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Andrias Japonicus) Populations in Two Small Tributary Streams in Hiroshima Prefecture, Western Honshu, Japan

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Andrias Japonicus) Populations in Two Small Tributary Streams in Hiroshima Prefecture, Western Honshu, Japan Herpetological Conservation and Biology 3(2):192-202 Submitted: 6 April 2008; Accepted: 29 June 2008. CHARACTERISTICS OF JAPANESE GIANT SALAMANDER (ANDRIAS JAPONICUS) POPULATIONS IN TWO SMALL TRIBUTARY STREAMS IN HIROSHIMA PREFECTURE, WESTERN HONSHU, JAPAN 1* 2 3 4,5 SUMIO OKADA , TAEKO UTSUNOMIYA , TAMAMI OKADA , ZACHARY I. FELIX , 6,7 AND FUMIHIKO ITO 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8551, Japan *Corresponding author/Present address: Division of Environmental Biology, Shimane University, Matsue 690-8504, Japan, e-mail: [email protected] 2Kaminukushina 4-6-21, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima 732-0032, Japan 3Hibikinomori Museum, Tsukuyone, Wakasa-cho, Tottori 680-0728, Japan 4Center for Forestry and Ecology, Alabama A & M University, Normal, AL 35762, USA 5 Present address: Biology Department, Reinhart College, Waleska, GA 30183, USA 6Laboratory of Landscape Ecology & GIS, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan 7Present address: Geomatics Division, ASIA AIR SURVEY CO., LTD, Kanagawa 215-0004, Japan Abstract.—Habitat degradation threatens the Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus) with extinction, and only limited baseline data on population structure, size, and density exist. We conducted a mark-recapture study of A. japonicus in two tributary streams within very different catchments in Hiroshima Prefecture between 2000 and 2003. In River A, a relatively undisturbed stream running through a wooded catchment, we captured a total of 87 individual salamanders, 54 juvenile and adult salamanders, and 33 larvae. River B is heavily disturbed compared to River A, and runs through an agriculturally-dominated catchment. We recorded 118 captures of 75 adults, but we caught no larvae in River B. Estimated population density and biomass was 1.3 and 1.2 individuals/100 m2 and 85.9 and 167.3 kg/ha in Rivers A and B, respectively. Our results revealed that adult A. japonicus are abundant in both the relatively natural River A and the disturbed small stream, River B. Salamanders in River B were larger and heavier than those in River A, and consumed primarily frogs and other food items originating from rice paddy fields along the stream. However, it appears that larval recruitment is low in River B, possibly a result of stream alterations, which may eliminate spawning nests and larval habitat. Our data provide essential baseline information on A. japonicus populations including their density, biomass, and size distribution in these small streams. We suggest that a large-scale application of the approach used in this study may be useful for determining the effects of land use change on populations of this important species. Key Words.—Andrias japonicus; diet; habitat characteristics; Japanese Giant Salamander; land use; population structure INTRODUCTION generation, and road construction severely impact a large portion of A. japonicus’s riverine habitat (Matsui The Japanese Giant Salamander, Andrias japonicus 2000; Tochimoto 2005). Although rarely documented, is the largest extant amphibian in the world, and is this habitat degradation almost certainly negatively endemic to the three main islands of Japan – Honshu, affects A. japonicus populations. Shikoku, and Kyushu (Matsui and Hayashi 1992; Though no rangewide recovery program for wild Matsui 2000). Andrias japonicus became a federally populations of this species have been implemented, protected species under the “special natural monument” conservationists have taken specific actions. For designation in 1952. It is also listed under Appendix I example, Asa Zoological Park researchers have of the Convention on International Trade of successfully bred A. japonicus in captivity (Kuwabara Endangered Species (CITES) (Matsui and Hayashi et al. 1989). Also, others established experimental 1992), and vulnerable in the Japanese Ministry of artificial nest boxes and dam by-pass structures that, in Environment’s Red Data Book (Ministry of the some cases, Giant Salamanders used (Tochimoto 2001, Environment Government of Japan. 2006. The 3rd 2005). Version of the Japanese Red List on Birds, Reptiles, Because habitat loss and degradation are among the Amphibians, and Invertebrates. Available from most important causes of amphibian declines (Stuart et http://www.env.go.jp/press/file_view.php?serial=8931 al. 2004), conservationists require information on how &hou_id=7849 [Accessed 15 January 2008]). to evaluate habitats, as well as which habitat types Although collecting this species is prohibited should receive priority for preservation. Andrias throughout its geographic range (Matsui and Hayashi japonicus occur in habitats ranging from relatively 1992), except for a few reserves, most of its habitat large rivers (20-50 m wide) to small tributary streams remains unprotected (Kobara 1985). Consequently, (1-4 m wide) (Tago 1931; Kawamichi and Ueda 1998; dams and bank protection walls constructed