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Contrasting diets of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, in the upper and lower areas of Tsuchikawa-gawa River, Kagoshima, Japan

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Abstract

To understand the differences in diet and utilization of trophic resources between the upper and the lower reaches of rivers by the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica, we investigated the stomach contents of 207 specimens from both reaches of Tsuchikawa-gawa River, Kagoshima, Japan. The results indicate that there may be greater influence of terrestrial resources on the Japanese eel in the upper reach than that in the lower reach. In light of this, it is important to secure the connectivity between terrestrial and aquatic zones in the upper reaches of river which will aid in conservation efforts for the Japanese eel.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank K. Kaifu for his helpful comments and in the improvement of this manuscript. We also thank E. Harima for his assistance during field surveys, and H. Itakura for his cooperation in creating the map. We would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Ryoshiro Wakiya

    Present address: Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Fisheries Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan

    Ryoshiro Wakiya & Noritaka Mochioka

  2. The Research and Development Initiative, Chuo University, 742-1 Higashinakano, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0393, Japan

    Ryoshiro Wakiya

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  1. Ryoshiro Wakiya
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  2. Noritaka Mochioka
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Correspondence to Ryoshiro Wakiya.

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Wakiya, R., Mochioka, N. Contrasting diets of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, in the upper and lower areas of Tsuchikawa-gawa River, Kagoshima, Japan. Ichthyol Res 68, 145–151 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-020-00755-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-020-00755-5

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