Abstract
Irrigation ponds and seepage marshes are important freshwater ecosystems that serve as wildlife habitats. This review discusses the relationships between wetlands using the“ List of irrigation ponds” published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, and original field survey data. It was found that the distribution patterns of both wetlands were similar in Japan, and in the Tokai area, approximately half of all seepage marshes are located in the vicinity of irrigation ponds. The location of seepage marshes near irrigation ponds was classified as follows: upstream, downstream, on the embankment, and around the shore. Additionally, seepage marshes were occasionally located on the bottom of drained irrigation ponds. The flow of water between wetlands strongly influences wildlife migration, suggesting that irrigation ponds and seepage marshes are closely associated both hydrologically and ecologically. Therefore, integrated management of these wetlands is essential.
