Ichthyofaunal diversity and vertical distribution patterns in the rockpools of the southwestern coast of Yaku-shima Island, southern Japan

Abstract

The community composition of rockpool fish on the southwestern coast of Yaku-shima Island, southern Japan, in the northwest Pacific was investigated by sampling of 22 rockpools and recording the range of vertical heights (a total of 76 sampling events from May 2009 to February 2010). A total of 72 species belonging to 19 families were collected from the study site. This species richness is the highest recorded of similar studies undertaken worldwide, reflecting the highest diversity of coastal fishes in the western Pacific. Increases in species richness due to transient and accidental visitors increased the total number of species in the lower vertical zones. Variations in the vertical distribution pattern of the resident and transient species suggests habitat partitioning and/or physical preferences for a particular habitat of each species. Color images of rockpool fish recorded at the site and a list of all the voucher specimens are provided.

Regional and Seasonal Differences in Species Composition and Trophic Groups for Tidepool Fishes of a Western Pacific Island – Taiwan

“…Our study found that Blenniidae, Gobiidae and Pomacentridae were the dominant families of intertidal fishes in Taiwan. These findings complement those of other studies on intertidal fishes that have been done in subtropical (Japan, Arakaki and Tokeshi, 2006;Arakaki et al, 2014;Murase, 2015;Okada et al, 2015) andtropical (Hawai'i, Cox et al, 2011) areas of the Pacific. Our synthesis of the available information shows that Blenniidae and Gobiidae are the two most dominant families among rocky intertidal fishes across different latitudes on Pacific coasts and islands (Table 7.).…”

“…Whether the species composition and trophic groups of intertidal fish assemblages in northern and southern Taiwan show the same spatial and seasonal patterns as subtidal fish assemblages is yet to be determined. Species composition studies of intertidal fishes around the western Pacific Ocean have been conducted in Japan (Arakaki and Tokeshi, 2006;Murase, 2013Murase, , 2015 and Korea (Kwun et al, 2016). While some studies in Taiwan have provided a list of intertidal fish species (Lee, 1980), these studies lack quantified abundance data and information about fish diets.…”

Checklist of the tidal pool fishes of Jeju Island, Korea

“…Among the 76 species, 20 occurred in all four regions. The tidal pools of Jeju Island have the highest fish species diversity in such habitats yet reported worldwide, exceeding the 72 species reported from Yakushima Island, Japan, and 62–63 species reported from Taiwan (Murase 2015). Although tidal pool fishes have been fewer reported compared to more than 600 species in the adjacent waters, we think tidal pools of Jeju Island are very important for fish habitat, zoogeography, and worth of conservation.…”

Length-weight relationships of three endangered tidal pool fish species on Jeju Island, Korea

“…These results may be unexpected, but differences in parameter b can generally be attributed to body shape or biological and environmental factors (Froese, ; Pan, Xie, Yang, Tang, & Qiao, ; Ruiz‐Campos, Ramirez‐Valdez, Gonzalez‐Guzman, Gonzalez‐Acosta, & Acosta‐Zamorano, ), and tidal pools are harsh environments. Also, the E. etheostomus are specifically a tidal pool species (Murase, ; Okada, Ishihara, Murase, & Hino, ).…”

“…2013; Ruiz-Campos, Ramirez-Valdez, Gonzalez-Guzman, Gonzalez-Acosta, & Acosta-Zamorano, 2010), and tidal pools are harsh environments. Also, the E. etheostomus are specifically a tidal pool species (Murase, 2015;Okada, Ishihara, Murase, & Hino, 2015).…”