Homing behaviour of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) following experimental transplantation

Homing behaviour of pikeperch Sander lucioperca was studied using ultrasonic telemetry. Twelve pikeperch were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters having a battery life of 14 months and released to Jyväsjärvi. Six of the pikeperch were originally captured from Jyväsjärvi and six were captured from Päijänne and transplanted seven km to Jyväsjärvi. Five of the transplanted pikeperch were observed near the original capture site less than two weeks after release. None of these fish later returned to Jyväsjärvi. Pikeperch originally from Jyväsjärvi stayed mainly in that lake for the duration of tracking. The data indicate that pikeperch exhibit site fidelity and are able to home after transplantation. The results also indicate that the two studied lakes may have semi discrete pikeperch stocks.