for flood Sumio Okada, unpubl. data). Spawning nests and and erosion control, agriculture, hydraulic power larvae of A. japonicus often occur in relatively small 192 Copyright © 2008. Sumio Okada. All Rights Reserved. Herpetological Conservation and Biology FIGURE 1. Distribution of land use categories in the catchment basin of River A (A), and River B (B), Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Map was produced using ERDAS IMAGINE 8.7 using orthorectified aerial photographs (Japan Forest Technology Association, 2003, 1/20000 scale) and was groundtruthed. lotic habitats, including the upper reaches of tributary contain microhabitats for both nests and larvae. streams (e.g., Kobara 1985; Kawamichi and Ueda Despite the importance of this information, we know 1998). These small streams may be crucial for little about the ecology of A. japonicus in small streams, maintaining A. japonicus populations because they in particular the relationships between salamander 193 Okada et al.—Japanese Giant Salamander Populations in Honshu. TABLE 1. Physical parameters of two rivers containing Japanese Giant Salamanders (Andrias japonicus), Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Study reach Bankfull stream width Water depth Ave. water Channel slope Ave. elevation River length (m) [mean (range)] (m) [mean (range)] (cm) temperature (oC) (%) (m) A 1020 4.0 ( 0.6-10.1) 31 (3-147) 17.3 4.9 355 B 1965 3.6 (1.1-9.2) 27 (2-80) 15.6 2.1 545 population size and structure, and physical attributes of Survey techniques.—We performed eight nocturnal habitats. Thus, conservation planning for Japanese surveys (27 person hours) and 12 diurnal surveys (31 Giant Salamander habitats and populations are difficult. person hours) in River A, and 28 nocturnal surveys (76 In this study, we performed field surveys for A. person hours) and 13 diurnal surveys (26 person hours) japonicus in two small streams surrounded by very in River B (Table 2). Surveys in both streams took different land use patterns to describe: (1) population place between 2000 and 2003. size, density, biomass and size distribution; (2) diet Nocturnal surveys involved 1-3 people walking composition of salamanders; and (3) surrounding land slowly from the downstream to the upstream end of a use and in-stream habitat characteristics. These data study reach with flashlights and capturing all visible serve as a case study and provide baseline information salamanders with a dip-net. We also lifted rocks below for future monitoring. dams to find salamanders. Diurnal surveys targeted larval salamanders and involved 1-3 people searching MATERIALS AND METHODS under piled rocks or leaves by hand or with a dip-net. We measured the total length (TL) and snout-vent Study site.—Our study took place along two tributary length (SVL) of captured salamanders to the nearest 0.1 streams, Rivers A and B, in Hiroshima Prefecture, cm using a tape measure. We weighed salamanders western Honshu, Japan. These streams are tributaries with four different digital scales (salamanders with of the same river with River B situated approximately mass < 100 g weighed to the nearest 0.1 g, mass 20 km upstream of River A along the main branch. 100–999 g to the nearest 1 g, mass 1000–1999 g to the River A is a second-third order stream, and our study nearest 5g, mass >2000 g to the nearest 10 g). In 2000, reach began at the confluence with a larger river and we used photographs of head and tail spotting patterns spanned 1020 m upstream (5673 m2 total area). The to recognize individual post-metamorphic salamanders. reach contained two dams and one waterfall (Figs. 1A In 2002 and 2003, we used both photos and Passive and 2A). Average stream width and depth at normal Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags (Biomark, Inc., base flow were 4.0 m and 31 cm, respectively (Table 1). Boise, ID) for identification. We injected PIT tags into During 2002, water temperatures ranged from 9°C in the dorsum of a salamander at the base of their tail. In November to 21°C in August, and averaged 17.3°C 2002 and 2003, we tagged larvae with Visual Implant between May and September (Table 1). Discharge, Elastomer (VIE) tags (Northwest Marine Technology, measured once in June and July of 2002, averaged 0.62 Shaw Island, WA; Harvey 2003) along their body ± 0.68 m3 (range 0.14-1.1 m3). mid-dorsally, or on the side of their tail. We did not tag River B is a third-fourth order stream. Our study larvae in 2000. We recorded capture locations for each reach began at the confluence with a main branch and salamander on topographic maps (1:2,500). continued 1965 m upstream (7000 m2 total area). This We used swollen, doughnut-shaped cloacae to reach contained eight dams, including one at its up- and distinguish males from females (Tochimoto 1992; downstream ends (Figs. 1B and 2B). The upper 400 m Kawamichi and Ueda 1998). We identified gravid of the study reach was divided into two second-order females using their round, full abdomen and lack of streams (Fig. 2B). Average stream width and depth at cloacal swelling immediately before or during the normal base flow were 3.6 m and 27 cm, respectively breeding season (August to early September) (Table 1).
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