Temporal and spatial distributions of Biwa salmon Oncorhynchus masou subsp. by ultrasonic telemetry in Lake Biwa, Japan

Abstract

Biwa salmon Oncorhynchus masou subsp. were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters and released in Lake Biwa, Japan. The temporal and spatial distributions were investigated by using two types of ultrasonic telemetry system, active tracking and passive monitoring. Biwa salmon cruised throughout the north basin horizontally and were distributed from the surface to the bottom vertically in the lake. An individual monitored for over 1 year showed the diurnal patterns of vertical distribution and the seasonal patterns of horizontal distribution. The vertical distribution of the fish during daytime in the stratified period was bimodal, suggesting a feeding strategy targeting both fish near the thermocline and the amphipods near the bottom. During the night, however, the fish maintained a fixed depth range. The fish were distributed over a wider horizontal area in the mixed period than in the stratified period. Three individuals swam in shallower water and experienced higher water temperatures during the spawning season than before moving between offshore and coastal areas.