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Coastal Fishes in Mangroves

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Fish Diversity of Japan

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Abstract

Mangrove forests found in intertidal areas of estuaries in southern Japan, especially in the Ryukyu Islands, provide suitable habitats for a wide variety of fishes, including those of Carangidae, Gerridae, Lutjanidae, Apogonidae, Pomacentridae, and Gobiidae. Fish species richness being greater than that in temperate estuaries, the diversity of fishes in mangrove habitats is closely related to habitat complexity structured by mangrove roots, which provides shelter from predation and abundant food for fishes. According to analyses of fish food habits, a wide variety of food items are taken by mangrove fishes, food availability determining the distribution of several fish species. The sheltering function of mangrove roots has also been demonstrated by unique field experiments, using artificial units mimicking mangrove roots. With increasing root density, fish abundance increased and predation mortality rates for small fishes decreased. Additionally, such habitat functions have a flow-on effect on coral reef fish populations, due to some reef fishes, such as Lutjanidae, utilizing mangrove habitats as nurseries. Because the critical decline and degradation of mangroves worldwide have led to significant lowering of fish diversities in mangrove ecosystems, significant efforts must be made to conserve mangrove ecosystems.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Aquabiology, National Fisheries University, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan

    Kusuto Nanjo

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  1. Kusuto Nanjo
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Correspondence to Kusuto Nanjo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan

    Yoshiaki Kai

  2. The Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan

    Hiroyuki Motomura

  3. Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Keiichi Matsuura

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Nanjo, K. (2022). Coastal Fishes in Mangroves. In: Kai, Y., Motomura, H., Matsuura, K. (eds) Fish Diversity of Japan. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7427-3_21

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