Synopsis
A study was conducted in Lake Hinuma, northern central Japan, in order to elucidate the role of a brackish water lake in the early life history of amphidromous ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis (Plecoglossidae). Descriptions of amphidromous P. altivelis larvae based on wild specimens are also given. Larvae first appeared in Lake Hinuma in October and remained inside the lake until December. During this period, continuous recruitment of newly hatched yolk-sac larvae was observed. The size of larvae found in the system ranged from 5.2–32.1 mm SL, representing the entire larval period of the species, from the newly hatched yolk-sac larvae to metamorphosed juveniles. Larvae emigrated out of the Lake Hinuma system to the coastal waters after the surface water temperature of the lake dropped below 6° C and became lower than that of adjacent coastal waters. It is concluded that brackish water lakes play an important role in the early life history of amphidromous P. altivelis, as a temporary nursery ground.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Azuma, M. 1970. Studies on the variability of the landlocked ayufish, Plecoglossus altivelis T. et S., in Lake Biwa. I. On the mode of distribution and some body form variation at early phases of development. Japan. J. Ecol. 20: 63–76 (in Japanese).
Azuma, M. 1973a. Studies on the viability of the landlocked ayufish, Plecoglossus altivelis T. et S., in Lake Biwa. II. On the segregation of population and the variations in each population. Japan. J. Ecol. 23: 126–139 (in Japanese).
Azuma, M., 1973b. Studies on the variability of the landlocked ayu-fish, Plecoglossus altivelis T. et S., in Lake Biwa. III. On the differences in the process of maturation, spawning habitats, and some morphological features of each population. Japan. J. Ecol. 23: 147–159 (in Japanese).
Azuma, M. 1973c. Studies on the variability of the landlocked ayu-fish, Plecoglossus altivelis T. et S., in Lake Biwa. IV. Considerations on the grouping and features of variability. Japan. J. Ecol. 23: 255–265 (in Japanese).
Boehlert, G.W. & B.C. Mundy. 1988. Roles of behavior and physical factors in larval and juvenile fish recruitment to estuarine nursery areas. pp. 51–67. In: M.P. Weinstein (ed.) Larval Fish and Shellfish Transport through Inlets, Amer. Fish. Soc. Symp. 3, Bethesda.
Conover, D.O. & S.A. Murawski. 1982. Offshore wintering migration of the Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia. U.S. Fish. Bull. 80: 145–150.
Edwards, R.J. 1977. Seasonal migrations of Astyanax mexicanus as an adaptation to novel environments. Copeia 1977: 770–771.
Epifanio, C.E. 1988. Transport of invertebrate larvae between estuaries and the continental shelf. pp. 104–114. In: M.P. Weinstein (ed.) Larval Fish and Shellfish Transport through Inlets, Amer. Fish. Soc. Symp. 3, Bethesda.
Fortier, L. & W.C. Leggett. 1983. Vertical migrations and transport of larval fish in a partially mixed estuary. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 39: 1150–1163.
Hamada, R. & I. Kinoshita. 1988. Feeding habit of larval and juvenile ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis in the surf zone of Tosa Bay, Japan. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 35: 382–388 (in Japanese).
Henri, M., J.J. Dodson & H. Powles. 1985. Spatial configurations of young herring (Clupea harengus harengus) larvae in the St. Lawrence Estuary: importance of biological and physical factors. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42 (Suppl.1): 91–104.
Ito, I., T. Iwai & T. Furuichi. 1967a. Studies on the artificial production of ayu fish seedling ...XLV. The effect of salinity on the early survival and growth of yolk-sac fry. pp. 967–983. In.: Res. Rep. Kisosansen Surv. Team 4 (in Japanese).
Ito, I., T. Iwai & T. Furuichi. 1967b. Studies on the artificial production of ayu fish seedling ...LI. The tolerance limit of the rearing fry of ayu fish to salinity changes. pp. 1153–1162. In: Res. Rep. Kisosansen Surv. Team 4 (in Japanese).
