ABSTRACT
This chapter explores main achievements in pike population genetics, synthesizing information on the intraspecific biodiversity, evolutionary history and current genetic processes of this species, and exemplify how this information is of relevance for sustainable management. Population genetic patterns are affected by a number of factors operating from ancient to contemporary time scales. Population genetic structure on a local scale is affected by colonization history, degree of isolation, population size that results from the carrying capacity of the local habitat and its variation in time and natural selection pressures. Within-population genetic variation varies within the Baltic Sea. Genetic variation measured as allelic richness increases significantly both northwards and eastwards. The low levels of genetic diversity observed across pike populations inhabiting more-or-less isolated lakes and streams correspond with the expectation that small populations generally lose genetic diversity quite rapidly due to random genetic drift.
