Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Habitat utilization, feeding, and growth of wild spotted halibut Verasper variegatus in a shallow brackish lagoon: Matsukawa-ura, northeastern Japan

  • Original Article
  • Biology
  • Published:
Fisheries Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Habitat utilization, feeding, and growth of a rare pleuronectid flatfish, spotted halibut Verasper variegatus, were examined in a brackish lagoon in northeastern Japan: Matsukawa-ura. The distribution and date–length data of spotted halibut collected mainly from beam-trawl samplings during 1983–2008 indicated that age-0 juveniles [n = 25, 6.0–18.0 cm total length (TL)] and older spotted halibut (n = 71, 13.8–43.0 cm TL) inhabited almost the entire northern part of Matsukawa-ura. Comparative distribution surveys of spotted halibut, stone flounder, and marbled flounder during 1985–1989 revealed similar distribution patterns of these flatfishes; the highest densities were found around the central part of Matsukawa-ura, although significantly lower abundance was detected for spotted halibut. Linear growth equations of age-0 juveniles demonstrated that spotted halibut were able to achieve high growth after June, probably because abundant prey (e.g., mysids and gammarids) and suitable physical conditions (warmer water temperature and lower salinity) were present. The main prey items shifted from various crustaceans including mysids, caridean shrimps, and anomurans to brachyura Hemigrapsus spp. (≥20 cm TL). Our study shows that spotted halibut use the shallow brackish lagoon as an important nursery for juveniles, and also as a feeding ground for young and adults.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen D, Liu C, Dou S (1992) The biology of flatfish (Pleuronectinae) in the coastal waters of China. Neth J Sea Res 29:25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Minami T, Tanaka M (1992) Life history cycles in flatfish from the Northwestern Pacific, with particular reference to their early life histories. Neth J Sea Res 29:35–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Nemoto Y, Fujita T, Watanabe M (1999) Studies of spotted halibut (Verasper variegatus Temminck & Schlegel)—I. Bull Fukushima Prefect Fish Exp Stn 8:5–16 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Shimamura S, Yasuoka S, Mizuno T, Sasaki K, Nemoto Y (2007) The study of the spotted halibut, Verasper variegatus—II aspects of fishery utilization and life history in coastal waters of Fukushima Prefecture. Bull Fukushima Prefect Fish Exp Stn 14:64–90 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wada T, Yamada T, Shimizu D, Aritaki M, Sudo H, Yamashita Y, Tanaka M (2010) Successful stocking of a depleted species, spotted halibut Verasper variegatus, in Miyako Bay, Japan: evaluation from post-release surveys and landings. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 407:243–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wada T, Mitsunaga N, Suzuki H, Yamashita Y, Tanaka M (2006) Growth and habitat of spotted halibut Verasper variegatus in the shallow coastal nursery area, Shimabara Peninsula in Ariake Bay, Japan. Fish Sci 72:603–611

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Noichi T, Subiyanto, Hirata I (2006) Occurrence and feeding habit of the settled larval and juvenile spotted halibut Verasper variegatus at sandy beaches on the western coast of Kyushu, Japan. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 72:366–373 (in Japanese with English abstract)

  8. Wada T (2007) Studies of the life history of spotted halibut Verasper variegatus: development of release strategies of juveniles for replenishment of depleted stocks. PhD dissertation, Kyoto University (in Japanese)

  9. Sekino M, Saitoh K, Shimizu D, Wada T, Kamiyama K, Gambe S, Chen S, Aritaki M (2011) Genetic structure in species with shallow evolutionary lineages: a case study of the rare flatfish Verasper variegatus. Conserv Genet 12:139–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Anonymous (2010) Annual statistics of seed production and release in 2008. National Association for the Promotion of Productive Seas, Tokyo (in Japanese)

  11. Yamashita Y, Yamada H (1999) Release strategy for Japanese flounder fry in stock enhancement programmes. In: Howell BR, Moksness E, Svåsand T (eds) Stock enhancement and sea ranching. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 191–204

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kitada S, Kishino H (2006) Lessons learned from Japanese marine finfish stock enhancement programmes. Fish Res 80:101–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zama A (1999) Ecological study of the fishes found in Mangoku-ura, Miyagi Prefecture. PhD dissertation, Tokyo University of Fisheries (in Japanese)

  14. Higuchi H, Tsuji M (1971) Hydraulic model experiment on the tidal current in Matsukawa-ura. Ann Disaster Prev Res Inst Kyoto Univ 14B:415–434 (in Japanese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Yamamoto M, Hagino S, Ishida K (1995) Study of physical factors to design of aquaculture grounds for short-necked clams. Bull Natl Res Inst Fish Eng 16:1–28 (in Japanese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kohata K, Hiwatari T, Hagiwara T (2003) Natural water-purification system observed in a shallow coastal lagoon: Matsukawa-ura, Japan. Mar Pollut Bull 47:148–154

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nemoto Y, Hirakawa H, Satou T, Shimamura S (2007) Fishes in Matsukawaura Lagoon, Fukushima Prefecture: species and their habitats. Bull Fukushima Prefect Fish Exp Stn 14:41–56 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Burke JS (1995) Role of feeding and prey distribution of summer and southern flounder in selection of estuarine nursery habitats. J Fish Biol 47:355–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Tsuruta Y (1991) Migrating mechanism of the larval stone flounder, Kareius bicoloratus, into the nursery ground. Bull Tohoku Natl Fish Res Inst 53:49–58 (in Japanese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hatanaka M, Iwahashi S (1953) Studies of the populations of the flatfishes in Sendai Bay III. The biology of Limanda yokohamae (Günter). Tohoku J Agric Res 3:303–309