Ito, I., T. Iwai, T. Furuichi & N. Horiki. 1967. Studies on the artificial production of ayu fish seedling ...XLI. The influence of salinity on the hatching of fertilized eggs. pp. 733–830. In: Res. Rep. Kisosansen Surv. Team 4 (in Japanese).
Leggett, W.C. 1984. Fish migration in coastal and estuarine environments: a call for new approaches to the study of an old problem. pp. 159–178. In: J.D. McCleave, G.P. Arnold, J.J. Dodson & W.H. Neill (ed.) Mechanisms of Migration in Fishes, Plenum Press, New York.
McDowell, R. 1988. Ayu-family Plecoglossidae. p. 96. In: R.M. McDowell, Diadromy in Fishes, Migrations between Freshwater and Marine Environments, Croom Helm, London.
Masuda H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno & T. Yoshino (ed.) 1984. The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago, Vol. 1 and 2. Tokai University Press, Tokyo. 437 pp.
Miller, J.M. 1988. Physical processes and the mechanisms of coastal migrations of immature marine fishes. pp. 68–76. In: M.P. Weinstein (ed.) Larval Fish and Shellfish Transport through Inlets, Amer. Fish. Soc. Symp. 3, Bethesda.
Miller, J.M., J.P. Reed & L.J. Pietrafesa. 1984. Patterns, mechanisms and approaches to the study of migrations of estuarine-dependent fish larvae and juveniles. pp. 209–226. In: J.D. McCleave, G.P. Arnold, J.J. Dodson & W.H. Neill (ed.), Mechanisms of Migration in Fishes, Plenum Press, New York.
Nishida, M. 1988. A new subspecies of the ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, (Plecoglossidae) from the Ryukyu Islands. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 35: 236–242.
Onuma, Y. & Y. Ichimura. 1971. Downstream drift of ayu larvae in Naka River. Exp. Rep. Ibaraki Pref. Fish. Exp. St. Fiscal Showa 45: 41–50 (in Japanese).
Ouellet, P. & J.J. Dodson. 1985. Dispersion and retention of anadromous rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) larvae in the middle estuary of the St. Lawrence River. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42: 332–341.
Pietrafesta, L.J. & G.S.Janowitz. 1988. Physical oceanographic processes affecting larval transport around and through North Carolina inlets. pp. 34–50. In: M.P. Weinstein (ed.) Larval Fish and Shellfish Transport through Inlets, Amer. Fish. Soc. Symp. 3, Bethesda.
Saruwatari T. & M. Okiyama. 1992. Life history of shirauo Salangichthys microdon, Salangidae in a brackish lake, Lake Hinuma, Japan. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 58: 235–248.
Senta, T. & I. Kinoshita. 1985. Larval and juvenile fishes occurring in surf zones of western Japan. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 114: 609–618.
Tachihara, K. & S. Kimura. 1991a. Embryonic development and morphological changes with growth of the larval and juvenile ayu Plecoglossus altivelis of Lake Ikeda in southern Kyushu. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 57: 789–795 (in Japanese).
Tachihara, K. & S. Kimura. 1991b. Changes in the distribution and food with growth of the landlocked ayu larvae Plecoglossus altivelis of Lake Ikeda in southern Kyushu. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 57: 797–804 (in Japanese).
Takahashi, I., I. Kinoshita, K. Azuma, S. Fujita & M. Tanaka. 1990. Larval ayu Plecoglossus altivelis occurring in the Shimanto Estuary. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 56: 871–878 (in Japanese).
Tsukamoto, K. 1991. Age and growth of ayu larvae Plecoglossus altivelis collected in the Nagara, Kiso and Tone rivers during the downstream migration. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 57: 2013–2022 (in Japanese).
Tsukamoto, K., K. Mochizuki, T. Otake & Y. Yamazaki. 1989. Distribution, migration and growth of ayu larvae at the mouth of River Kumano. Fish. Engi. 25: 47–57 (in Japanese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saruwatari, T. Temporal utilization of a brackish water lake, Lake Hinuma, as a nursery ground by amphidromous ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis (Plecoglossidae) larvae. Environ Biol Fish 43, 371–380 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001172
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001172