Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, can surmount a 46-m-high natural waterfall of the Amikake River system of Kyushu Island, Japan

Matsushige, Kazuki; Hibino, Yusuke; Yasutake, Yoshiya; Mochioka, Noritaka

doi:10.1007/s10228-020-00759-1

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The Monte Redondo dam, with a height of 7 m, is the highest, and potentially impassable, obstacle between the study site and the confluence of this watercourse with the River Mondego. Although eels are able to overcome high obstacles (Matsushige et al., 2020), recreational fishermen have stated that eels are no longer found in this stretch of river, which has been confirmed by exploratory electrofishing campaigns. For these campaigns, carried out in March 2014, nine access points to the river were surveyed over an 18‐km distance, upstream from the Monte Redondo dam upstream.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…This observation may also be related to the condition of these individuals that did not endure a migration to these upper reaches but were, instead, released there. Although eels are able to overcome high obstacles (Matsushige et al., 2020), the effects of multiple barriers can have a cumulative impact on the ability of eels to progress upstream and colonise inland river systems (e.g. Carpenter‐Bundhoo et al., 2020; Rolls, 2011; White & Knights, 1997b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Early settlement and growth of stocked European glass eels in a fragmented watercourse

Félix

Costa

Quintella

et al. 2020

Fisheries Management Eco

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One of the actions that has been implemented to support the recovery of the panmictic population of European eel is stocking of waterbodies where natural recruitment is low or null. However, growth conditions of the stocked eels can vary greatly. This circumstance emphasises the importance to determine ideal habitat conditions to contribute to the success of stocking actions and, consequently, to increase the production of silver eels. This study aims to evaluate the early settlement and growth of stocked glass eels in the upper reaches of a fragmented river. Stocking was carried out, in 2014, at three sites of an inland tributary of the Mondego river basin (Central Portugal), and its monitoring was conducted during the following two years, until 2016, along with the collection of environmental and hydromorphological parameters. The results showed a successful dispersion throughout the study area. Growth varied spatially, although environmental parameters have not clearly explained this variation, but overall with high growth rates and a positive allometric growth in this early stage of stocking, suggesting a good condition of the stocked individuals. This study showed that these upper reaches of fragmented watercourses, a shared feature amongst most European rivers that are currently inaccessible for natural recruitment, may be suitable habitats for eel stocking.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early settlement and growth of stocked European glass eels in a fragmented watercourse

Félix

Costa

Quintella

et al. 2020

Fisheries Management Eco

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“…It is also likely that weirs covered with periphyton and plants may help young eels (especially glass eels and elvers) climb weirs [ 13 , 14 , 17 ]. Matsushige et al [ 33 ] demonstrated that Japanese eels were likely to climb the moss-covered rock wall of a natural waterfall (46 m in height) because eels were collected from an upper reach of the waterfall where they were not stocked. Thus, the surface structure of the weir wall is pertinent for the success of eel climbing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water temperature and precipitation stimulate small-sized Japanese eels to climb a low-height vertical weir

Kume

Yoshikawa

Tanaka³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Although river-crossing structures can have a detrimental effect on the movement and distribution of anguillid eels (genus Anguilla), they have inhabited locations upstream of river-crossing structures in many rivers. However, the growth stage in which the eels start to climb river-crossing structures remains unclear. In this study, we directly observed, using infrared video camera systems, that the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) climbs a low-height vertical weir as a migratory barrier, confirming the ability of eels to climb over a low-height weir within a river. All eels climbed the weir at night, between sunset and sunrise. We observed that the total length of Japanese eels that climbed the weir ranged from 60 to 140 mm, suggesting that eels inhabiting the upstream area of a weir climbed it when they were small and then lived and grew upstream. Moreover, the general additive model showed considerable effects of water temperature and precipitation on eel climbing, suggesting that water temperature and precipitation are important for its activation. The results of this study also show the effectiveness of infrared video cameras in monitoring eel climbing, which could be applied to monitor fish migratory behavior through fish passages. The findings of this study are useful for the comprehensive management and conservation of wild eel stocks.

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“…In this study, subject AJ19 passed through a weir (Gongju and Baekje weirs, 6 m or more in height) located in the mainstream, supposedly through the fishway installed in the weir. Although eels demonstrate excellent physical ability by passing over a weir without using a fishway from time to time [ 43 ], it is difficult for them to pass through a large-scale weir. In South Korea, there are approximately 35,000 weirs installed in rivers and streams, but only 15% have a fishway [ 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement Patterns and Diel Activity of Anguilla japonica in the Middle Part of a Large River in South Korea

Kim¹,

Baek²,

Jang

et al. 2020

Animals

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To investigate movement patterns and diel activities of Anguilla japonica in the freshwater ecosystem, we applied acoustic telemetry on A. japonica in the Geum River, a large river in South Korea. The acoustic tags were attached on 19 individuals of A. japonica (12 with a depth sensor) in May and October 2015 and tracked at approximately 100-km sections from an estuary barrage by 20 automatic listening stations. Only four individuals showed longitudinal movement (mean, 5.2 km), and others were detected by the receivers at release sites; therefore, A. japonica showed high site fidelity. We did not identify seaward migration during the study period (May to November). Conversely, A. japonica showed active diel movement. The number of detections (p = 0.002) and movement distance (p = 0.004) were higher at night-time (18:00–06:00). As most individuals were actively moving at nighttime, we confirmed that A. japonica is nocturnal, although few individuals also showed daytime movement. Although the population and habitats of A. japonica have been decreasing simultaneously, the East-Asian countries are still severely exploiting rivers and streams to use water resources, and result in habitat simplification generated. Therefore, these results contribute to effective A. japonica management regarding habitat and population conservation and restoration.

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Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, can surmount a 46-m-high natural waterfall of the Amikake River system of Kyushu Island, Japan

Cited by 8 publications

References 48 publications

Early settlement and growth of stocked European glass eels in a fragmented watercourse

Early settlement and growth of stocked European glass eels in a fragmented watercourse

Water temperature and precipitation stimulate small-sized Japanese eels to climb a low-height vertical weir

Movement Patterns and Diel Activity of Anguilla japonica in the Middle Part of a Large River in South Korea

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