Michigan Department of Conservation
Institute for Fisheries Research Report No.1704, 1965
Some Observations of Food Set Activity by Northern Pike and Bowfins in Aquaria
George B. Beyerle and John E. Williams
Abstract.-Northern pike and bowfins confined in tanks and aquaria were presented various species. and sizes of food items. Although the tests were designed to determine food preference, differential accessibility of the prey apparently in most instances resulted in measures of selectivity only. Bowfins selected organisms (crayfish and chubsuckers) which tended to remain on or near the bottom. Centrarchids, which stayed near the sides and top of the tanks, were eaten less frequently. Golden shiners swam continuously at mid-depth and were captured least frequently by the bowfins. Northern pike selected minnows and chubsuckers over centrarchids and yellow perch. They showed no choice between centrarchids and yellow perch, but selected centrarchids over bullheads. These results increase doubt as to the effectiveness of pike and bowfins for controlling pan fish populations in lakes, and suggest that large populations of soft-rayed food fishes favor good growth of pike.