Abstract
Spawning habitat of pike (Esox lucius) in the Baltic Sea include brackish water bays, brooks and rivers. Elevated salinity concentrations are one of several stressors that might increase the use and importance of freshwater habitats for spawning. In the Baltic Sea, one of the largest brackish seas in the world, freshwater species like pike, perch (Perca fluviatilis), whitefish (Coregonus sp), bream (Abramis brama), ide (Leuciscus idus), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and burbot (Lota lota) all undertake spawning migrations to freshwater. However, over the last decades populations densities of these species have declined, and recruitment failure has been argued to be at least part of the problem. The importance of brooks and rivers as spawning areas for these species have not been quantified and set in relation to spawning success in brackish bays. In this study, we collected 175 adult pike (Esox lucius) on their foraging grounds in the sea. Fish were collected in two regions on the Baltic coast, more than 600 km apart. Subsequently we determined their origin (freshwater or marine) using otolith chemistry. Sagittal otoliths were analysed for strontium using the PIXE-method. The results show that 80 of the 175 pike were recruited in freshwater, and several of the larger specimens showed reoccurring migration behaviour. Data show that freshwater is an important recruitment habitat for Baltic Sea pike, suggesting that habitat improvements in rivers entering the Baltic Sea might significantly contribute to population restoration.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson JT (1988) A review of size dependent survival during pre-recruit stages of fishes in relation to recruitment. J Northwest Atl Fish Sci 8:55–66
Aronsuu K, Huhmarniemi A (2004) Changes in the European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus (L.)) population of the Kalajoki: potential consequences of the alterations of fishing patterns in the Gulf of Bothnia. Ann Zool Fenn 41:195–204
Bath GE, Thorrold SR, Jones CM, Campana SE, McLaren JW, Lam JWH (2000) Strontium and barium uptake in aragonitic otoliths of marine fish. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64:1705–1714
Berglund I (1978) Spawning migration of the Perch, Perca fluviatilis L., in a subarctic Swedish coastal stream. Aquilo, Ser Zool 18:43–48
Billard R (1996) Reproduction of pike: gametogenesis, gamete biology and early development. In: Craig JF (ed) Pike—Biology and exploitation. Chapman & Hall, London, pp 13–43
Bradbury IR, Campana SE, Bentzen P (2008) Estimating contemporary early life-history dispersal in an estuarine fish: integrating molecular and otolith elemental approaches. Mol Ecol 17:1438–1450. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03694.x
Campana SE (1999) Chemistry and composition of fish otoliths: pathways, mechanisms and applications. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 188:263–297
Campana SE, Chouinard GA, Hanson JM, Frechet A, Brattey J (2000) Otolith elemental fingerprints as biological tracers of fish stocks. Fish Res 46:343–357
Casselman JM, Lewis CA (1996) Habitat requirements of northern pike (Esox lucius). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 53:161–174
Craig JF (2008) A short review of pike ecology. Hydrobiologia 601:5–16. doi:10.1007/s10750-007-9262-3
Elsdon TS, Wells BK, Campana SE, Gillandersi BM, Jones CM, Limburg KE, Secor DH, Thorrold SR, Walther BD (2008) Otolith chemistry to describe movements and life-history parameters of fishes: hypotheses, assumptions, limitations and inferences. Oceanogr Mar Biol Ann Rev 46:297–330
Engstrom-Ost J, Lehtiniemi M, Jonasdottir SH, Viitasalo M (2005) Growth of pike larvae (Esox lucius) under different conditions of food quality and salinity. Ecol Freshw Fish 14:385–393
Giles N, Wright RM, Nord ME (1986) Cannibalism in pike fry, Esox-Lucius L—Some experiments with fry densities. J Fish Biol 29:107–113
Gillanders BM (2005) Otolith chemistry to determine movements of diadromous and freshwater fish. Aquat Living Resour 18:291–300
Gronkjaer P, Skov C, Berg S (2004) Otolith-based analysis of survival and size-selective mortality of stocked 0+year pike related to time of stocking. J Fish Biol 64:1625–1637
Gross MR, Coleman RM, McDowall RM (1988) Aquatic productivity and the evolution of diadromous fish migration. Science (Wash D C) 239:1291–1293
Jansson BO, Dahlberg K (1999) The environmental status of the Baltic Sea in the 1940s, today, and in the future. Ambio 28:312–319
Johansson SAE, Johansson TB (1976) Analytical application of particle induced X-ray-emission. Nucl Instrum Methods 137:473–516
Kalish JM (1990) Use of otolith microchemistry to distinguish the progeny of sympatric anadromous and non-anadromous salmonids. Fish Bull (Wash D C) 88:657–666
Kraus RT, Secor DH (2004) Incorporation of strontium into otoliths of an estaurine fish. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 302:85–106
Lehtonen H (1986) Fluctuations and long-term trends in the pike, Esox Lucius (L.) population in Nothamn, Western gulf of Finland. Aqua Fenn 16:3–9
Limburg KE (1995) Otolith strontium traces environmental history of subyearling American shad Alosa sapidissima. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 119:25–35
