Brent Herwehe
12/8/05
NORTHERN PIKE
I chose to do my project on the northern pike. I thought it would be a good choice
considering how many lakes there are around the area. The lakes offer a lot of different
species. One of the major creatures in the water is the fish. There are many different types
of fish in the lakes and pond. The northern pike is a popular fish around the area.
Taxonomy
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The northern pike is from the kingdom of the Animalia. It is a fish with a spinal
chord, which is considered a Chordata. The northern pike also has a backbone there for it
is a Vertebrata. The northern pike is part of the superclass called Osteichthyes which
means it is a bony fish, its class is Actinopterygii they are described as ray-finned and
spiny rayed fishes. The pike is part of the family called Esocidae they are the pikes and
the pickerels.
Brent Herwehe
12/8/05
Habitat
The Northern pike is native to Ohio and is more widely distributed than any other
pike species. Historically, they were abundant in Lake Erie and its tributaries. It is
also thought to have been present in some parts of the Ohio River. Today, its supply
is limited to a small portion of Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay, Maumee Bay and the
marshlands and tributary streams of these areas. Northern pike were also introduced
into inland waters between 1950 and 1980. The northern pike prefers shallow, weedy,
clear waters in lakes and marshes, but also inhabits slow streams. After ice-out, they
move further into shallows and marshes to spawn, retreating to deep, cool waters (65º
or less) in summer. The smaller northern pike like to remain in shallow weedy waters
through much of the year, due to bigger fish that might harm them.
Status
The status of northern pike is actually unknown, but a few studies have reported the
presence of Northern Pike in some lakes on the Yukon North Slope and in Deep Creek.
Life History
Brent Herwehe
12/8/05
Northern pike spawn in Lake Erie tributaries as soon as the ice breaks, usually in
late February or early March. Females spread between 15,000 to 75,000 eggs freely into
vegetated areas. As the eggs settle they adhere to vegetation, rocks, sticks and other
debris until they hatch in about two weeks. Young Northern pike feed on zooplankton for
about two weeks and then begin switching to a diet of fish. After spawning, females
return to the bays, marshes and Lake Erie. Adult pike feed primarily on fish but will take
nearly anything they can fit in their mouth, including frogs, muskrats, and small ducks.
Food Habits
The northern pike is private and highly protective, it lurks at the edge of weed
beds and attacks unwary creatures that enter its domain, such as fish, crayfish, frogs,
mice, muskrats and young waterfowl. It is an opportunist that can be best described as an
omnivorous carnivore, as it feeds on whatever is most willingly available.
Brent Herwehe
12/8/05
Breeding
Pike generally spawn in late March or early April in reed beds or in shallow
streams. The number of eggs produced depends on the size of the fish. The larger the
fish, the more eggs it produces. The eggs remain on or just above the bottom of the lake
or stream until they hatch two to three weeks later. Larvae feed off the york save for 10
days, until it is completely absorbed. The pike are then ready to hunt for be preyed on.
Chromosome #
Chromosome test were performed on tumor cells and normal hematopoietic cells
of northern pike nasty lymphomas. The normal pike karyotype contains 50 acrocentric
chromosomes, among which the sex chromosomes are not identifiable by available by the
eye. Metaphases from 19 primary lymphomas showed a consistent pattern of
chromosome anomalies consisting of 1 submetacentric marker, 1 minute marker, and 3 to
5 pairs of smaller-than-normal chromosomes, set within a mode of 50 and a range of 46 to
54. Occasional cells had 2 identical submetacentric markers. Cells from presumptively
normal hematopoietic tissue in 41 lymphoma-bearing pike showed the euploid
karyotype, with the exception of 2 cases in which some cells with the neoplastic pattern
were found. This probably indicated occult neoplastic involvement of renal hematopoietic
tissue, in spite of the absence of histological evidence of involvement. In many cases,
some of the cells taken directly from lymphomas turn off the normal karyotype.. The
findings do not show a conclusion regarding agent versus cellular transmission.
Brent Herwehe
12/8/05
Behaviors
Northern pike are opportunistic, big feeders programmed to eliminate the weak.
Their coloring varies and often depends on the waters where the fish can be found, an
evolutionary development that relates to their ability to conceal themselves. In clear
water under a bright sun, their visual acuity is excellent, especially upward and to either
side, which allows them to cover up while scanning their territory for another victim. The
inner ear and a long lateral line detect the slightest vibration, another advantage in
locating prey. Once located, that prey doesn’t have a chance.