The relationship between the distribution of freshwater fishes in Japan, local vernacular names and food culture

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the distribution of freshwater fishes in Japan and the expression of local vernacular names and food culture at a national scale. Seventeen species were selected that naturally occur in more than 10 prefectures and have records of both names and food culture. For each species, ecological attributes (habitat type, body size, rarity) and prefectural distributions of local vernacular names and food culture were compiled, and natural, introduced, and modeled distributions were integrated using GIS for comparison. The results showed four types: (1) locally distributed species in which local vernacular names and food culture also overlap and remain localized, (2) widely distributed species with both names and food culture broadly expressed, all inhabiting middle and lower river reaches or lowland small water bodies, (3) species whose names are expressed nationwide but whose food culture is regionally limited, all utilizing a broad range of habitats from mountain streams to lowlands, and (4) species in which both names and food culture are limited, including those with wide introduced ranges and those with wide natural ranges but little cultural recognition or use. These findings indicate that habitat characteristics and introduction history strongly influence the formation of cultural recognition and use.