Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dispersal of yellow phase Japanese eels Anguilla japonica after recruitment in the Kojima Bay-Asahi River system, Japan

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The density, size and age distribution were investigated for 233 eels, Anguilla japonica, sampled in fresh and brackish water areas of the Kojima Bay-Asahi River system, Okayama, Japan, to evaluate the possible patterns of dispersal of eels that recruit to this area. Migratory histories of 183 eels were categorized into 5 types depending on the Sr and Ca concentrations in their otoliths: (1) brackish water residents (74 fish, 40.4%), which settled in saline water and remained until capture; (2) freshwater residents (46 fish, 25.1%), which settled in freshwater and remained until capture; (3) upstream shifters (3 fish, 1.6%), which settled in saline water and moved upstream into freshwater; (4) downstream shifters (53 fish, 29.0%), which settled in freshwater and moved downstream into saline water; (5) multiple habitat shifters (7 fish, 3.8%), which shifted their habitats between freshwater and saline water more than twice. For eels captured in the brackish water area, fish density decreased with distance in the downstream direction, while the size and age of eels increased. For eels captured in the freshwater area, size and age were greater than those in the upper-most brackish site. These observations suggest that eels in this system initially accumulate in the lower reaches of the river and then disperse in both upstream and downstream directions following their growth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arai T, Kotake A, Lokman PM, Miller MJ, Tsukamoto K (2004) Evidence of different habitat use by New Zealand freshwater eels Anguilla australis and A. dieffenbachii, as revealed by otolith microchemistry. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 266:213–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arai T, Kotake A, Ohji M, Miller MJ, Tsukamoto K, Miyazaki N (2003) Occurrence of sea eels of Anguilla japonica along the Sanriku coast of Japan. Ichthyol Res 50:78–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barak NAE, Manson CF (1992) Population density, growth and diet of eels, Anguilla anguilla L., in two rivers in eastern England. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management 23:59–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa JL, Domingos I, Assis CA, Almeida PR, Moreira F, Feunteun E, Costa MJ (2008) Comparative ecology of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L., 1758), in a large Iberian river. Environ Biol Fish 81:421–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daverat F, Tomas J (2006) Tactics and demographic attributes in the European eel Anguilla anguilla in the Gironde watershed, SW France. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 307:247–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daverat F, Tomas J, Lahaye M, Palmer M, Elie P (2005) Tracking continental habitat shifts of eels using otolith Sr/Ca ratios: validation and application to the coastal, estuarine and riverine eels of the Gironde–Garonne–Dordogne watershed. Mar Freshw Res 56:619–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeLeo GA, Gatto M (1996) Trends in vital rates of the European eel: evidence for density dependence? Ecological Applications 6:1281–1294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edeline E, Beaulaton L, Barh RL, Elie P (2007) Dispersal in metamorphosing juvenile eel Anguilla anguilla. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 344:213–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feunteun E, Laffaille P, Robinet T, Briand C, Baisez A, Oliver JM, Acou A (2003) A review of upstream migration and movements in inland waters by anguillid eels: toward a general theory. In: Aida K, Tsukamoto K, Yamauchi K (eds) Eel biology. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, pp 191–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin KR, Angermeier PL (2003) Demographic characteristics of American eel in Potomac River drainage, Virginia. Trans Am Fish Soc 132:524–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haro AJ, Krueger WH (1991) Pigmentation, otolith rings, and upstream migration of juvenile American eel (Anguilla rostrata) in a coastal Rhode Island stream. Can J Zool 69:812–814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helfman GS, Facey DE, Hales LS Jr, Bozeman EL Jr (1987) Reproductive ecology of the American eel. Am Fish Soc Symp 1:42–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmgren K, Mosegaard H (1996) Implications of individual growth status on the future sex of the European eel. J Fish Biol 49:910–925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibboston A, Smith J, Scarlett P, Aprahamian MW (2003) Colonisation of freshwater habitats by the European eel Anguilla anguilla. Freshw Biol 47:1696–1706

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessop BM, Shiao J-C, Iizuka Y, Tzeng W-N (2002) Migratory behaviour and habitat use by American eels Anguilla rostrata as revealed by otolith microchemistry. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 233:217–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotake A, Arai T, Ohji M, Yamane S, Miyazaki N, Tsukamoto K (2004) Application of otolith microchemistry to estimate the migratory history of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica on the Sanrilu coast of Japan. J Appl Ichthyol 20:150–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotake A, Arai T, Okamura A, Yamada Y, Utoh T, Oka HP, Miller MJ, Tsukamoto K (2007) Ecological aspects of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, collected from coastal areas of Japan. Zool Sci 24:1213–1221

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kotake A, Arai T, Ozawa T, Nojima S, Miller MJ, Tsukamoto K (2003) Variation in migratory history of Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, collected in coastal waters of the Amakusa islands, Japan, inferred from otolith Sr/Ca ratios. Mar Biol 142:849–854

