Diel Activity Pattern and Swimming Speeds of Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta

Abstract

Movements of six northern pike (Esox lucius) were monitored for 5 to 51 days by ultrasonic transmitters implanted surgically. The pike were inactive during 80% of the eight hundred and eighty-nine 5-min intervals monitored during summer and winter. No regular diel changes in activity were noted, except that pike were inactive at night. Swimming velocities calculated from gross displacements were maximum, 42 cm/s (0.91 body lengths (BL)/s); average, 23.1 cm/s (0.45 BL/s).Key words: movements, diel activity, seasonal activity, northern pike, Esox lucius; swimming speeds