to determine whether the regulation successfully changed the mean weight, length, and CPUE of northern pike in Minnesota. The secondary objective was to test …
Comparison Of Calcified Structures To Estimate Ages Of Northern Pike Esox Lucius In Various Lakes, Kaed Rauk
Comparison Of Calcified Structures To Estimate Ages Of Northern Pike Esox Lucius In Various Lakes, Kaed Rauk
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Northern pike Esox lucius are a dominant predatory fish in many aquatic systems. They can have significant impacts on the ecosystems they inhabit and are also a popular game fish among anglers. However, northern pike are a difficult species to age accurately. This study aimed to compare calcified aging structures to identify trends and determine which structure provides the most accurate age estimates. A total of 119 northern pike were sampled, and multiple structures from each fish were independently aged by two readers. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated for each structure to assess precision. Sectioned sagittal otoliths exhibited …
Relationship Between Northern Pike And Walleye Cpue In Minnesota Lakes, Simon Oslund
Relationship Between Northern Pike And Walleye Cpue In Minnesota Lakes, Simon Oslund
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Northern pike Esox lucius and walleye Sander vitreus are both top predators in freshwater systems. Due to their predatorial nature, high populations of one species can prohibit populations of the other species from thriving, specifically northern pike foraging on walleye. This information is tracked by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources through catch per unit effort (CPUE). CPUE data was gathered for all lakes in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and a regression analysis was done to test for a relationship between pike and walleye. It was found that the relationship between northern pike and walleye CPUE was significant (P = 0.02). …
Changes In The Minnesota Northern Pike Population Over The Past Thirty Years, Joey Severin
Changes In The Minnesota Northern Pike Population Over The Past Thirty Years, Joey Severin
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Northern pike Esox lucius are one of the most popular game fish in Minnesota. Many anglers have noticed that northern pike seemed to decrease in size throughout much of this state. Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) drives average weight for northern pike; within lakes, as CPUE goes up average weight decreases. Decreases in size has led the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) to implement new regulations on northern pike. The MNDNR noticed that not all the state has this same problem with Northern Pike, and has broken down the state into three zones, with different protected slots and …
Using Northern Pike And Yellow Perch To Attempt A Trophic Cascade, Bryan Sea
Using Northern Pike And Yellow Perch To Attempt A Trophic Cascade, Bryan Sea
Journal of Earth and Life Science
In the midwestern USA, water clarity has decreased in shallow lakes as a result of large populations of Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas and agriculture that impact the life that depend on shallow habitats, such as waterfowl, fish, and aquatic plants. Northern Pike Esox lucius and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens were stocked in a few lakes in attempt to create a tropic cascade and reduce populations of nuisance Fathead Minnows. Northern Pike were stocked as fry and Yellow Perch were stocked as adults either pre-spawn or post-spawn. Lake managers hypothesized adult Yellow Perch would spawn and the age-0 Perch would feed …
Using Wild I.D. As A Reliable Source For Mark And Recapture Studies On Northern Pike (Esox Lucius), Martin Evans
Using Wild I.D. As A Reliable Source For Mark And Recapture Studies On Northern Pike (Esox Lucius), Martin Evans
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Mark and recapture studies are a very popular method fisheries biologists use to assess certain fish populations in lakes. This process can be very labor intensive and expensive. Wild I.D. is free software developed by Dartmouth College that uses SIFT program to find unique features in photographs. Initially developed for identification of African land mammals the program gives each photo a score and percent match to other photos. Northern pike were used in this study to determine if the program can recognize simulated recapture events. Photos of sample fish were taken at two separate locations, the photos were then copied …
Spatial And Temporal Factors Influencing Northern Pike Fry Density Estimates, Nate Stott
Spatial And Temporal Factors Influencing Northern Pike Fry Density Estimates, Nate Stott
Journal of Earth and Life Science
The Tamarac River in northern Minnesota is an important spawning site for northern pike (Esox lucius) in the Red Lake system. However, little is known about fry production in the river. This study investigates migration densities and spatial and temporal factors influencing northern pike fry density estimates. Northern pike fry were collected with drift nets between 28 May and 4 June 2014. Thirty northern pike fry were randomly selected to have total length measured from each sample. Northern pike fry were observed in the first sample day. Northern pike fry density maxima occurred on 29 May at midnight …
The Effects Of Angling Pressure On Northern Pike Size Structure, Ryan Carrow
The Effects Of Angling Pressure On Northern Pike Size Structure, Ryan Carrow
Journal of Earth and Life Science
A number of conditions within a lake system can affect northern pike (Esox lucius) size structure. Of these conditions, the amount of angling pressure may have the biggest effect on the size structure of northern pike in Minnesota lake systems. In this study, five private and five public lakes were chosen near Bemidji, Minnesota. Each lake was fished for twenty angling hours using live northern hog suckers (Hypentelium nigricans) or golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas). Total length (mm) and weight (kg) were measured for each northern pike caught. The number of fish houses that were …
Comparison Of A Length Size Limit Of Northern Pike Population On Two Lakes In North Central Minnesota, Ethan A. Puttonen
Comparison Of A Length Size Limit Of Northern Pike Population On Two Lakes In North Central Minnesota, Ethan A. Puttonen
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Fisheries managers use length size limits on northern pike (Esox lucis) to improve the size structure in select lakes. The objective of this study was to compare two similar lakes, one with a length size limit and one without, to determine if a length size limit is improving the northern pike size structure. Blueberry Lake showed a higher abundance of larger fish than Stocking Lake. Of the fish caught, 25% in Blueberry Lake were over 600 mm (24 in), and were in the protected slot. Stocking Lake had a smaller portion of fish of this size with only …