Effects of water pollution on settlement behavior, sensory responses, and recruitment success of tropical fish larvae

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24780188
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General fisheries
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA Yohei 高知大学, 教育研究部総合科学系, 准教授 (60530483)
• Research Collaborator: LECCHINI David フランス国立高等研究院, 自然環境研究所, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 着底場選択 / 嗅覚 / 魚類 / 赤土汚染

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study found that (1) fish abundance and species richness were lower at a site highly impacted by sediment (red soil) compared to a low impacted site, (2) significant olfaction-based avoidance behavior in settlement-stage larval fish to red-soil pollution, (3) larvae failed to distinguish coral habitat olfactory cues in the presence of red soil, (4) prolonged exposure to red soil produced altered olfactory cue responses, and (5) pH of seawater decreased with increasing concentrations of red soil. Overall, the results show that sediment pollution may have more negative effects on the ability of larval fish to successfully locate suitable habitat than previously thought.

Free Research Field

魚類生態学