Chironomid fauna in Tsunami disaster areas of the Great East Japan Earthquake —Focus on the suburban Sendai area in Miyagi Prefecture and Minami-Souma area in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan in 2013

Abstract

The aftereffects of the Tsunami on the chironomid fauna were studied in the suburban Sendai area in Miyagi Prefecture and Minami-Souma area in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan during June 4–6 in 2013. A total of 31 individuals of 7 species were collected at 13 sampling stations. At the suburban Sendai area, we could mainly collect the larvae of Chironomus biwaprimus in small swamps. Moreover, Pseudosmittia sp. which is semi-terrestrial species, and Polypedilum nubifer were also collected there. The larvae of Chironomus salinarius inhabit halophytic swamps or small water bodies formed in grassy areas affected by the seawater in both investigated areas. Almost all chironomid species larvae collected in this study were preferred sandy mud conditions. Especially, C. salinarius may be regarded of a wide range of saline conditions. C. salinarius larval brackish and sandy mud habitat had expanded in that area two year after the Tsunami.