Ecology and Civil Engineering
Online ISSN : 1882-5974
Print ISSN : 1344-3755
ISSN-L : 1344-3755
Volume 18, Issue 2
Displaying 1-11 of 11 articles from this issue
ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Kumiko SAWABE, Yoshihiro NATUHARA
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 69-78
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Distribution of harvest mice, Micromys minutus, inhabiting in tall grasslands must be affected by the landscape structure around their habitat not only its grassland quality. In order to reveal the effective landscape factors in several scale, we developed GLM by using local and landscape data. In July and August 2006, we surveyed presence or absence of their nests and local habitat characteristics of 47 grasslands in Sakai city, Osaka prefecture. We found nests at 14 points out of 47. The area of grassland and paddy fields in the radius of 500 m from the study point were selected as explanatory variables to estimate the distribution of the nests. In addition, the less disturbed and perennial grasses dominant sites were preferred as the nest site.
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  • Haruna USHIMI, Yuta MIYATAKE, Naoaki TSUTSUI, Tatsuya SAKAMOTO, Kazuyo ...
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 79-86
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We conducted aquarium experiments of artificial burrow preference by the North American invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii to clarify the artificial burrow sizes for capturing P. clarkii in invaded freshwater areas (e.g., paddy fields, agricultural channels, rivers, lakes, ponds, etc.). In the aquarium experiments, we observed the preference for internal diameters and lengths of artificial burrows by P. clarkii, which were made from straight polyvinyl chloride pipes. The relationship between the total length (TL)(X, mm) of P. clarkii and the preferred internal diameter (Y, mm) of artificial burrows was described by the significant linear regression: Y=0.58X+4.26( n=49, P<0.001). Among the artificial burrows of different lengths, TL×4 burrows were mainly preferred by P. clarkii. Based on these results, we propose artificial burrow sizes for use to eradicate P. clarkii.
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  • Akifumi OHTAKA, Hidetaka ICHIYANAGI
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 87-98
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Water environment and species composition of profundal oligochaetes were studied for 48 dam lakes in Japan, by analyzing published data and scrutinizing voucher specimens, respectively. Among 11 environmental parameters in the surface water of the present dam lakes, total phosphorus was the most frequently correlated with other parameters. Modified Carlsonʼs trophic state index based on Secchi disk transparency ranged from 31 to 70 among the present dam lakes, corresponding to meso- to eutrophic lakes. There is no significant relationship between abundance of profundal zoobenthos and water depth nor trophic conditions of dam lakes. Oligochaetes surpassed others among profundal macrozoobenthos in the present dam lakes. Sixteen species of oligochaetes were recorded in the 43 dam lakes studied, of which two tubificines, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Tubifex tubifex were the commonest and widespread regardless of geographical location. The composition and abundance of oligochaete community were not largely different from those in deep, meso- and eutrophic natural lakes in Japan.
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  • Naoki TAGASHIRA, Masamitsu KUNITACHI, Yutaka OKANO, Yoshinori TANIGUCH ...
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 99-114
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    A study was conducted to obtain basic information regarding conservation ofHotoke loach, Lefua echigonia, a fish species inhabiting paddy fields with intercepting drains on steep valleys or “yatsuda”. Two study sites (A and B) were characterized by different levels of movement barriers within the ditches and sections between the ditches and paddy field. The loach primarily inhabited the intercepting drains in both sites. In the site with fewer barriers (Site A), the loach moved into the intercepting drains from ditches during January - June. Moreover, based on the finding that both adult and immature fish congregated in the intercepting drains, the loach was considered to use the intercepting drains for reproduction. In Site B, immature fish were also found largely in the intercepting drains, suggesting that this habitat was important for the juvenile fish. However, in the site with more barriers (Site B), there were fewer indications of the loach moving into the intercepting drains in winter from the ditches and therefore, the intercepting drains were not utilized sufficiently for the overwintering or reproduction. In the habitat distribution model created by month and by fish age class, using population density as a dependent variable, monthly average water temperature, study site, water depth and underwater cover ration were selected as significant explanatory variables. In the habitat distribution model, monthly average water temperature negatively influenced the population in August but positively did so in January and June. This study suggests the intercepting drains with groundwater seepage function as habitats for reproduction, nurseries for immature loach, and overwintering. The intercepting drains would become even more effective habitats, if plant litter or submerged plants, in particular, exist and connectivity with the ditches is enhanced during January – June, and August – October periods when fish movement peaks.
