#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has just published three research reports on pike in Irish waters.
The Diet of Pike in Irish Watercourses aims to elucidate the variation in the diet of Irish pike between river, lake and canal habitats, and to quantify niche size and dietary specialisation and attempt to identify the timing of the switch to a piscivorous diet.
Ecomorphology of Pike in Irish Freshwaters deals with the morphology and condition of pike in Ireland.
Genetic Structure of Pike and their History in Ireland (which is available to download from the IFI website HERE) investigates the genetic variation of Irish pike populations and their relationship with European groups, in an attempt to identify where they came from, as it is largely assumed to have been introduced by humans over the past few hundred years.
The research was carried out as part of a wider PhD research project conceived by IFI and University College Dublin, with the overall aim of updating and informing managers as to the biology and ecology of pike (Esox lucius L.) in Ireland, a historically understudied species in the Irish context.
The field work and sampling for this project was carried out opportunistically in collaboration with IFI, and through attendance at many pike angling competitions.
The authors of these papers also thank the many pike anglers that contributed to the study and allowed D Pedreschi to sample their catch.
This study has been generously funded by IFI with contributions from the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs.
