Spawning habitat selectivity of Honmoroko, Gnathopogon caerulescens, in lagoon inlets, Lake Biwa, central Japan

Abstract

Despite a recent study of Honmoroko, Gnathopogon caerulescens, reproduction in lagoons around Lake Biwa having demonstrated the importance of lagoon inlets as spawning habitats for the species, no quantitative studies have examined the conditions determining the environmental suitability of spawning habitats. A survey of Honmoroko egg distribution in the inlets indicated that mature Honmoroko selectively spawn in regions of greater current velocity, utilizing a greater abundance of submerged plants and larger substrate (gravel and pebble) size, not utilizing the emergent plants, habitat characteristics supported by a generalized linear mixed model. The biological information gained is essential for future conservation of Honmoroko spawning habitats.