Ikema Wetland
File:Ikemajima Okinawa Japan01s3s2010.jpg in the Miyako Islands, connected with Miyakojima to the south by bridge]]
The {{Nihongo|Ikema Wetland|池間湿原|Ikema-shitsugen}} are wetlands in the center of Ikema Island, Miyahojima, Okinawa, Japan. It is also called Yunimui or Īnubū in the local dialect. The wetland area extends for {{convert|38|ha}} and is the largest in Okinawa Prefecture. The "Wetlands and Coral Reefs of Ikema-jima" have been selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the {{nihongo|"500 Important Wetlands in Japan"|日本の重要湿地500}} and the entire island, totaling {{convert|282|ha}}. It was designated a Wildlife Protection Area on November 1, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.sizenken.biodic.go.jp/pc/wet_en/475/475.html |title=Wetlands and Coral Reefs of Ikema-jima |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |accessdate=17 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106082649/http://www.sizenken.biodic.go.jp/pc/wet_en/475/475.html |archive-date=6 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}[http://kyushu.env.go.jp/naha//wildlife/data/keikakusyo/ikema/cho-ho.pdf 国指定池間鳥獣保護区指定計画書] 環境省、2011年11月1日[http://www.miyakomainichi.com/2011/11/25638/ きょうから鳥獣保護区／与那覇湾・池間島] 宮古毎日新聞、2011年11月1日
History
The island of Ikema-jima was formerly divided into an eastern and a western island, with a water lane between. The king of the four islands built a bridge between the two. Eventually, the two islands were connected.{{clarify|by bridge or land causeway or dike?|date=June 2012}} The northern water lane was called Īnubū with an opening in the south which was about {{convert|60|ha}}.{{Cite web |url=http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-90394-storytopic-86.html |title=池間湿原にサカツラガンが飛来 - 琉球新報 - 沖縄の新聞、地域のニュース |access-date=2012-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823083809/http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-90394-storytopic-86.html |archive-date=2014-08-23 |url-status=dead }} For the purposes of land reclamation, the water lane was interrupted between 1924 and 1934. Two area of land became reclaimed, one of {{convert|47|ha}}, the other of {{convert|20|ha}}.{{clarification|date=June 2012}} The wetland area outside the dike, combining both freshwater and seawater, was called Yunimui ("sand elevated area"). Between 1963 and 1982, Ikema Fishing Port was built and the wetland area was completely separated from the sea.[http://www.cosmos.ne.jp/~miyako-m/htm/penyu/penyu050427.htm ぺん遊ぺん楽 - イーヌ、ブー][http://www.okinawainfo.net/miyako/shitugen.html 池間島 池間湿原]
Observation Platform
A wooden observation platform{{clarify|not mentioned above|date=June 2012}} was replaced in 2009 with a steel platform. A road and parking lots were constructed.
A problem in the 21st century is that the wetland is shrinking with the growth of weeds.[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-95924-storytopic-86.html 陸地化が進む池間湿原] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822010239/http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-95924-storytopic-86.html |date=2014-08-22 }} 琉球新報、1999年11月13日{{clarify|subsection may need to be renamed. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with the platform|date=June 2012}}
Biota
=Fauna=
==Birds==
The wetland is visited{{clarify|part of migration north or south?|date=June 2012}} by Eurasian wigeon, mallard, eastern spot-billed duck, northern shoveler, garganey, Eurasian coot, {{Nihongo|アササギ|asasagi}}, and Eurasian bittern.{{cn|date=June 2012}} Purple heron and bean goose are rare visitors.{{cn|date=June 2012}}
==Fish and crustacean==
File:CoconutCrabDictionnaireDHistoireNaturelle1849.jpg
Tilapia and guppy of foreign origin are found.{{cn|date=June 2012}} Discoplax or {{Nihongo|Okagani|オカガニ|Okagani}} cross the road for reproduction every June. Coconut crabs are also found.{{cn|reason=not sure that 'cross the road' is germane here. This annual/semi-annual 'movement' is a universal reptile tendency|date=June 2012}}
==Insects==
Ceriagrion latericium ryukyuuanum, Cercion sexlineatum, Ictingomphus pertinax, Brachydiplax chalybea flavovittat, Tholymis tillarga are found.{{clarify|need to use English common names where available, or say "a species of fly" or something|date=June 2012}} Other insects include Gerridae and Hydrophilidae.[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-117787-storytopic-86.html ムラサキサギ せっせと子育て/平良市の池間湿原] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214122252/http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-117787-storytopic-86.html |date=2015-02-14 }} 琉球新報、2003年6月16日[http://rca.open.ed.jp/oh/bird/mc04my12.html 探鳥地ガイド 池間島（池間島湿原）] 琉球文化アーカイブ[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-10182-storytopic-5.html 湿原舞う姿に歓声 愛好家ら探鳥会楽しむ 池間島] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203102954/http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-10182-storytopic-5.html |date=2009-12-03 }} 琉球新報、2006年1月14日
=Flora=
In 1983 the previous wetland was found to have become partly grassland with Panicum repens L. and Miscanthus sinensis.Higa [1983:156]{{clarify|again need something in common English to identify, if available. Latin link okay|date=June 2012}} In the wetland were Panicum paludosum Roxb., Cyperus tenuispica Streud, Cyoerus pillosus Vahl, Cyperus difformis, Eleocharis geniculata, Fimbristylis miliacea and Aeschynomene indica. As a reminder of the Bay vegetation was Exoecaria agallocha L. as of 1978. At the frontline of water surface was Typha domingensis, toward the shore were Scirpus tabemaemontanic Gmelin, Paspalum vaginatum Schwarz and Cladium chinense Nees; they were seen in line. At the periphery of the Ikema Island were trees of Pandanus tectorius, while in the eastern muddy area was Clerodendrum inerme.{{clarify|again need something English along with the Latin link, if possible|date=June 2012}}
See also
References
- Kei Higa, Okinawa Encyclopedia jou 1983, Okinawa Times.
{{coord|24.931944|N|125.243056|E|display=title|format=dms|type:landmark_region:JP_scale:10000|name=Ikema Shitsugen}}
External links
- [http://www.okinawainfo.net/miyako/shitugen.html Photographs of Ikema Wetland]