Evaluation of aquatic animal abundance as prey for the Oriental White Stork Ciconia boyciana in winter paddy fields in Wakasa Town, Fukui Prefecture

Abstract

We investigated the number of individuals and biomass of aquatic animals as prey for the Oriental White Stork Ciconia boyciana in winter paddy fields in Tobadani, Wakasa Town, Fukui Prefecture. Analysis of the prey biomass revealed that the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii was most abundant, followed by the oriental weather loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and Odonata larvae. It is known that storks generally prey on these taxa. Aquatic prey animals were more abundant in plowed paddy fields with a rough surface than in plowed fields with smooth surfaces or in unplowed fields. The results suggest that the temporary puddles made when plowing boggy paddy fields provide suitable habitats for these aquatic animals.