Records of a domestic alien species, Coreoperca kawamebari, in the Nogawa River, Tokyo

Abstract

This study reports that the Japanese aucha perch, Coreoperca kawamebari, a domestic alien species, has been found in the Nogawa River in Tokyo. Seven individuals were recorded near the shore in areas with little to no current and abundant aquatic vegetation. Environmental DNA analysis also clearly detected C. kawamebari, suggesting that environmental DNA may be an effective tool for detecting the invasion of nonnative species. In this study, the information provided by local citizens and citizen-researcher collaborations enabled us to promptly identify the invasion of the species.