Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nakamachi, Nara 631-8505, Japan
We investigated species composition, distribution and seasonal changes in the number of larvae and juveniles of crucian carps in the reed zone of Lake Biwa using RAPD markers. A total of 973 larvae and juveniles were collected from the reed zone in a total of nine samplings conducted from April to July, 2002. In the first sampling, 868 larvae and juveniles, mainly preflexion larvae, were collected, and it was found that Gengoroubuna and Ginbuna are distributed within the reed zone. However, Nigorobuna distributed between the center and close to the shore within the reed zone. After the first sampling, larvae and juveniles, mainly postflexion larvae, were collected close to the shore in the reed zone, and most of those were Nigorobuna.