Publication
Title
Site fidelity and seasonal changes in activity centre size of female pike Esox lucius in a small lake
Author
Abstract
The object of this study was to test site fidelity of female pike Esox lucius and to contrast the activity centre size in summer and winter in a 25 ha lake in north-eastern Germany using radio telemetry. Weekly 24 h tracking and two 96 h tracking exercises were conducted by boat from June to December 2005 and by walking on surface ice from January to February 2006. Positions of 12 E. lucius [total length (L(T)) = 450-733 mm] were recorded every 3 h within a 24 h tracking cycle. Site fidelity to individual summer activity centres was tested by translocating eight E. lucius away from their activity centre. All translocated E. lucius returned to their summer activity centre within 6 days, which provided evidence of site fidelity of E. lucius. There was no relation between E. lucius (L(T)) or the translocation distance and return time to the activity centre after translocation. In winter, the activity centre size of E. lucius was significantly larger than in summer, but there was considerable overlap between the sites chosen in winter and those in summer. The seasonal variation in activity centre size possibly reflected changes in habitat structure (e.g. collapse of structured vegetated habitats in winter) or prey fish distribution. (C) 2008 The Authors Journal compilation (C) 2008 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of fish biology. - London
Publication
London : 2008
ISSN
0022-1112
DOI
10.1111/J.1095-8649.2008.01952.X
Volume/pages
73 :3 (2008) , p. 584-596
ISI
000258169800008
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 03.01.2013
Last edited 23.08.2022
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