Synopsis
To explain why esocids prefer cylindrical, soft-rayed prey over compressed, spiny-rayed prey, we quantified behavioral interaction between tiger muskellunge (F1 hybrid of male northern pike Esox lucius and female muskellunge E. masguinongy) and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus). Tiger muskellunge required four times as many strikes and longer pursuits to capture bluegills than fathead minnows. Tiger muskellunge attacked each prey species differently; fathead minnows were grasped at midbody and bluegills were attacked in the caudal area. Each prey species exhibited different escape tactics. Fathead minnows remained in open water and consistently schooled; bluegills dispersed throughout the tank and sought cover by moving to corners and edges. Due to their antipredatory behavior (dispersing, cover seeking, and remaining motionless) and morphology (deep body and spines), bluegills were less susceptible to capture by tiger muskellunge than were fathead minnows.
References cited
Alexander, R. McN. 1967. Functional design in fishes. Hutchinson, London. 160 pp.
Beyerle, G. B. & J. E. Williams. 1968. Some observations of food selectivity by northern pike in aquaria. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 97: 28–31.
Gillen, A. L., R. A. Stein & R. F. Carline. 1981. Predation by pellet-reared tiger muskellunge on bluegills and minnows in experimental systems. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 110: 199–211.
Graff, D. R. 1978. Intensive culture of esocids: the current state of the art. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 11: 195–201.
Hollander, M. & D. A. Wolfe. 1973. Nonparametric statistical methods. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 503 pp.
Howland, H. C. 1974. Optimal strategies for predator avoidance: the relative importance of speed and maneuverability. J. Theor. Biol. 47: 333–350.
Johnson, L. 1978. Evaluation of esocid stocking program in Wisconsin. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 11: 278–307.
Keast, A. & D. Webb. 1966. Mouth and body form relative to feeding ecology in the fish fauna of a small lake, Lake Opinicon, Ontario. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 23: 1845–1874.
Mauck, W. L. & D. W. Coble. 1970. Vulnerability of some fishes to northern pike (Esox lucius) predation. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 28: 957–969.
Stein, R. A., R. F. Carline & R. S. Hayward. 1981. Evaluation of fish management techniques: evaluation of stocking tiger muskies in Ohio lakes. Ohio Federal Aid Project F-57-R. Ohio Division of Wildlife, Columbus, Ohio. 41 pp.
Weithman, A. S. & R. O. Anderson. 1977. Survival, growth, and prey of Esocidae in experimental systems. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 106: 424–430.
Webb, P. W. 1978. Fast-start performance and body form in seven species of teleost fish. J. Exp. Biol. 74: 211–226.
Webb, P. & J. M. Skadsen. 1980. Strike tactics of Esox. Can. J. Zool. 58: 1462–1469.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moody, R.C., Helland, J.M. & Stein, R.A. Escape tactics used by bluegills and fathead minnows to avoid predation by tiger muskellunge. Environ Biol Fish 8, 61–65 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004947
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004947