Limburg KE, Landergren P, Westin L, Elfman M, Kristiansson P (2001) Flexible modes of anadromy in Baltic sea trout: making the most of marginal spawning streams. J Fish Biol 59:682–695. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb02372.x
Malmqvist KG, Hylten G, Hult M, Hakansson K, Knox JM, Larsson NPO, Nilsson C, Pallon J, Schofield R, Swietlicki E, Tapper UAS, Yang CY (1993) Dedicated accelerator and microprobe line. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res Sect B 77:3–7
Meekan MG, Carleton JH, McKinnon AD, Flynn K, Furnas M (2003) What determines the growth of tropical reef fish larvae in the plankton: food or temperature? Mar Ecol Prog Ser 256:193–204
Milton DA, Chenery SR (2001) Sources and uptake of trace metals in otoliths of juvenile barramundi (Lates calcarifer). J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 264:47–65
Muller K (1986) Seasonal anadromous migration of the pike (Esox-Lucius L) in coastal areas of the northern Bothnian Sea. Arch Hydrobiol 107:315–330
Muller K, Berg E (1982) Spring migration of some anadromous fresh-water fish species in the northern Bothnian Sea. Hydrobiologia 96:161–168
Nilsson J (2006) Predation of northern pike (Esox lucius L.) eggs: a possible cause of regionally poor recruitment in the Baltic Sea. Hydrobiologia 553:161–169
Nilsson J, Andersson J, Karas P, Sandstrom O (2004) Recruitment failure and decreasing catches of Perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and pike (Esox Lucius L.) in the coastal waters of southeast Sweden. Boreal Environ Res 9:295–306
Olsson IC, Greenberg LA, Bergman E, Wysujack K (2006) Environmentally induced migration: the importance of food. Ecol Lett 9:645–651. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00909.x
Pierce RB, Tomcko CM, Schupp DH (1995) Exploitation of northern pike in seven small north-central Minnesota lakes. N Am J Fish Manage 15:601–609
Rieman BE, Myers DL, Nielsen RL (1994) Use of otolith microchemistry to discriminate Oncorhynchus-nerka of resident and anadromous origin. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 51:68–77
Ryan CG, Cousens DR, Sie SH, Griffin WL, Suter GF, Clayton E (1990) Quantitative pixe microanalysis of geological material using the Csiro proton microprobe. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res Sect B 47:55–71
Sandstrom A, Karas P (2002) Effects of eutrophication on young-of-the-year freshwater fish communities in coastal areas of the baltic. Environ Biol Fish 63:89–101
Secor DH, Hendersonarzapalo A, Piccoli PM (1995) Can otolith microchemistry chart patterns of migration and habitat utilization in anadromous fishes. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 192:15–33
Skov C, Nilsson PA (2007) Evaluating stocking of YOY pike Esox lucius as a tool in the restoration of shallow lakes. Freshw Biol 52:1834–1845. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2007.01795.x
Skov C, Jacobsen L, Berg S (2003) Post-stocking survival of 0+year pike in ponds as a function of water transparency, habitat complexity, prey availability and size heterogeneity. J Fish Biol 62:311–322
Skov C, Brodersen J, Nilsson PA, Hansson LA, Bronmark C (2008) Inter- and size-specific patterns of fish seasonal migration between a shallow lake and its streams. Ecol Freshw Fish 17:406–415. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2008.00291.x
Thorrold SR, Jones CM, Campana SE, McLaren JW, Lam JWH (1998) Trace element signatures in otoliths record natal river of juvenile American shad (Alosa sapidissima). Limnol Oceanogr 43:1826–1835
Walther BD, Thorrold SR (2006) Water, not food, contributes the majority of strontium and barium deposited in the otoliths of a marine fish. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 311:125–130
Westin L, Limburg KE (2002) Newly discovered reproductive isolation reveals sympatric populations of Esox lucius in the Baltic. J Fish Biol 61:1647–1652
Winsor P, Rodhe J, Omstedt A (2001) Baltic Sea ocean climate: an analysis of 100 yr of hydrographic data with focus on the freshwater budget. Clim Res 18:5–15
Wright RM, Giles N (1987) The survival growth and diet of pike fry Esox-Lucius L. stocked at different densities in experimental ponds. J Fish Biol 30:617–630
Wysujack K, Greenberg LA, Bergman E, Olsson IC (2009) The role of the environment in partial migration: food availability affects the adoption of a migratory tactic in brown trout Salmo trutta. Ecol Freshw Fish 18:52–59. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2008.00322.x
Zimmerman CE (2005) Relationship of otolith strontium-to-calcium ratios and salinity: experimental validation for juvenile salmonids. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 62:88–97
Acknowledgments
The technical instructions concerning otolith preparations of Karin E. Limburg and Anders Asp were greatly appreciated. Alma Tersmeden is recognized for assisting in otolith preparation. The manuscript was significantly improved by the inputs from two anonymous reviewers. This study was financially supported by the Swedish Board of Fisheries and University of Kalmar.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Engstedt, O., Stenroth, P., Larsson, P. et al. Assessment of natal origin of pike (Esox lucius) in the Baltic Sea using Sr:Ca in otoliths. Environ Biol Fish 89, 547–555 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9686-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9686-x