Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Species diversity and abundance of freshwater fishes in irrigation ditches around rice fields

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relationships between environmental variables, distribution of freshwater fishes and their diet were investigated at 40 sites on irrigation ditches for rice fields in central Japan. Multivariate analyses showed that fish species richness and diversity in ditches was high when fishes were able to easily invade the rice fields. Natural stream beds not covered by concrete had greater total number and biomass of fishes in irrigation ditches. The connection between ditches and rice fields was of secondary importance. Canonical correlation analysis indicated that the two principal fish community variables, abundance and diversity, were respectively represented by the presence of the minnow, Gnathopogon elongatus elongatus, and the absence of the loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Most fishes in the irrigation ditches predominantly preyed upon aquatic insects such as ephemeropteran nymphs, chironomid larvae and trichopteran larvae, but aerial insects and benthic algae were also fed upon by a few species. Small fishes (<4 cm SL) preyed more on chironomid and less on trichopteran larvae than large (≥4 cm SL) fishes. The diet overlap between species was extremely high for small fishes in ditches weakly connected with rice fields. The recent changes in rice fields and irrigation ditches to increase production efficiency has led to a decrease in fish diversity. For the coexistence of rice production and fish diversity in rice areas, a new irrigation system, where fishes can easily invade rice fields and where plenty of invertebrates are available for fishes, should be developed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Bowlby, J.N. & J.C. Roff. 1986. Trout biomass and habitat relationships in southern Ontario streams. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 115: 503-514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, W.W. & C.O. Qualset. 1999. Biodiversity in Agroecosystems. CRC Press, Boca Raton. 334 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Castri, F. & T. Younes. 1996. Biodiversity, Science and Development-towards a New Partnership. Cab International, Oxon. 646 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ezaki, Y. & T. Tanaka. 1998. Conservation of Biological Communities in Rivers, Ponds and Paddy Fields. Asakura Shoten, Tokyo. 220 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fasola, M. & X. Ruiz. 1996. The value of rice fields as substitutes for natural wetlands for waterbirds in the Mediterranean region. Colonial Waterbirds 19: 122-128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fasola, M., L. Canova & N. Saino. 1996. Rice fields support a large portion of herons breeding in the Mediterranean region. Colonial Waterbirds 19: 129-134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finger, T.R. & E.M. Stewart. 1987. Response of fishes to flooding regime in lowland hardwood wetlands. pp. 86-92. In: J. Matthews & D.C. Heins (ed.) Community and Evolutionary Ecology of North American Stream Fishes, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujioka, M. & S.J. Lane. 1997. The impact of changing irrigation practices in rice fields or frog populations of the Kanto Plain, central Japan. Ecol. Res. 12: 101-112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, D.L. & T.F. Waters. 1974. Recovery of standing crop and production rate of a brook trout population in a flood-damaged stream. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 103: 431-439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harden-Jones, F.R. 1968. Fish Migration. Arnold, London. 325 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, B.D. & D.G. Lonzarich. 2000. Microhabitat use and behavior of overwintering juvenile coho salmon in a Lake Superior tributary. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 129: 866-872.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosoya, K. 1982. Freshwater fish fauna of the Yoshii River, Okayama Prefecture. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 37: 23-35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ichimura, S. 1954. Ecological studies on the plankton in paddy fields. I. Seasonal fluctuations in the standing crop and productivity of plankton. Jap. J. Bot. 14: 269-279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iguchi, K., M. Yoshiba, W.Wu & N. Shimizu. 1999. Biodiversity of freshwater fishes in the paddy water system of Anji, China. Bull. Nat. Res. Inst. Fish. Sci. 13: 27-36.

    Google Scholar 

  • JISC (Japanese Industrial Standards Committee). 1986. Testing Methods for Industrial Waste Water, JIS K 0102. Japanese Standards Association, Tokyo. 254 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • John, K.R. 1964. Survival of fish in intermittent streams of the Chricachua Mountains, Arizona. Ecol. 45: 112-119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katano, O. 1998. Fish communities in rice fields and irrigation ditches. pp. 67-79. In: Y. Ezaki & T. Tanaka (ed.) Conservation of Biological Communities in Rivers, Ponds and Paddy Fields, Asakura Shoten, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Katano, O., K. Saitoh & A. Koizumi. 1988. Scatter-spawning of the catfish, Silurus asotus. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 35: 203-211 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Katano, O. & H. Hakoyama. 1997. Spawning behavior of Hemibarbus barbus (Cyprinidae). Copeia 1997: 620-622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katano, O. & K. Maekawa. 1997. Reproductive regulation in the female Japanese minnow, Pseudorasbora parva (Cyprinidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 49: 197-205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katano, O., K. Hosoya, K. Iguchi & Y. Aonuma. 2001. Comparison of fish fauna among three types of rice fields in the Chikuma River basin. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 48: 19-25 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kihira, H. 1983. Changes in fish fauna and environments-fish in irrigation ditches. Freshwater Fish 9: 58-60 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimoto, S. & H. Takeda. 1989. Introduction to Community Ecology. Kyoritsu Shuppan, Tokyo. 198 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kondo, T. 1998. Freshwater bivalve communities in irrigation ditches. pp. 80-92. In: Y. Ezaki & T. Tanaka (ed.) Conservation of Biological Communities in Rivers, Ponds and Paddy Fields, Asakura Shoten, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurasawa, H. 1956. The weekly succession in the standing crop of plankton and zoobenthos in the paddy field (I). Misc. Rep. Res. Inst. Natur. Res. 41-42: 86-98 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane, S.J. & M. Fujioka. 1998. The impact of changes in irrigation practices on the distribution of foraging egrets and herons (Ardeidae) in the rice fields of central Japan. Biol. Conservation 83: 221-230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linton, L.R., R.W. Davies & F.J. Wrona. 1981. Resource utilization indices: An assessment. J. Anim. Ecol. 50: 283-292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucena, F.M., Coloured Illustrations of the Freshwater Fishes of Japan. Hoikusha, Osaka. 462 pp. (in Japanese).

