Abstract
The spotted flagtail, Kuhlia marginata (Kuhliidae) is commonly found in streams throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago, including Okinawa Island, Japan. Although it has been suggested that they spawn at sea, little is known about their migratory history. The aim of the study was to clarify their migration history based on otolith microchemistry analysis, size composition and the gonadal development of fish collected from the Genka River on Okinawa Island. All strontium/calcium (Sr/Ca) ratios of otoliths remained high around their cores, and then dropped rapidly at some distance from the core. The estimated standard length corresponding to decreases correlated with the size of new recruits collected in the river (ca. 20 mm in standard length: SL). Multiple increases, the sign for migrations into the high saline area, were recognized intermittently around the otolith margin. As the estimated SL at these increases in the Sr/Ca ratio occurred above the minimum maturation size (female: 95.5 mm SL; male: 83.5 mm SL), such multiple increases in Sr/Ca ratios were caused by spawning migration. Therefore, we conclude that the catadromous pattern of K. marginata is as follows; this species grows in the sea during the early life stage until ca. 20 mm SL and then grow in the freshwater area until maturation, before they migrate again to the sea for spawning. Sr/Ca ratio profiles also suggested that a large number of males did not return to the freshwater area after spawning, whereas females might spawn several times during their lives around the inshore area.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to former professor S. Shokita (University of the Ryukyus) for critical comments and useful suggestions, and to the staff of the Laboratory of Fisheries Biology and Coral Reef Studies (University of the Ryukyus). We also thank S. Fujita and I. Takahashi for their critical comments. We are much obliged to S. Fukudome, President of Nishinihon Institute of Technology, who encouraged us to undertake the present study. This study was partially supported by the 21st Century COE program of the University of the Ryukyus.
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Oka, Si., Tachihara, K. Migratory history of the spotted flagtail, Kuhlia marginata . Environ Biol Fish 81, 321–327 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9203-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9203-z