Occurrence of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca (L.)) and its habitats in northeastern Poland in 1951-1994

Abstract

The study was conducted based on data from lake management books. Pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.), was present at various time intervals in 619 lakes in northeastern Poland that covered a total area of 116.2 thousand ha. Based on the frequency of occurrence of this fish species in commercial catches, three categories of habitats were distinguished. The morphologic and morphometric parameters of these three categories of lakes were compared. For each category, the dynamics of temporal changes was characterized in the lakes in which pikeperch lived, and the trend lines of these changes were plotted. An increase in the number of habitats of this predatory fish species appeared in 1951-1965 and was directly connected with its natural migration. The range of fish stocking measures and the time when they began were determined for the three categories of lakes analyzed.