  • Morisita, M., 1967. Seasonal distribution of butterflies around Kyoto. pp. 95-132. In: M. Morisita & T. Kira (ed.) Nature-Ecological Studies, Chuokoronsha, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyle, P.B. & D.M. Baltz. 1985. Microhabitat use by an assemblage of California stream fishes: Developing criteria for instream flow determinations. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 114: 695-704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, M.L., J. Heifetz, S.W. Johnson, K.V. Koski & J.F. Thedinga. 1986. Effects of clear-cut logging with and without buffer strips on juvenile salmonids in Alaskan streams. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43: 1521-1533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagata, Y. & K. Hosoya. 1997. Circumstances in Endangered Japanese Freshwater Fishes and their Protection. Midori Shobo, Tokyo. 379 pp. (in Japanese).

  • Naitoh, K. 1981. The development of pipelines for rice fields and its background. Water & Soil 44: 2-5 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakagawa, S. 1978. Movement of water and irrigation for paddy fields. Kagaku 48(10): 605-613 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, M. 1969. Cyprinid Fishes of Japan-Studies on the Life History of Cyprinid Fishes of Japan. Res. Inst. Natur. Res., Tokyo. 455 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickelson, T.E., J.D. Rodgers, S.L. Johnson & M.F. Solazzi. 1992. Seasonal changes in habitat use by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in Oregon coastal streams. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 49: 783-789.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, S.T. & J.A. Baker. 1983. The response of fishes to periodic spring floods in a southeastern stream. Am. Midl. Nat. 109: 1-14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saitoh, K., O. Katano & A.Koizumi. 1988. Movement and spawning of several freshwater fishes in temporary waters around paddy fields. Jpn. J. Ecol. 38: 35-47 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoener, T.W. 1970. Nonsynchronous spatial overlap of lizards in patchy habitats. Ecol. 51: 408-418.

    Google Scholar 

  • SIDMAFFJ (Statistics and Information Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan). 1998. The Statistical Pocket Book of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Nourin-toukei Kyokai, Tokyo. 427 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparks, R.E. 1995. Need for ecosystem management of large rivers and their floodplains. Biosci. 45: 168-182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoneman, C.L. & M.L. Jones. 2000. The influence of habitat features on the biomass and distribution of three species of southern Ontario stream salmonines. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 129: 639-657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suga, T. 1996. Multivariate statistical analysis. Gendai Sugakusha, Kyoto. 326 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, M.J. 1982. Distribution of edaphic diatoms in a Mississippi salt marsh: A canonical correlation analysis. J. Phycol. 18: 130-133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, M. 1999. Influence of different aquatic habitats on distribution and population density of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus in paddy fields. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 46: 75-81 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Toyoshima, T., S. Nakano, M. Inoue, Y. Ono & Y. Kurashige. 1996. Fish population responses to stream habitat improvement in a concrete-lined channel. Japan. J. Ecol. 46: 9-20 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsukahara, H. 1948. The relation between the secondary sex-characters and the spawning habits in the loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus Cantor. Seibutu 3(2): 64-69 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, T.F., J.C. Trexler, G.L. Miller & K.E. Toyer. 1994. Temporal and spatial dynamics of larval and juvenile fish abundance in a temperate floodplain river. Copeia 1994: 174-183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, R.K. Jr. 1981. An assessment of diet overlap indexes. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 110: 72-76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D.D. 1987. The Ecology of TemporaryWaters. Croom Helm, London. 205 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D.D. & D.W. Coad. 1979. The ecology of temporary streams III. Temporary stream fishes in Southern Ontario, Canada. Int. Rev. ges. Hydrobiol. 64: 501-515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winemiller, K.O., S. Tarin, D. Shormann & J.B. Cotner. 2000. Fish assemblage structure in relation to environmental variation among Brazos River oxbow lakes. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 129: 451-468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yada, T. 1979. An improvement of collector for the spawning of the 'Tamoroko' (Gnathopogon elongatus elongatus). Bull. Osaka Pref. Freshwater Fish Exp. Sta. 5: 31-32 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanai, H. & H. Takagi. 1986. Handbook for multivariate analysis. Gendai Sugaku-sha, Kyoto. 311 pp (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, 1088 Komaki, Ueda, 386-0031, Japan

    Osamu Katano, Kazumi Hosoya, Kei'ichiroh Iguchi, Motoyoshi Yamaguchi & Yoshimasa Aonuma

  2. Nagano Nature Conservation Research Institute, 2054-120, Kitago, Nagano, 381-0075, Japan

    Satoshi Kitano

Authors
  1. Osamu Katano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kazumi Hosoya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kei'ichiroh Iguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Motoyoshi Yamaguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yoshimasa Aonuma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Satoshi Kitano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Katano, O., Hosoya, K., Iguchi, K. et al. Species diversity and abundance of freshwater fishes in irrigation ditches around rice fields. Environmental Biology of Fishes 66, 107–121 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023678401886

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023678401886

Search

Navigation