Habitat use of the loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus in a paddy field ditch in wintering

Abstract

Habitat use of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus was surveyed at Tanushimaru, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu Island, Japan, at winter season. The study site was composed as traditional agricultural ditches in parts of the paddy field with some parts of concrete artificial type of the canals. The spatial distribution of M. anguillicaudatus in the study area was examined in 36 square frames (1 m × 1 m) located spaced along agricultural pathway for approximately 20 m. Relationships between presence of M. anguillicaudatus and several environmental factors was analyzed using the generalized linear model (GLM). Result of the GLM analysis showed that probability of the presence of M. anguillicaudatus mainly explained by water depth and the probability increased with increasing water depth.