Site selection for habitat conservation/restoration of threatened freshwater fishes in artificial channels of northern Kyushu Island,Japan

Ichthyological Research - The aim of this study was to propose a method for site selection for habitat conservation or restoration of threatened freshwater fishes inhabiting ditches or canals in...     

Predicting distributions of seven bitterling fishes in northern Kyushu,Japan

The distributions of seven bitterling species and subspecies—Tanakia lanceolata, T. limbata, Acheilognathus tabira nakamurae, A. rhombeus, Rhodeus ocellatus kurumeus, R. ocellatus ocellatus, and R. atremius atremius—in northern Kyushu were predicted using generalized linear models (GLMs) in order to provide information helpful for conserving native bitterlings and preventing the expansion of alien bitterling species. Predictions were made according to the following procedure: (1) a set of GLMs for each species was formulated using environmental data from 710 sites that were derived using digital maps and GIS software, from which the best fit model for each species was selected using the Akaike information criterion for predicting the fish occurrence, (2) model performance was evaluated based on the receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis using occurrence and environmental data from 362 sites, and (3) potential distributions of the bitterling were analyzed using the best fit models and environmental data for 1,272 sites, of which 200 data points without occurrence data were prepared. The best fit models revealed that 4–6 environmental factors were important in predicting seven bitterling distributions, which was supported by the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of these fishes ranging from 0.753 to 0.927. The AUC values in model evaluation were significantly greater than 0.5 for six fishes, suggesting the moderate accuracies of these best fit models for predicting the fish distributions. These predictive models can be used for evaluating potential native bitterling richness and the potential distribution expansion of an alien subspecies.     

我国伊犁河鱼类群落结构及外来鱼类适生性

2012-2019年,在我国伊犁河流域的6个断面开展了鱼类群落结构调查,结果显示我国伊犁河流域现有鱼类共计29种,大多属于鲤形目。鱼类群落组成与20世纪末期相比发生了变化,银色裂腹鱼、短头鲃、银鲫、鲢、北方泥鳅在本研究中未出现,尤其是银色裂腹鱼,截至目前为止的鱼类资源调查中,均无捕获记录。历史研究中未见的乌鳢与大口鲇在本研究中有捕获。外来鱼类的出现率和数量均有所增加。对鱼类群落结构特征进行分析,显示伊犁河流域鱼类群落多样性较低,下游干流和上游支流的鱼类群落结构差异较大。现阶段,我国伊犁河流域主要的优势种外来鱼类有鲤、和鲫。利用最大熵生态位模型（MaxEnt）对鲤、和鲫的适生区域进行预测,与鱼类资源调查获得的鱼类实际分布区对比,显示鲤和在我国伊犁河流域的分布范围与预测结果是吻合的,而鲫在进入伊犁河流域之后开始向上游支流河段扩散。由于这几种外来鱼类在一开始引入的时候未采取管控措施,又具有极强的适应能力,且伊犁河流域的鱼类多样性较小,因此极易形成规模并扩散。外来鱼类的入侵,会对土著鱼类造成巨大的威胁。基于本论文研究结论,应当将已发生生态位漂变的鲫其作为重点关注种类,关注外来鱼类的生活史对策,深入研究外来鱼类的入侵机制和诱因;对上游支流河段的生境进行监测,关注气候和水文变化,尤其是土著鱼类产卵场、索饵场和越冬场的变化,尽可能减小人类活动干扰;对伊犁河流域的鱼类资源进行长期监测,关注鱼类群落结构变化,一旦发现异常及时采取措施;增加对土著鱼类的增殖放流;严格控制进出口贸易和增殖放流时夹带的外来鱼类。维护我国伊犁河流域的生态安全。     

Evidence for infection caused by spotted fever group Rickettsia in Kyushu, Japan

Of 50 cases that gave negative immunofluorescence reaction with Rickettsia tsutsugamushi among patients with suspected tsutsugamushi disease encountered in Miyazaki Prefecture during the last four years, three showed a significant rise in the antibody titer to Rickettsia montana, a species of spotted fever group. This paper reports evidence for the occurrence of the rickettsial infection of the spotted fever group in Kyushu, Japan.     

Factors affecting the establishment success of the invasive piscivorous chub in small irrigation ditches in northern Kyushu,Japan

Habitat matching is an important factor for the establishment of alien fishes in recipient environments. The piscivorous chub, Opsariichthys uncirostris uncirostris, originally exclusively inhabited large water areas; however, the species has been introduced and established in small irrigation ditches on Kyushu Island. The evaluation of the habitat use of the piscivorous chub suggested that this alien fish uses the lentic-type irrigation ditches as a nursery ground and the lotic-type ditches as a spawning ground. This finding implies that the establishment of the piscivorous chub may require connectivity between lentic and lotic habitats.     