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zar JH (2009) Biostatistical analysis, 5th edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  22. Yamaguchi S, Yoneda M, Ohta K, Miyaki K, Arakawa T, Matsuyama M (2001) Reproductive biology of spotted halibut, Verasper variegatus, in Tachibana Bay, Nagasaki Prefecture. Sci Bull Fac Agric Kyushu Univ 55:179–184 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Van der Veer HW, Witte JIJ (1993) The ‘maximum growth/optimal food condition’ hypothesis: a test for 0-group plaice Pleuronectes platessa in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 101:81–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Van der Veer HW, Dapper R, Witte JIJ (2001) The nursery function of the intertidal areas in the western Wadden Sea for 0-group sole Solea solea (L.). J Sea Res 45:271–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Kawasaki T (1982) A comparative life historical study of the three heterosomes in Sendai Bay. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 48:605–609

    Google Scholar 

  26. Wada T, Aritaki M, Yamashita Y, Tanaka M (2007) Comparison of low-salinity adaptability and morphological development during the early life history of five pleuronectid flatfishes, and implications for migration and recruitment to their nurseries. J Sea Res 58:241–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Yamashita Y, Tsuruta Y, Yamada H (1996) Transport and settlement mechanisms of larval stone flounder, Kareius bicoloratus, into nursery grounds. Fish Oceanogr 5:194–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Yamashita Y (2006) Studies of early life history of coastal fishery resources and their application to stock enhancement program. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 72:640–643 (in Japanese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Yamashita Y, Yamada H, Takami H, Kawamura T, Tsuruta Y (1999) Occurrence, distribution and utilization of nursery grounds of settling and newly settled stone flounder, Platichthys bicoloratus, in Sendai Bay. Bull Tohoku Natl Fish Res Inst 62:61–67

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wada T, Chiyokubo T, Aritaki M (2010) First description and collection records of juvenile slime flounder Microstomus achne from the eastern and western coastal waters off Honshu Island, Japan. Fish Sci 76:943–949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Gibson RN (1994) Impact of habitat quality and quantity on the recruitment of juvenile flatfishes. Neth J Sea Res 32:191–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Able KW, Neuman MJ, Wennhage H (2005) Ecology of juvenile and adult stages of flatfishes: distribution and dynamics of habitat associations. In: Gibson RN (ed) Flatfishes biology and exploitation. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 164–184

    Google Scholar 

  33. Minami T (1984) The early life history of a flounder Kareius bicoloratus. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 50:551–560 (in Japanese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Omori M, Tsuruta Y (1988) The ecology of stone flounder in estuarine-coastal area. In: Kurihara Y (ed) Ecology and ecotechnology in estuarine-coastal area. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, pp 111–118 (in Japanese)

  35. Tsuruta Y, Omori M (1976) Morphological characters of the oral organs of several flatfish species and their feeding behavior. Tohoku J Agric Res 27:92–114

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hatanaka M, Sekino K, Otsuka A (1952) Studies of the populations of the flatfishes in Sendai Bay II. Age, growth and spawning of Kareius bicoloratus (Basileusky). Tohoku J Agric Res 2:25–32

    Google Scholar 

  37. Murata O, Takahashi N, Kameshima N, Yada S, Ueda K, Kumai H (1998) Effects of seawater temperature on growth performance of 0-year-old spotted halibut, Verasper variegatus. Bull Fish Lab Kinki Univ 6:171–176 (in Japanese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Wada T, Aritaki M, Tanaka M (2004) Effects of low-salinity on the growth and development of spotted halibut Verasper variegatus in the larva-juvenile transformation period related to pituitary prolactin and gill chloride cells responses. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 308:113–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Tsukamoto K, Kuwada H, Uchida K, Masuda R, Sakakura Y (1999) Fish quality and stocking effectiveness: behavioural approach. In: Howell BR, Moksness E, Svåsand T (eds) Stock enhancement and sea ranching. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 205–218

    Google Scholar 

  40. Matsumoto I (1999) Analysis of sea temperature—I. Bull Fukushima Prefect Fish Exp Stn 8:59–67 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the late S. Yasuoka, T. Chiyokubo, and other staff of Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station for their help with field surveys. We thank Dr. T. Tomiyama for his valuable information about the field samplings at Matsukawa-ura. We acknowledge Dr. Y. Yamashita, who kindly lent us temperature–salinity data loggers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Iwaki, Fukushima, 970-0316, Japan

    Toshihiro Wada, Shinya Shimamura, Ikuo Matsumoto, Takuji Mizuno & Yoshiharu Nemoto

  2. Soma Branch, Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Soma, Fukushima, 976-0022, Japan

    Kyoichi Kamiyama

Authors
  1. Toshihiro Wada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kyoichi Kamiyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shinya Shimamura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ikuo Matsumoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Takuji Mizuno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yoshiharu Nemoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Toshihiro Wada.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wada, T., Kamiyama, K., Shimamura, S. et al. Habitat utilization, feeding, and growth of wild spotted halibut Verasper variegatus in a shallow brackish lagoon: Matsukawa-ura, northeastern Japan. Fish Sci 77, 785–793 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-011-0385-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-011-0385-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation