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Flexible seaward migration of Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma in the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan

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Abstract

The migratory history of Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma was investigated in 30 streams in the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan, which is in the southern part of their distribution. Captured Dolly Varden were classified into two categories by their body coloration: silvery fish were thought to be an anadromous form, and non-silvery fish a fluvial form that remains in freshwater throughout its life. Forty-seven of 1,739 Dolly Varden collected in the spring and ten of 2,126 Dolly Varden collected in the autumn were silvery fish. Twenty silvery fish and 120 non-silvery fish were examined by analysis of otolith Sr:Ca ratio. Three silvery fish from autumn and 15 non-silvery fish had migrated to salt water or brackish water. The other specimens of silvery fish were regarded as smolt or pre-smolt before seaward migration. The present study suggests that Dolly Varden in the Shiretoko Peninsula have a flexible migratory history, where some of the non-silvery fish utilize marine environments while some individuals follow an anadromous life history.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, Shiretoko Museum, forestry offices, nature conservation offices, fishery cooperatives, and salmon propagation associations in the Shiretoko region who supported our study. We are also grateful to S. Hidaka, T. Hiroya, K. Honda, T. Inoue, R. Ishimura, S. Kanbe, S. Kawauchi, D. Kitsuneduka, S. Kondo, T. Mihara, Y. Nagai, Y. Naito, T. Ogura, Y. Oyama, Y. Tamura, J. Tateyama, K. Uchiyama, and M. Watanabe for their assistance in the fieldwork, M. Otsuki, E. Shimizu, T. Tsunagawa, and D. Ueno for help in the microchemistry analysis, and K. Hasegawa, U. Reinhardt, and two reviewers for improvement of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Yoshiyuki Umatani

    Present address: Nakagawa Experimental Forest, Forest Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Otoineppu, Hokkaido, 098-2501, Japan

  2. Takaomi Arai

    Present address: Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE 1410, Brunei Darussalam

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0809, Japan

    Yoshiyuki Umatani & Koji Maekawa

  2. International Coastal Research Center, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 2-106-1 Akahama, Otsuchi, Iwate, 028-1102, Japan

    Takaomi Arai

Authors
  1. Yoshiyuki Umatani
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  2. Takaomi Arai
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Correspondence to Yoshiyuki Umatani.

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Umatani, Y., Arai, T. & Maekawa, K. Flexible seaward migration of Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma in the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. Ichthyol Res 65, 202–209 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-017-0606-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-017-0606-3

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