Seasonal changes in the microbial population of the water column and sediments of the Ongagawa River,northern Kyushu,Japan

The total viable count, population density of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria, and nitrogen in the microbiomass (microbiomass-N) in sediments were monitored monthly at 12 points in the Ongagawa River basin from June 2002 to May 2006. The measurement of the sediment microbiomass-N was used for evaluation of the sediment’s microbial population in the river ecosystem. An extraordinarily high population of E. coli was observed during the season when there was stagnant water in the basin, with a high population and an insufficient drain diffusion system, and, thus hydrological water control is indispensable to prevent rapid E. coli growth. Microbiomass-N in sediments showed a negative correlation or independent fluctuation in relation to the bacterial population in the water column of the river. Seasonal changes in extracted nitrogen (N) in river sediments did not show correspondence with microbiomass-N in sediments. The microbiomass-N in sediments changed independently of the bacterial population in the river water, indicating that the high population of bacteria in the water does not lead to a high microbial population in river sediments. Ordination of the microbial parameters by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that microbiomass-N in sediments was quite different from other parameters. Relatively higher H⁺ (lower pH), PO₄ ³⁻ concentration and dissolved oxygen (DO) were the determinant parameters of higher microbiomass-N in sediments. A relative microbial abundance between the water column and sediments as well as each of the microbial populations in the water column and sediments could be a quantitative parameter for evaluating the biochemical processes of stream water.     

Age-sex differences in the diets of Sika deer on Kinkazan Island,northern Japan

Dietary differences in the ages and sexes of Sika deer (Cervus nippon) were studied on Kinkazan Island, northern Japan from October 1990 to July 1991. Larger deer consumed more graminoids than smaller deer except in spring, and less dicotyledonous leaves in all the seasons. Fecal nitrogen concentrations were lower in larger deer than in smaller deer in all the seasons. The age-sex differences in foods were smaller in summer and winter when foods were most abundant and scarce, respectively, while they were greater in spring and autumn when food availability was intermediate.     

Morphological description of two bucephalid trematodes collected from freshwater fishes in the Uji River, Kyoto, Japan

The morphology of two species of bucephalids (Bucephalidae; Digenea; Trematoda), which since 1999 has caused a fish disease at the Uji River, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, is described. Parabucephalopsis parasiluri Wang, 1985 was first recorded in the Uji River in 2000, and Prosorhynchoides ozakii (Nagaty, 1937) in 2005. The definitive host of both species is the Lake Biwa catfish (Silurus biwaensis), and the second intermediate hosts include many fish species from several families. P. parasiluri is an introduced parasite that invaded with its first intermediate host, golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), from the Asian continent. P. ozakii may also be an introduced species, although its first intermediate host has not been identified.     

Age,growth and habitat use of the topmouth gudgeon,Pseudorasbora parva in irrigation ditches on northwestern Kyushu Island,Japan

In Japan, Pseudorasbora parva has not been negatively affected by artificial changes in its habitat. Ecological traits of the species may explain this easy adaptation to artificial habitats. An ecological investigation of P. parva inhabiting irrigation ditches was conducted monthly for approximately two years on northwestern Kyushu Island, Japan. Measurements of 1927 individuals revealed two size classes, maturation age (1 year), and lifespan (1–2 years). Results of this study and previous studies show that the species exhibits life history plasticity. In addition, habitat use of ditches indicates that abundances correlated positively with water temperature and negatively with current velocity in the crop‐growing season, and positively with water depth and negatively with current velocity in the fallow season. Structural factors such as ditch revetment conditions and aquatic macrophyte cover were unimportant for this species. The study shows that the gudgeon adapts to artificial ditches easily and successfully because of both life history plasticity and wide‐scale use of the habitat.     

Searching for a sign of exotic Aedes albopictus (Culicidae) introduction in major international seaports on Kyushu Island,Japan

BackgroundThe Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has spread around the world. The migration was mainly mediated by maritime transportations. This species is known as an efficient vector for arboviruses, and it was responsible for the recent dengue outbreak in Tokyo, Japan. As the vector competence varies among geographical populations, and insecticide resistant populations have emerged, it is important to reveal their movements. The present study uses molecular techniques to search for a sign of introduction of an exotic population in three major international seaports on Kyushu Island.Methodology/principal findingsAdults of Ae. albopictus were sampled around the international seaports of Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and Nagasaki. Pairwise fixation indexes were estimated between the sampled populations based on 13 microsatellite markers. There was no clear genetic differentiation between distant and port populations in Kitakyushu and Nagasaki. However, the analysis found one distinct group near the container terminal in Fukuoka, which handles international freight containers mainly from adjacent countries. DNA samples were also obtained from Goto, Tsushima, Honshu, Ryukyu, Thailand, and the Philippines; and a cluster analysis and discriminant analysis revealed that the distinct group in Fukuoka did not belong to these groups. Combined with the results of phylogenetic analysis based on CO1, these results implied that this group originated from one Asian temperate region outside of Japan. Neutrality test and mismatch distribution analysis suggested that the establishment of this group was not recent.Conclusions/significanceThe present study found a sign of Ae. albopictus introduction from a temperate region of Asia through maritime freight container transportation. The genetically distinct group found in Fukuoka likely originated from a temperate region outside of Japan. Maritime container transportation may introduce to Japan mosquitoes with greater vector competence/insecticide resistance. This is the first study to describe the spatial population structure of Ae. albopictus in Japan using molecular techniques.     

