Abstract
1. Topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva) is widely known as a highly invasive freshwater fish and has
expanded from East Asia (native range) to Central Asia, Europe and Northern Africa (introduced range).
Although the relationship between the occurrence of P. parva and its habitat conditions remains unclear,
information on factors affecting its distribution, especially in its native range, is important for predicting
its expansion.
2. This study provides primary information on the distribution of P. parva in rivers and agricultural canals
in northern Kyushu Island, Japan, where the fish is native. Fuzzy habitat preference models (FHPMs) and
Random Forests (RF) were applied to link landscape features to the distribution of P. parva based on field
observation data collected from two distinct ecoregions, the north-western (NW) and north-eastern (NE) parts
of Kyushu Island.
3. The results show a clear habitat preference of P. parva for areas with a lower elevation, a gentler slope and a
smaller number of river-to-river connections as general landscape features across the ecoregions. Weak
preferences are observed for sites with a higher number of river-to-canal connections, a higher canal network
index, a larger area of paddy fields, a larger residential area, more crop fields and fewer forests and orchards.
Of these site-specific features, five landscape features – elevation, slope, canal network index, area of paddy
fields, and presence of forests and orchards – are identified as the most important features for predicting the
distribution of P. parva.
4. The general and specific habitat preference information, as demonstrated in this study, may be important in
biogeography and invasion ecology. Further research is needed to accumulate information for a better understanding
of the invasion ecology and the design of improved management and control strategies against P. parva.
expanded from East Asia (native range) to Central Asia, Europe and Northern Africa (introduced range).
Although the relationship between the occurrence of P. parva and its habitat conditions remains unclear,
information on factors affecting its distribution, especially in its native range, is important for predicting
its expansion.
2. This study provides primary information on the distribution of P. parva in rivers and agricultural canals
in northern Kyushu Island, Japan, where the fish is native. Fuzzy habitat preference models (FHPMs) and
Random Forests (RF) were applied to link landscape features to the distribution of P. parva based on field
observation data collected from two distinct ecoregions, the north-western (NW) and north-eastern (NE) parts
of Kyushu Island.
3. The results show a clear habitat preference of P. parva for areas with a lower elevation, a gentler slope and a
smaller number of river-to-river connections as general landscape features across the ecoregions. Weak
preferences are observed for sites with a higher number of river-to-canal connections, a higher canal network
index, a larger area of paddy fields, a larger residential area, more crop fields and fewer forests and orchards.
Of these site-specific features, five landscape features – elevation, slope, canal network index, area of paddy
fields, and presence of forests and orchards – are identified as the most important features for predicting the
distribution of P. parva.
4. The general and specific habitat preference information, as demonstrated in this study, may be important in
biogeography and invasion ecology. Further research is needed to accumulate information for a better understanding
of the invasion ecology and the design of improved management and control strategies against P. parva.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Pages (from-to) | 901-910 |
| ISSN | 1052-7613 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Thematic list
- Management
EWI Biomedical sciences
- B003-ecology