The physical factor inducing spawning of the Biwa catfish, Silurus biwaensis [Japan]
2001
Maehata, M. (Lake Biwa Museum, Kusatsu, Shiga (Japan))
The physical factor inducing spawning of the Biwa catfish, Silurus biwaensis (Siluriformes: Siluridae), an endemic species of Lake Biwa, was investigated on the basis of field observations on 150 nights at the spawning site, the rocky shore of the Seta River, the lake's outlet, and environmental data from April to July in 1989 - 1994. The catfish gathered at the spawning site when the water level of the river rapidly rose and the rocky shoal became submerged, within a wide range of water temperature (15.0 deg - 30.0 deg C); their spawning was induced in relation to increases in the submerged portion of the rocky shoal. This observation suggests that water level control operations in Lake Biwa might critically affect the spawning of this and other fish species.
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