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  • Rika SHIRAISHI, Haruna USHIMI, Kazuyoshi NAKATA
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 115-125
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    To examine appropriate cage traps and baits for capturing the North American invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii, we conducted two field experiments (Experiments 1 and 2) in a pond in the Handayama Botanical Garden, Okayama, Japan. In Experiment 1, we set three kinds of cage traps (i.e., conger trap, crab trap, and shrimp trap) with the same artificial bait in the pond in late afternoon and then collected them early on the following morning. In Experiment 2, we set and collected shrimp cage traps separately with three kinds of baits, i.e., artificial bait for freshwater fish (Marukyu Co. Ltd., Saitama, Japan), fish sausage with cheese (Marudai Food Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan), and frozen crayfish of P. clarkii, using the same pond and protocol as Experiment 1. In Experiment 1, the number of P. clarkii captured was significantly higher in the shrimp cage traps and conger cage traps compared with the crab cage traps. In addition, P clarkii over a wider range of body sizes including small and large crayfish were captured in the shrimp cage traps compared to the two other kinds of traps. In Experiment 2, the artificial bait was most effective to catch P. clarkii compared to the two other kinds of baits. Our results indicate that of the protocols tested the shrimp cage trap with the artificial bait is the most effective for capture and subsequent eradication of invasive P. clarkii.
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CASE STUDY
  • Yuka FUJIWARA, Yuki UCHIDA, Ryota KAWANISHI, Mikio INOUE
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 127-137
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In an intermittent reach of the Shigenobu River (Ehime Prefecture, southwestern Japan), two floodplain ponds (Matsubara Spring and Hirose-gasumi wetland) were created in 2006-2007 as a part of a habitat rehabilitation project. Fish assemblages and habitat characteristics of the two created ponds were investigated in 2008, and compared with those of ten pre-existing spring-fed ponds (reference ponds). Structural characteristics (canopy shade, cover habitat, substrate, and bank condition) of the two created ponds were similar to those of the reference ponds. The created ponds were characterized by lower values of water level fluctuation, indicating that the created ponds can function as stable, permanent habitats in the intermittent reach. The number of fish species in the reference ponds ranged from 4 to 14 species, while that in the two created ponds was 13 and 9. This indicates that most of the major fish species had colonized the newly created ponds, although total fish density in both created ponds was low relative to that in the reference ponds. Overall, our data suggest that the two ponds created by the habitat rehabilitation project provide suitable habitats for freshwater fishes. However, exotic largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), which can have strong negative effects on native biota, was found in a created pond (Hirose-gasumi). Management of the created ponds should include consideration of this invasive species.
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  • Haruna USHIMI, Rika SHIRAISHI, Kazuyoshi NAKATA
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 139-145
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    To examine the effectiveness of artificial burrows for eradicating the North American invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii, we conducted a field experiment of capturing the invasive crayfish in two ponds in the Handayama Botanical Garden, Okayama, Japan, by using artificial burrows of preferred sizes during September to November 2014. We set the artificial burrows, which were made from straight polyvinyl chloride pipes of different sizes, at 15 study stations in the ponds in the late afternoon and then collected them early the following morning. In both ponds, P. clarkii were continuously captured using the artificial burrows during the experimental period and the total number of crayfish captured was 51. Furthermore, two females with 104 and 258 hatchlings, respectively, were captured using the artificial burrows. The body sizes of crayfish captured ranged 8.1- 35.7 mm and 22.7-83.4 mm in carapace length and total length, respectively, indicating that the artificial burrows of preferred sizes can collect P. clarkii of various sizes. We conclude that the artificial burrows of preferred sizes are effective for capture and subsequent eradication of P. clarkii, including females with hatchlings.
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  • Tetsuya UMINO, Masaki YAMAMOTO, Naoki SASADA, Kenichi OHARA
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 147-154
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Otolith Sr:Ca ratios of eleven diadromous species in the Gouno River were analyzed to reconstruct their migratory histories. Tridentiger obscurus from the river estuary migrated only brackish water throughout life history. Amphidromous life mode for T. brevispinis, Rhinogobius nagoyae, R. fluviatilise, R. giurinus, Gymnogobius opperiens, G. urotaenia, Cottus kazika and Cottus sp. (middle-egg type) from the middle-reaches (down stream of Hamahara Dam) was supported by the ontogenetic changes in the Sr:Ca ratios. G. urotaenia and T. brevispinis from upper stream of Hamahara Dam were categorized as non-diadromous life mode by the constantly low Sr:Ca ratios. Also, non-diadromous life mode was found at Rhinogobius sp. OR (Sinjiko type) from downstream of Hamahara Dam. Intraspecific variation in the migration pattern recorded for G. urotaenia, T. brevispinis and Rhinogobius sp. OR (Sinjiko type) suggest a plasticity strategy for diadromous behaviors.
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  • Yasumitsu KATO, Yukio ONODA, Terutaka MORI, Yuichi KAYABA
    2015 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 155-164
    Published: December 28, 2015
    Released on J-STAGE: February 01, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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