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Size at maturity of fluvial white-spotted charr, Salvelinus leucomaenis, around the Lake Biwa water system varies with habitat size

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Abstract

Size at maturity of fluvial white-spotted charr, Salvelinus leucomaenis, was studied in small headwater tributaries of nine rivers around the Lake Biwa water system, Japan. Threshold size at maturity in both sexes showed significant positive relationships with water discharge, indicating that smaller threshold sizes at maturity of fluvial white-spotted charr occurred in smaller habitats. These results provide a link between size at maturity and habitat size and have important implications for the management of both habitats and white-spotted charr populations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. K. Morita and Dr. J. Tsuboi for valuable comments on this study. We are grateful to the staff at Shiga Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station for assistance with the field research.

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Author notes

  1. Takeshi Kikko

    Present address: Shiga Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, 2138-3 Hassaka, Hikone, Shiga, 522-0057, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Samegai Trout Farm, Shiga Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Kaminyu, Maibara, Shiga, 521-0033, Japan

    Takeshi Kikko

  2. Shiga Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, 2138-3 Hassaka, Hikone, Shiga, 522-0057, Japan

    Yoshitaka Kataoka, Katsuhiro Nishimori & Yasuhiro Fujioka

  3. Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Nagahama, Maizuru, Kyoto, 625-0086, Japan

    Yoshiaki Kai

  4. Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Kouji Nakayama

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

    Toshihide Kitakado

Authors
  1. Takeshi Kikko
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  2. Yoshitaka Kataoka
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Correspondence to Takeshi Kikko.

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Kikko, T., Kataoka, Y., Nishimori, K. et al. Size at maturity of fluvial white-spotted charr, Salvelinus leucomaenis, around the Lake Biwa water system varies with habitat size. Ichthyol Res 58, 370–376 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0229-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0229-z

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