Age, growth and habitat use of the topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva in irrigation ditches on northwestern Kyushu Island, Japan

In Japan, Pseudorasbora parva has not been negatively affected by artificial changes in its habitat. Ecological traits of the species may explain this easy adaptation to artificial habitats. An ecological investigation of P. parva inhabiting irrigation ditches was conducted monthly for approximately two years on northwestern Kyushu Island, Japan. Measurements of 1927 individuals revealed two size classes, maturation age (1 year), and lifespan (1-2 years). Results of this study and previous studies show that the species exhibits life history plasticity. In addition, habitat use of ditches indicates that abundances correlated positively with water temperature and negatively with current velocity in the crop-growing season, and positively with water depth and negatively with current velocity in the fallow season. Structural factors such as ditch revetment conditions and aquatic macrophyte cover were unimportant for this species. The study shows that the gudgeon adapts to artificial ditches easily and successfully because of both life history plasticity and wide-scale use of the habitat.