Event Title
Digestion Dependant Winter Foraging of Northern Pike in Michigan's Lower Penninsula Lakes
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Natural Resource Management
Mentor Information
C. "Griff" Griffin, griffinc@gvsu.edu
Department
Biology
Location
Kirkhof Center 1104
Start Date
13-4-2011 1:30 PM
End Date
13-4-2011 2:00 PM
Keywords
Life Science
Abstract
Although metabolism slows in winter months, northern pike Esox lucius will feed opportunistically on the largest available prey. My research compares the stomach contents of pike from lakes consistently producing pike >40†(as evidenced by Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment's Master Angler Awards) to lakes that do not consistently produce pike > 40â€. During the study I visited a number of lakes in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and asked anglers to donate stomachs. Anglers had already harvested pike and were not influenced prior to my approach. Stomachs were collected during the winter months of 2010-2011. Dissection of stomachs indicated if pike had completely digested the previous prey item(s) before feeding again. While empty stomachs could result from a shortage of prey, I theorize that empty stomachs actually indicate pike are successfully feeding on the largest possible prey and have no nutritional or caloric need to feed again until digestion is complete.
Digestion Dependant Winter Foraging of Northern Pike in Michigan's Lower Penninsula Lakes
Kirkhof Center 1104
Although metabolism slows in winter months, northern pike Esox lucius will feed opportunistically on the largest available prey. My research compares the stomach contents of pike from lakes consistently producing pike >40†(as evidenced by Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment's Master Angler Awards) to lakes that do not consistently produce pike > 40â€. During the study I visited a number of lakes in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and asked anglers to donate stomachs. Anglers had already harvested pike and were not influenced prior to my approach. Stomachs were collected during the winter months of 2010-2011. Dissection of stomachs indicated if pike had completely digested the previous prey item(s) before feeding again. While empty stomachs could result from a shortage of prey, I theorize that empty stomachs actually indicate pike are successfully feeding on the largest possible prey and have no nutritional or caloric need to feed again until digestion is complete.