Biochemical and egg size evolution of freshwater fishes in the Rhinogobius brunneus complex (Pisces, Gobiidae) in Okinawa, Japan

Many colour morphs have been recognized in the Rhinogobius brunneus complex. A recent electrophoretic study has revealed that some of the colour morphs are well differentiated from each other genetically. In Okinawa, egg-size and life-history variation has been found in addition to the colour variation in this species complex. To clarify the nature of this life-history variation, gobies of a fluviatile morph with large eggs as well as three other amphidromous morphs with small eggs, inhabiting a single stream sympatrically in Okinawa, were analysed by electrophoresis and the females were also used for comparison of egg and clutch sizes. Electrophoretic data for 34 loci showed that each morph was separated by a fixed-allele difference for at least one locus, indicating that the four morphs which occurred sympatrically are reproductively isolated from each other. However, Nei's genetic distance between the fluviatile morph and one of the amphidromous morphs was much smaller (0.026) than distances among amphidromous gobies (0.323-0.480). Egg size of the former was by far the largest among the four. These results imply that speciation of the fluviatile morph accompanied by the egg-size increase has been completed rapidly without considerable genetic differentiation.     

Predicting the similarity of parasite communities in freshwater fishes using the phylogeny,ecology and proximity of hosts

Parasite communities tend to be dissimilar in hosts that are geographically, phylogenetically, ecologically and developmentally distant from one another. The decay of community similarity is a powerful and increasingly common method of studying parasite beta diversity, but most studies have examined only a single type of distance. Here, we evaluate distances based on the phylogeny, ecology, spatial proximity and size of hosts, as predictors of the similarity of parasite communities in individual hosts, host populations and host species. We surveyed parasites in six species of fish collected simultaneously from six localities in the St. Lawrence River, Canada, and species in a common group of larval parasites were discriminated using DNA sequences from barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase I. Distances based on the habitat use patterns of host species were good predictors of short‐term, ecological similarity of parasite communities, such as that operating at the scale of the individual host. The genetic distance between host species was associated with almost all types of similarity at all scales, particularly qualitative and phylogenetic similarity of parasite communities at the level of populations and meta‐populations of hosts. The trophic level, diet, spatial proximity and size of hosts were poor predictors of parasite community similarity. The increased taxonomic resolution provided by molecular data increased the explanatory power of regression models, and different factors were implicated when parasite species were distinguished with DNA barcodes than when larval parasites were lumped into morphospecies, as is commonly practiced.     

Quantifying the potential impact of alien plants of Iran using the Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS) and Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT)

Biological Invasions - Assessing the impacts of alien plant species is scientifically important and critical for supporting invasion-related policies. Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS) and...     

Long-term variation in fruiting and the food habits of wild Japanese macaques on Kinkazan Island, northern Japan

We studied the relationship between the food habits of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and the availability of nuts (Fagus crenata, Zelkova serrata, Carpinus spp., and Torreya nucifera) on Kinkazan Island, northern Japan, from 1997 to 2005 to examine the long-term variations in both food habits and availability. The food habits of the monkeys showed clear seasonal changes: the staple foods were woody leaves and flowers in spring (May and June), woody leaves and seeds or fruits other than nuts in summer (July and August), nuts and seeds or fruits other than nuts in fall (September-November), and herbaceous plants in winter (December-April). The availability of nuts, combinations of masting species, and energy production varied among years. Food habits varied among years, but the magnitude of variability of food habits differed among seasons, with large variability during summer and winter, and small variability in spring. Food availability was poor in summer and winter, but in several years the monkeys were able to consume nuts during those seasons. We emphasize the importance of conducting long-term studies on both food availability and the food habits of animals in the temperate zone.     

Temporal consistency of ontogenetic shifts in habitat use by coral reef fishes in the northernmost coral ecosystem in the world (Kudaka Island, Japan)

The prevalence of major habitat shifts in tropical fishes between juvenile and adult stages (ontogenetic shifts) in one of the northernmost coral reefs in the world (Kudaka Island, Japan) is given. The comparative analysis of spatial distribution of juveniles v . adults highlighted four ontogenetic patterns: no change in habitat use between juveniles and adults (five species), a decrease in the number of habitats used by adults compared to juveniles (three species), an increase in the number of habitats used during the adult stage (four species) and use of nursery areas by juveniles followed by extensive movements to different adult habitats (three species). The comparative analysis of fish distribution over time ( i.e. during three consecutive settlement months) showed that 84% of species had temporal consistency in ontogenetic patterns of habitat use.     

Evidence of freshwater feeding by adult salmon in the Tana River, northern Norway

In the River Laksjohka, a tributary of the Tana River (northern Norway), stomachs from 45 out of 133 adult Atlantic salmon Salmo salar contained food items of terrestrial and freshwater origin. In the neighbouring River Maskejohka, none of 18 sampled stomachs contained any food items.