Variation in growth performance of Ryukyu-ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis, inferred from otolith analysis

Ryukyu-ayu ( Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis ) is an amphidromous fish species that migrates between the sea and rivers over its one-year life span. Although growth performance during the early marine stage may affect growth in the later riverine stage of this species’ life cycle, no studies have...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ichthyological research 2018-11, Vol.65 (4), p.482-487
Main Authors: Murase, Iki, Kawakami, Tatsuya, Iguchi, Kei’ichiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Body size
Ecology
Endangered species
Fish
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Growth patterns
Growth rate
Juveniles
Life cycle
Life cycles
Life Sciences
Life span
Migration
Migrations
Migratory species
Physical growth
Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis
Rare species
Rivers
Upstream
Zoology
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Summary:Ryukyu-ayu ( Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis ) is an amphidromous fish species that migrates between the sea and rivers over its one-year life span. Although growth performance during the early marine stage may affect growth in the later riverine stage of this species’ life cycle, no studies have specifically examined this relationship in P. a. ryukyuensis . In the present study, we reconstructed the growth trajectories of P. a. ryukyuensis individuals collected from the Yakugachi River, Amami-Oshima Island, Japan in 2016 ( n  = 47) throughout their growth period in both the sea and river by using otolith analysis. Using this, we determined the age and body size of individuals at the time of their upstream migration, as well as their growth rates during the marine and riverine stages. Results showed that body size at upstream migration significantly affected body size at the riverine stage, indicating that juveniles with larger body size in the sea had better growth performance in the river. Individuals with higher growth rates during the marine stage tended to enter the river younger and at larger body sizes than those with lower marine growth rates. Our results demonstrated the close linkage between the growth performance in the sea and in rivers of P. a. ryukyuensis . This information will contribute to better understanding variations in growth patterns of this endangered species and potentially aid in its conservation.
ISSN:1341-8998
1616-3915
DOI:10.1007/s10228-018-0638-3