Habitat Use of the Grazing Goby (Sicyopterus japonicus) in Response to Spatial Heterogeneity in Riparian Shade

ABSTRACT The local density of the grazing goby (Sicyopterus japonicus) and benthic algal production were investigated in a 720 m reach of the Sate River in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. The reach was spatially heterogenous in riparian shade and was divided into three segments (open-canopy, shaded and patchy segment) based on vegetation cover. In the reach, the goby was more abundant in the open-canopy segment and open-canopy patches than in the adjacent shaded segment and shaded patches. Between the open-canopy and shaded segments there was no significant difference in the algal biomass; however, the algal growth rate was greater in the open-canopy segment than in the shaded segment. These results indicate that the spatial heterogeneity in riparian shade controls the habitat use of the goby, with open-canopy areas with high algal renewal rates being preferred.

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