Daisuke Ishizaki

Diel patterns of larval drift of honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens in an inlet of Ibanaiko Lagoon, Lake Biwa, Japan.

Diel drift patterns of larvae of the endangered cyprinid Gnathopogon caerelescens in an inlet of the Ibanaiko Lagoon, connected to Lake Biwa in Japan, were assessed in April 2012. Peak occurrence of yolk-sac larvae was within a few hours after dark. Drift of newly hatched larvae is considered to be an important biological mechanism that ensures larval dispersal and recruitment from the inlets (spawning grounds) to the lagoon which functions as a nursery ground.

Genetic evaluation of hatchery stocks of Honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens by mitochondrial DNA sequence for stock enhancement

Honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens is a critically endangered species and important for commercial fisheries; thus stock enhancement programs are being conducted to restore resources. We evaluated the genetic population structure of field collected samples including spawned eggs around spawning areas in Lake Biwa and the extent of genetic diversity in wild samples and hatchery stocks using sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Pairwise Φst analysis and AMOVA clearly showed minimal population structure and haplotype network did not reveal any clear geographic pattern in Lake Biwa. It is probable that strays spawn in non-natal spawning areas, resulting in significant levels of gene flow among spawning areas. Genetic characteristics of hatchery stock F1, F2, and F3 were similar to those of wild samples in terms of haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and pairwise Φst values. These results indicate that the relatively high genetic diversity at its initiation was retained due to a lot of broodstock over two successive generations. Accordingly we propose that the current Honmoroko breeding method is appropriate for conserving the genetic diversity of Honmoroko and that the hatchery stock are genetically compatable for release and stock enhancement.

Contrasting life history patterns of the goby Rhinogobius similis in central Japan indicated by otolith Sr:Ca ratios

Rhinogobius similis a common goby, widely distributed in Far East Asia, is characterized by an amphidromous life history, adult fish inhabiting the lower reaches of rivers, and larvae in the freshwater area being swept downstream to the sea and returning to the river following a period of pelagic marine existence. Individuals were collected from 6 stations in the Ibi, Nagara and Kamo Rivers, central Japan, and their otolith strontium and calcium environmental signatures examined using electron probe microanalyses. The otolith Sr:Ca ratios of R. similis from the Kamo River suggested a typical amphidromous life history, whereas those of fish collected from the Ibi River suggested two types of migratory life history pattern: amphidromous and river resident. In contrast, the otolith Sr:Ca ratios of fish collected at two stations upriver of a dam in the Nagara River estuary suggested an artificially landlocked life history. Emergent plant vegetation in the lower reaches of the Ibi River created slow currents and pools in the river, thereby possibly enhancing the likelihood of a river resident life history. In the Nagara River, however, landlocked specimens had been obstructed in their downstream migration by the dam. It is suggested that R. similis in central Japan has a variable migratory life history pattern, allowing the species to persist in upstream habitats in large rivers.

Iteroparity of stream resident masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou

The degree of iteroparity in stream-resident forms of masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou was examined using mark-recapture studies in natural streams. In a partially migratory population, at least 10% of resident males survived after maturation and repeatedly matured for up to 5 years. In the landlocked amago salmon subspecies, the post-maturation survival rate was at least 7% and repeat maturation was observed for up to 3 years for both males and females.

Juvenile migration of the exclusively pelagic cyprinid, Gnathopogon caerulescens (Honmoroko) in Lake Biwa, Central Japan: JUVENILE G. CAERULESCENS MIGRATION

Migration of wild and cultivated juvenile honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens of from the spawning and nursery areas in Lake Biwa were investigated, both in the Ibanaiko Lagoon and its outlet to Daido River, using beam-trawl surveys in 2013 and 2014. The study demonstrated migration of G. caerulescens from a nursery lagoon toward Lake Biwa after the juvenile stage. These findings appear to be the first direct evidence for migration of an exclusively pelagic cyprinid species from a littoral nursery to a pelagic adult habitat in a large deep lake.