HABITAT EVALUATION MODEL FOR GENUS Uca BY USING OF WEIGHTED EVALUATION ITEMS

In this paper, results of analysis on habitat suitability of genus Uca which is selected as a near-threatened specie in Japan were presented. Study sites were tidal flats around SHMOKU Island in Japan.In this study, first, based on the results both of field observations and numerical simulations, data of mud property, characteristics of larvae stage, vegetation and topography feature were collected. Secondary, using multivariate analysis, evaluated items were chosen and were given weighing factor respectively. Thirdly, SI (Suitability Index) curves for each evaluated item were plotted with considering the results of field observations and numerical simulations. Finally, HSI (Habitat Suitability Index) was calculated by multiplying each SI curves score and the HSI value among the tidal fiats was compared. Main results are as follows: 1) Considering not onlyspecies themselves but also surrounding topography is important. 2) Multivariate analysis is effective to select evaluated items. 3) The limited HSI score of Uca arcuata is 0.6 and that of Uca lactea is 0.4.