Multiple habitat use of Japanese sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus in the estuary region of the Tone River system, implied by stable isotope analysis

Japanese sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus is a euryhaline fish species. The present study aimed to elucidate their habitat use in the estuary region of the Tone River system in Japan through stable isotope analysis. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of muscle tissues of 74 specimens were grouped by hierarchical cluster analysis and were compared with body sizes. The results suggested that Japanese sea bass has multiple groups of habitat use (brackish and saltwater) within the estuary region and can distribute in the brackish part of the river during winter.