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MEPS 261:233-242 (2003)
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Abstract
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Disparities in habitat use and migratory behavior between tropical eel Anguilla marmorata and
temperate eel A. japonica in four Taiwanese rivers
J. C. Shiao1, Y. Iizuka2, C. W. Chang3 , W. N. Tzeng3,4,*
1 Institute of Zoology, and 2 Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan 115, ROC
3 Department of Zoology, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Taiwan 106, ROC
4 Present address: Institute of Fisheries Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106, ROC
*Corresponding author. Email: wnt@ccms.ntu.edu.tw
ABSTRACT: Strontium (Sr):calcium (Ca) ratios in otoliths of the eels Anguilla japonica and A. marmorata caught in 4 Taiwanese rivers were examined to reconstruct their migratory environmental history. In all sampling locations, each
eel species preferred a different environment and all were differently distributed in the river. A. japonica was more abundant than A. marmorata in the lower reach, accounting for 76 to 86% of the eel population. In contrast,
A. marmorata was more abundant than A. japonica in the upper reach, accounting for 76 to 100% of the eel population. A. japonica consisted of diversified migratory contingents, including freshwater, brackish-water
and seawater eels, but A. marmorata tended to reside in freshwater and seemed to avoid seawater during the yellow eel stage. This disparity in migratory behaviors and habitat use between species may reflect interspecific competition and
adaptive radiation. The flexible migratory behavior and adaptation to different salinities of A. japonica may be an advantageous evolutional fitness when facing competition, heavy fishing pressure and environmental stress. The
freshwater-restricted A. marmorata is more easily threatened by both fishing pressure and continuous habitat degradation than A. japonica.
KEY WORDS: Anguilla japonica · Anguilla marmorata · Otolith microchemistry · Environmental history · Migratory behaviors · Adaptive radiation
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
261
(2003) on October 17
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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