The present state of endangered freshwater mussel (Cristaria plicata) populations in Tottori Prefecture, with special attention to the relationship between the larvae and host fishes

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  • 鳥取県における特定希少野生動物カラスガイCristaria plicata 個体群の現状 : 幼生と宿主魚類の関係に着目して
  • トットリケン ニ オケル トクテイ キショウ ヤセイ ドウブツ カラスガイ Cristaria plicata コタイグン ノ ゲンジョウ : ヨウセイ ト シュクシュギョルイ ノ カンケイ ニ チャクモク シテ

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The freshwater mussel, Cristaria plicata, is endangered in Tottori prefecture, and information on the population structure and reproduction of the species is necessary for conservation purposes. In the present study, the size structure of mussels, the presence of larval glochidia in females, fish fauna in mussel habitat, and the host suitability of their larvae were investigated in three remaining populations. Mussel size distribution in Tanegaike Pond was biased strongly toward larger individuals, indicating a lack of recruitment in this population in recent years. Although glochidia were observed in females during the reproductive season, the invasive predatory fishes Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus were dominant in the pond, and predation on larval hosts by these invasive species is suggested to be a major factor inhibiting recruitment. In contrast, in other two ponds, smaller individuals were found together with larger animals. Invasive predatory fishes were not observed in these ponds, and the larval host Carassius spp. was dominant, indicating that these ponds were suitable for C. plicata recruits. These results suggest that the population dynamics of C. plicata strongly depend on fish communities and that the freshwater mussel population in Tanegaike Pond is endangered because of the dominance of invasive predatory fishes. We propose some future directions for the conservation of C. plicata populations in the Prefecture.

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