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Effect of lunar periodicity on the locomotor activity of silver-stage Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica

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Abstract

Lunar periodicity has been thought to influence the onset of the spawning migration of anguillid eels. In this study, we measured daily locomotor activity of 8 silver-phase Japanese eels Anguilla japonica in outdoor tanks to examine the effect of lunar periodicity on their activity and the following seaward migration. The activity of silver eels was highest around the new moon during the early part of the experiment, which is the ordinary season of seaward migration in Japan. The observed patterns of activity may reflect the importance of the lunar cycle for the onset of the spawning migration in anguillid eels.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the IRAGO Institute for making this long-term experiment possible. M. J. Miller helped to improve the manuscript and M. Oya supported us in many aspects of the study. The first author (R.S.) was supported by a Research Fellowship of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science for Young Scientists (No. 20-4652). This study was supported by Grants-in-aid for scientific research to K. T from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and research funds from Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd. and the Eel Research Foundation Nobori-kai.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4, Minato, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan

    Ryusuke Sudo

  2. IRAGO Institute, 337 Ehima-shinden, Tahara, Aichi, 441-3605, Japan

    Yoshiaki Yamada

  3. Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan

    Ryotaro Manabe

  4. College of Bioresource Science, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan

    Katsumi Tsukamoto

Authors
  1. Ryusuke Sudo
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  2. Yoshiaki Yamada
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  3. Ryotaro Manabe
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  4. Katsumi Tsukamoto
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Correspondence to Ryusuke Sudo.

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Sudo, R., Yamada, Y., Manabe, R. et al. Effect of lunar periodicity on the locomotor activity of silver-stage Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica . J Ethol 32, 111–115 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-014-0394-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-014-0394-4

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