Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) is very important indicator species that is affected by both watershed and marine ecosystem. Now, critical decreasing of eel resource is not only a Japanese domestic issue but serious international concerns. We are regarding this specific life history as “The linkages between forests, rivers, SATOYAMA and sea” symbolically.
We estimated the spatio-temporal changes of habitat potential for Japanese eel in Japan. Additionally, we tried to find out the cause of the decreasing of eel resource based on statistical data analysis and GIS procedure.
The objectives of research are as follows:
1) The construction of nationwide GIS databases on long term eel habitat and watershed.
2) The analysis of the spatio–temporal changes of eel habitat and its relation to watershed structure.
3) GIS mapping to understand the present status of Japanese eel populations and to detect potential site for river restoration.