Habitat suitability modeling of Ayu fish species in the Tenryuu river, Japan

Study question

Tenryuu River starts from Lake Suwa in Okaya and has six cascading dams. In order to carry out an ecosystem analysis on the scale of the system of cascading dams, a holistic approach was needed. Such an approach allows for the understanding of what ecosystem services the river is offering and what it could offer. The objective of this study was to address the services, values, and the impact of the cascade of reservoirs on the Tenryuu River. The river has cascading dams with impounding reservoirs and free flow river reaches between the reservoirs. Therefore, the natural function of the system is disturbed in terms of water flow, sediment transport, and water quality. Subsequently, these disturbances influence the ecosystem services the river can offer. In this study, we consider the following matters:

• The retention capacity of the existing reservoirs and their influences on the reservoir water quality (e.g. temperature stratification, O2, suspended sediments)

• The natural flow regime and the hydrological alteration, including the impact of that on the bed formation, target species (e.g. Ayu fish) and water availability and demand.

Response Curves

The ecological response curves are available in the ecological knowledge base and KnowledgeRules Github.
The response curves in HABITAT, including the following modules:

• Ayu fish species (Plecoglossus altivelis)