Coexistence of pike Esox lucius and brown trout Salmo trutta in Irish lakes.

An environmental study of pike Esox lucius recorded their presence in 522 Irish lakes and that they coexisted with brown trout Salmo trutta in 97 of these. Statistical models, accounting for spatial non-independence among lakes, suggested that lakes with greater area, maximum depth and stream connectivity show a higher probability of coexistence. Introductions of E. lucius are likely to have negative effects on S. trutta stocks in small isolated lakes, but coexistence may be possible in larger systems.