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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: zander
Synonyms and Other Names: European pike perch; Zander lucioperca
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: Berg (1949), Wheeler (1969, 1978), Maitland (1977), Howells (1992b). Formerly known as Lucioperca lucioperca (e.g., Berg 1949).
Size: 1 m (Robins et al. 1991b).
Native Range:
Continental Europe to western Siberia (Berg 1949; Robins et al. 1991b).
Nonindigenous Occurrences: This species was reportedly stocked in ponds near Cooperstown, New York, in the late 1970s by an individual from Germany (J. Nickum, personal communication). Hatchery-reared zander fingerlings were stocked into Spiritwood Lake (Stutzman County), North Dakota in 1989 (Lohman 1989; Anderson 1992; Dokken 2004). An individual was caught in August 1999 and another one, a 2+ year old individual, was captured from Spiritwood Lake in June 2000.
Means of Introduction:
Stocked for sport fishing.
Status:
Zander stocked into a North Dakota lake reportedly did not survive (e.g., Anderson 1992). However, the capture of a fish in August 1999, and another 2+ year old fish in 2000 shows that at least some survived and reproduced.
Reported from New York (Courtenay et al. 1988).
Impact of Introduction: Unknown. Concern exists that zander and walleye could hybridize.
Remarks:
Courtenay et al. (1986) listed this species from New York, but the record was based on an unconfirmed report. The history of its introduction into North Dakota is not well documented in the scientific literature. Apparently the North Dakota Game and Fish Department had been interested in zander as a sport fish for many years and that agency chose Spirit Lake as the site of an experimental release because the water body was completely enclosed (Anderson 1992). In 1987, prior to the lake introduction, the state had hatched eggs imported from Holland, but the resulting fry were destroyed for fear that they carried pike fry rhobdo virus (Anonymous 1987a; Lohman 1989). Those wanting to introduce zander thought that it would be a boon to the fisheries of North America (e.g., Anderson 1992), whereas others expressed strong reservations (e.g., Wright 1992). Some fisheries personnel in states surrounding North Dakota and nearby Canadian provinces expressed doubts concerning the species' introduction, particularly because its effect on native species was unknown and because of its potential to spread (e.g., Wingate 1992). The zander has been widely introduced into western Europe and the species was illegally introduced into portions of England. According to Hickley (1986), the success of introduced populations seemed to be limited by the availability of the species' preferred habitat, characterized as "eutrophic, turbid, well oxygenated and of low mean depth, and, if a river, slow-flowing rather than turbulent." Zander feed heavily on prey of small size. Because of this, there is concern among European fish resource managers that introduced zander may cause a collapse in resident prey fish stocks (Hickley 1986 and references therein).
Spiritwood Lake has been connected to the James River for three years (1998-2001) because of high water conditions. There is concern that zander may have escaped into the James River.
Dokken, B. 2004. Angler's catch likely a rare zander. GrandForksHerald.com. July 13, 2004.
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Pam Fuller
Revision Date: 8/10/2004 Citation for this information:
Pam Fuller. 2009. Sander lucioperca. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=830> Revision Date: 8/10/2004
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