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotake A, Okamura A, Yamada Y, Utoh T, Arai T, Miller MJ, Oka H, Tsukamoto K (2005) Seasonal variation in the migratory history of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in Mikawa Bay, Japan. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 293:213–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger WH, Oliveira K (1999) Evidence for environmental sex determination in the American eel, Anguilla rostrata. Environ Biol Fish 55:381–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laffaille P, Feunteun E, Baisez A, Robinet T, Acou A, Legault A, Lek S (2003) Spatial organization of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in a small catchment. Ecol Freshw Fish 12:254–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasne E, Laffaille P (2008) Analysis of distribution patterns of yellow European eels in the Loire catchment using logistic models based on presence-absence of different size-classes. Ecol Freshw Fish 17:30–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Limburg KE, Svedang H, Elfman M, Kristiansson P (2003) Do stocked freshwater eels migrate? Evidence from the Baltic suggests ‘yes’. In: Dixon DA (ed) Biology, management and protection of catadromous eels. Symposium 33. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, pp 275–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin YJ, Luzys L, Shiao JC, Iizuka Y, Tzeng WN (2007) Growth differences between naturally recruited and stocked European eel Anguilla anguilla from different habitats in Lithuania. J Fish Biol 71:1773–1787

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsui I (1972) Eel biology (in Japanese). Kouseisha Kouseikaku, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Moriarty C (2003) The yellow eel. In: Aida K, Tsukamoto K, Yamauchi K (eds) Eel Biology. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, pp 89–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison WE, Secor DH, Piccoli PM (2003) Estuarine habitat use by Hudson River American eels as determined by otolith strontium:calcium ratios. In: Dixon DA (ed) Biology, management and protection of catadromous eels. Symposium 33. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, pp 87–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagiec´ M, Bahnsawy MH (1990) Age and growth of female eels, Anguilla anguilla L., in a Polish lake, Jeziorak Lake, Mazurian Lake District, Poland. Aquacult Fish Manage 21:459–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Naismith IA, Knights B (1988) Migrations of elvers and juvenile European eels, Anguilla anguilla L, in the River Thames. J Fish Biol 33:161–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naismith IA, Knights B (1993) The distribution, density and growth of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, in the freshwater catchment of the River Thames. J Fish Biol 42:217–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okamura A, Yamada Y, Yokouchi K, Horie N, Mikawa N, Utoh T, Tanaka S, Tsukamoto K (2007) A silvering index for the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. Environ Biol Fish 80:77–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira K (1997) Movements and growth rates of yellowphase American eels in the Annaquatucket River, Rhode Island. Trans Am Fish Soc 126:638–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiao JC, Lozys L, Iizuka Y, Tzeng WN (2006) Migratory patterns and contribution of stocking to the population of European eel in Lithuanian waters as indicated by otolith Sr:Ca ratios. J Fish Biol 69:749–769

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smogor RA, Angermeier PL, Gaylord CK (1995) Distribution abundance of American eels in Virginia Streams: tests of null models across spatial scales. Trans Am Fish Soc 124:789–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatsukawa K (2003) Eel resources in East Asia. In: Aida K, Tsukamoto K, Yamauchi K (eds) Eel biology. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, pp 293–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesch FW (1977) The Eel biology and management of anguillid eels. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamoto K (1992) Discovery of the spawning area for Japanese eel. Nature 356:789–791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamoto K (2006) Spawning of eels near a seamount. Nature 439:929

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamoto K, Arai T (2001) Facultative catadromy of the eel Anguilla japonica between freshwater and seawater habitats. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 220:265–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamoto K, Aoyama J, Miller MJ (2009) Status of the Japanese eel: Resources and Recent Research. In: Casselman JM, Cairns DK (eds) Eels at the edge: science, status, and conservation concerns. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 58 Bethesda, Maryland, pp 21–35

  • Tsukamoto K, Nakai I, Tesch WV (1998) Do all freshwater eels migrate? Nature 396:635–636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tzeng WN, Cheng PW, Lin FY (1995) Relative abundance, sex ratio and population structure of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in the Tanshui River system of northern Taiwan. J Fish Biol 46:183–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tzeng WN, Iizuka Y, Shiao JC, Yamada Y, Oka HP (2003) Identification and growth rates comparison of divergent migratory contingents of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica). Aquaculture 216:77–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tzeng WN, Shiao JC, Iizuka Y (2002) Use of otolith Sr:Ca ratios to study the riverine migratory behaviors of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 245:213–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yokouchi K, Aoyama J, Oka HP, Tsukamoto K (2008) Variation in the demographic characteristics of yellow-phase Japanese eels in different habitats of the Hamana Lake system, Japan. Ecol Freshw Fish 17:639–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Shimizu-Suisan and Momotaro-Suisan for voluntary helping our eel sampling, and the Fisheries Cooperatives of Kojima Bay and the Fisheries Division of Okayama Prefecture for cooperation. Critical comments from MJ Miller and K Yokouchi were highly appreciated. This work was partly supported by the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from The Japan Science Society.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 1-15-1 Minamidai, Nakano, Tokyo, 164-8639, Japan

    Kenzo Kaifu, Monami Tamura, Jun Aoyama & Katsumi Tsukamoto

Authors
  1. Kenzo Kaifu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Monami Tamura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jun Aoyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Katsumi Tsukamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenzo Kaifu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kaifu, K., Tamura, M., Aoyama, J. et al. Dispersal of yellow phase Japanese eels Anguilla japonica after recruitment in the Kojima Bay-Asahi River system, Japan. Environ Biol Fish 88, 273–282 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9640-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-010-9640-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation