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Abstract
Macrophytes play a major role in the structuring of aquatic environments and may influence the distribution and feeding habits of fish species. We explored the microhabitat characteristics influencing the spatial distribution of newly discovered Coreoperca kawamebari (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) in the upstream reaches of the Geum River. Out of 21 study sites, C. kawamebari was found in 10 sites, and its abundance was strongly positively correlated with “vegetated” microhabitats, especially those covered by elodeids (e.g., Ceratophyllum demersum). The utilization of elodeids by the piscivores fish, C. kawamebari, may limit the abundance of other native fishes, and stable isotope analysis also showed that C. kawamebari is likely to consume other fish species. However, the influence of other fish species on C. kawamebari is assumed to be small, considering that C. kawamebari is a latent predator. Although the abundance of other fish was low within the preferred microhabitat of C. kawamebari, other species were abundant in each site where C. kawamebari was dominant. From this finding, we conclude that the successful settlement of C. kawamebari in the upper section of the Geum River can be attributed to their habitat preferences. Although the elodeids favored by C. kawamebari generally have difficulty developing in the upstream section, the habitat creation by humans has contributed to the stable settlement of new fish species.
Highlights
The presence of well-distributed patches of favorable habitats is recognized as an essential factor in the creation of properly structured and stable fish communities
Empirical studies have suggested that the predator–prey interaction significantly influences the patchiness of complex habitats [6,7,8]
Environmental variables and microhabitat patch types were different across the study sites (Table 2)
Summary
The presence of well-distributed patches of favorable habitats is recognized as an essential factor in the creation of properly structured and stable fish communities. A spatially complex habitat may comprise a variety of microhabitats and can support a diverse fish community with different habitat preferences [1,2]. Spatial complexity may restrict access to preferred habitats and thereby limit species distribution [3]. The costs and benefits of life-history strategies and behaviors in the fish community can depend on habitat heterogeneity [4,5]. Ecosystem processes that affect community structure and stability (e.g., disturbance, primary production, and bioenergetics) may be influenced by habitat heterogeneity [9,10]
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