Effects of climate change-induced water temperature changes on the distribution of tidal river fish fauna in the Japanese archipelago

Abstract

Intense anthropogenic impacts in tidal rivers can cause habitat loss and ecosystem degradation. In addition, changes in water temperature associated with climate change are significantly impacting the distribution area of fish fauna within tidal rivers. In the present study, we used long-term fish fauna data to determine the relationship between climate change-induced increases in water temperature and changes in the distribution of fish species in tidal rivers in the Japanese archipelago. The distribution ranges of many subtropical and tropical fish species were found to move northward in areas affected by warm currents, suggesting further possible distributional dispersal in future. This study is the first to examine the nationwide distributional changes and future projections of fish fauna in tidal rivers. The results suggest that many subtropical and tropical fishes are expanding their distribution areas in tidal rivers and in coastal and estuarine areas.