Large-scale extermination of introduced mangroves to conserve Scartelaos histophorus of Nakagusuku Bay, Okinawa Island

Abstract

Conservation of S. histophorus is based on the "S. histophorus conservation plan for Nakagusuku Bay" during port development in Okinawa Prefecture. Avicennia marina, an introduced mangrove, is not native to Okinawa Island, but now covers many muddy tidelands, compromising the habitat of the rare fish S. histophorus in Nakagusuku Bay. We preliminarily explored how to exterminate A. marina, and then put our findings into practice.