Neoplastic transformation of cells has often been associated with changes in cellular oncogenes. While much information has been collected in mammalian systems, relatively little is known about the molecular basis of tumor progression in lower vertebrates. For our studies, tumors were collected from feral northern pike (Esox lucius) from Ostego Lake, MI, where the local population exhibited a 1...

The population total length (LT) structures and individual growth trajectories for three stream living pike Esox lucius populations were studied for 7 years. All three populations exhibited small variation in both population LT structure and individual growth trajectories over time. These dynamics contrasted to the much more variable population LT structure of perch Perca fluviatilis studied pr...

A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) based on a standard curve was developed for detection and quantitation of ranaviruses. The target gene for the qPCR was viral DNA polymerase (DNApol). All ten ranavirus isolates studied (Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus, EHNV; European catfish virus, ECV; European sheatfish virus, ESV; Frog virus 3, FV3; Bohle iridovirus, BIV; Doctor fish virus, DFV; G...

This report describes the composition and some properties of the cast iron and wrought iron that form the dome of the U.S. Capitol. It is a compilation of two recent investigations, one by NIST and one by Lucius Pitkin, Inc. These investigations were implemented by the Office of the Architect of the Capitol to determine the dome’s condition and also to predict how the outer shell might respond ...

Allometric scaling relationships enable exploration of animal space-use patterns, yet interspecific studies cannot address many of the underlying mechanisms. We present the first intraspecific study of home range (HR) allometry relative to energetic requirements over several orders of magnitude of body mass, using as a model the predatory fish, pike Esox lucius. Analogous with interspecific stu...

Along with increasing eutrophication the pike (Esox lucius) has decreased in numbers in some parts of the Baltic Sea. We undertook a field study to identify the environmental factors affecting condition of pike larvae around the southwestern coast of Finland. We also sampled the natural zooplankton community to reveal food preferences of pike larvae. Our mixed model showed that larval condition...

Fishes show a remarkable diversity of shapes which have been associated with their swimming abilities and anti-predator adaptations. The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) provides an extreme example of phenotypic plasticity in body shape which makes it a unique model organism for evaluating the relationship between body form and function in fishes. In crucian carp, a deep body is induced by th...

Baltic Sea populations of the northern pike (Esox lucius) have declined since the 1990s, and they face additional challenges due to ongoing climate change. Pike in the Baltic Sea spawn either in coastal bays or in freshwater streams and wetlands. Pike recruited in freshwater have been found to make up about 50 % of coastal pike stocks and to show natal homing, thus limiting gene flow among clos...