人為的環境改変と関連したニホンウナギの資源生態学的研究

学位の種別: 課程博士審査委員会委員 : (主査)東京大学教授 木村 伸吾, 東京大学教授 白木原 國雄, 東京大学教授 青山 潤, 東京大学教授 佐藤 克文, 東京大学教授 大竹 二雄, 東京大学准教授 北川 貴士University of Tokyo(東京大学

Habitat preference, movements and growth of giant mottled eels, Anguilla marmorata, in a small subtropical Amami-Oshima Island river

Although anguillid eel populations have decreased remarkably in recent decades, few detailed ecological studies have been conducted on tropical eels such as the giant mottled eel whose range extends across the whole Indo-Pacific. This species was studied throughout the entire 0.5 km mainstem reaches of Oganeku River on the subtropical Amami-Oshima Island of Japan over a two-year period using four sampling periods to understand its habitat preference, early life-stage dispersal process, movements, and annual growth using a mark-recapture experiment conducted with quantitative electrofishing. A total of 396 juvenile growth-phase A. marmorata eels were caught and tagged, with 48 individuals being recaptured at least once. Their density irrespective of size of eels was most strongly determined by distance from the river mouth, followed by riverbank type according to random forest models. Eel density decreased with increasing distance from the freshwater tidal limit located about 100-150 m from the river mouth. Eels preferred vegetated riverbanks, while they avoided those of concrete and sand. The density of small eels (total length: TL < 240 mm) was also associated with depth and velocity, with small eels tending to prefer riffle or run habitats. In contrast, large eels (TL ≥ 240 mm) were found in habitats of any depth and velocity. The TL of eels had a minimum peak at around the tidal limit, and it increased with increasing distance from the tidal limit. The observed density and size gradients of eels in relation to the distance from the river mouth suggested that A. marmorata initially recruited to freshwater tidal limit areas and then dispersed in both downstream and upstream directions. The growth rate of eels varied greatly among individuals that were at large for various periods of time and ranged from 0 to 163.2 mm/year (mean ± SD of 31.8 ± 31.0 mm/year). Of the recaptured eels, 52.1% were recaptured in a section that was different from the original capture section, and their mean ± SD distance travelled was 46.5 ± 72.5 m (median = 20 m). 47.9% of the eels were recaptured from the original section of capture (i.e., <10 m distances travelled), suggesting that they had strong fidelity to specific habitats with limited movements. The distance travelled of eels that had moved was greater for small eels (range = 10-380 m; mean ± SD = 84.4 ± 121.9 m) than large individuals (range = 10-120 m; mean ± SD = 30.9 ± 31.0 m), which indicates that the mobility of the eels declines as they grow. This is the first clear detailed documentation of the spatial distribution, growth, and movements of tropical eels in a small river system in relation to environmental conditions that provides an example of how future studies can be conducted in other areas to understand how conservation efforts can be most efficiently targeted for maximum success

Large contribution of pulsed subsidies to a predatory fish inhabiting large stream channels

Resource subsidies exert critical influences on recipient habitats with relatively higher perimeter-to-area ratios, such as headwaters in watersheds. However, little is known about how those subsidies contribute to the energy sources in recipient habitats where the perimeter-to-area ratio is low, such as large stream channels. Here, we show that the diet of small Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) <500 mm in total length inhabiting natural shoreline areas in large stream channels consists largely of terrestrial earthworms (Metaphire spp.). Stable isotopic analyses showed that the earthworms were the prey animal that contributed most to the eels’ diet (45%–47%). Earthworms constituted the largest portion of the eels’ stomach contents (7%–93%). Eels ingested earthworms within 2 days after rainfall during spring, summer, and autumn, and their consumption increased as the precipitation increased. These findings indicate that the pulsed earthworm subsidy that is driven by rainfall could temporarily bias the eels’ diet toward this allochthonous resource, which may explain the large contribution of the subsidy for consumers inhabiting large stream channels. Furthermore, diverse earthworm species could drive multiple pulsed subsidies across seasons and provide the predators with a prolonged subsidy, enhancing the long-term contribution of the subsidy to the predators’ diet

Morphological and Molecular Gonadal Sex Differentiation in the Wild Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

Most cultured Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) show male sex differentiation; however, natural gonadal sex differentiation has not been evaluated. In this study, this process was characterized in wild eels. Differentiated ovaries and testes were observed after the eels grew to 320 and 300 mm in total length, respectively. The youngest ovary and testis appeared at 3 and 4 years old, respectively; however, undifferentiated gonads were found up to 7 years, suggesting that sex differentiation was triggered by growth rather than aging. gsdf, amh, foxl2b and foxl3b were highly expressed in the testes, whereas figla, sox3, foxn5, zar1, and zp3 were highly expressed in the ovaries. The expression of cyp19a1a and foxl2a did not differ significantly between the testis and ovary. In the ovaries, the cyp19a1a and foxl2a levels were highest in the early stages, suggesting that their function is limited to early ovarian differentiation. The foxn5, zar1 and zp3 levels tended to increase in the later stages, suggesting that they function after the initiation of ovarian differentiation. In undifferentiated gonads, dimorphic gene expression was not observed, suggesting that the molecular sex differentiation phase is short and difficult to detect. These findings provide the first demonstration of the whole course of natural gonadal sex differentiation in eels at molecular and morphological levels