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Changes in the composition of stock origin and standard length of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis during the Tomozuri angling season in the Nagara River, central Japan

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  • Biology
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Abstract

Delay of upward migration from the coast is considered to be a cause of stunted growth in ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis in the Nagara River. To evaluate the effect of stocked seeds (hatchery reared, originating from Lake Biwa and amphidromous stock) on the growth of native ayu in the river, monthly changes in origin composition and standard lengths of territorial ayu caught by Tomozuri angling were examined. Stock origin of 94 individuals caught in the middle reaches of the river from June to October 2010 were discriminated using the otolith Sr/Ca ratio and morphological characteristics. Percentage frequency of native ayu increased with time from 4.2 % in June to 73.3 % in September and 71.4 % in October. Hatchery-reared stocks were consistently caught throughout the sampling period (26.7–41.7 %), while the catch of both Lake Biwa and amphidromous stocks were limited to before August. Native ayu were significantly smaller than the others in July; however, no significant differences were found from August. Apparent growth of stocked seed stopped after August, while native ayu stopped in September. Thus, we suggest that large stocked ayu disturb the native ayu from making territories and stunt their growth in the early part of the season.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Nagaragawa-chuou Fishery Cooperative for providing experimental fishes, and the Nagaragawa Fishery Cooperative, the Gujo Fishery Cooperative, the Itadorigawa-jouryu Fishery Cooperative, the Miyamachou Fishery Cooperative, and the Tsubogawa Fishery Cooperative for providing information about stocking amount. We are also grateful to Dr. Yasushi Harada and Dr. Isao Takahashi for useful advice. Otolith examination was conducted by using the equipment of the Community-University Research Cooperation Center and the Fish Population Dynamics Laboratory of Mie University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurima-machiya, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

    Shizuo Aino, Taiga Yodo & Motoi Yoshioka

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  1. Shizuo Aino
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  2. Taiga Yodo
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  3. Motoi Yoshioka
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Correspondence to Taiga Yodo.

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Aino, S., Yodo, T. & Yoshioka, M. Changes in the composition of stock origin and standard length of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis during the Tomozuri angling season in the Nagara River, central Japan. Fish Sci 81, 37–42 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0822-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0822-y

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