The impact of changing irrigation practices in rice fields on frog populations of the Kanto Plain, central Japan

Abstract Rice fields are important substitute wetlands for frogs. Traditionally, rice fields in Japan were supplied with water and drained via shallow earth ditches (old‐style). In the last 30 years, however, more than 80% of rice fields have been converted to a new irrigation system in which water is typically supplied through underground pipes via taps and is drained into deep, concrete‐sided ditches (new‐style). We compared the occurrence of frogs in paired areas of old‐ and new‐style rice fields at six locations in Ibaraki Pref., central Japan, from May to August 1995. The Japanese tree frog ( Hyla japonica ) did not differ in abundance between the two types of rice fields, but the Japanese brown frog ( Rana japonica ) and the Tokyo daruma pond frog ( Rana porosa porosa ) preferred the old‐style rice fields. These findings suggest that the status of Rana species has been adversely affected by the conversion of rice fields to the new irrigation system. Modification of the deep, U‐shaped concrete ditches and the water management regime during the spawning season is needed to safeguard these species.