Longitudinal distribution of fish fauna and characteristics of indicator species in the East Seto Inland Ecological Region within the Japanese Archipelago

Understanding biota distribution patterns is essential for ecosystem conservation and restoration. In addition to biogeography, the distribution patterns of aquatic organisms that inhabit rivers vary longitudinally along river networks. Although longitudinal changes in distribution patterns in aquatic organisms along river networks have been studied in single river basins, it is crucial to understand these patterns at a regional ecological scale for broad-scale ecosystem conservation. This study aimed to elucidate the longitudinal distribution patterns of fish fauna and their correlation with environmental factors in several watersheds within the East Setouchi Ecological Region, renowned for its rich freshwater fish diversity in the Japanese archipelago. Data were obtained for 118 species across 10 watersheds and 85 sites, and the surveyed sites were classified into four longitudinal groups based on the similarity of the fish fauna. The lowest group comprised river estuaries, abundant in brackish-water fish, comprising primarily Gobiidae species. In lower watershed areas with low agricultural land and forest cover but high urbanization, all fish species selected as indicators were non-native. Upstream areas with a high percentage of agricultural land featured a mix of native Cyprinidae and non-native species such as Micropterus salmoides and Rhodeus ocellatus ocellatus. The most upstream groups, marked by significantly greater elevations and bed slopes, exclusively comprised native species as indicator species. Analyzing the longitudinal distribution patterns of fish fauna at multiple sites within the same ecological region enabled us to choose endemic fish species as indicators and identify important species for conservation. Additionally, the selection of sites characterized by significant urbanization and strong anthropogenic influences, along with the selection of non-native species as indicators, underscores the urgency of conserving native organisms in these areas, calling for continuous monitoring.