Graduate School of Biosphere Science > Organization > Assessment of Environmental Dynamics Division

Japanese page

Assessment of Environmental Dynamics Division
This division aims to study the dynamics and management of the biosphere based on analytical and assessment approaches. Research activities extend to all biomes from the ocean bottom to high-mountain glaciers, to all organisms from single-celled bacteria to gigantic whales, and to all bio-related materials from inorganic nutrients to various complex organic compounds. The major research focus is placed on bio-production mechanisms, food chain dynamics and material cycling in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
 
 Marine Ecosystem Dynamics
 
Understanding of biosphere (mainly marine) and ecosystem dynamics through ecological studies of organisms from unicellular bacteria/algae to gigantic zooplankton.
 
1) Mechanisms of jellyfish blooms and their impact on the marine ecosystem and fisheries (Uye, S.)
2) Ecological roles of microorganisms in various environments from forests, rivers, to oceans and the extremosphere (Naganuma, T.)
3) Symbiosis and diversity in unicellular algae (Koike, K.)
 
 
Go to the Laboratory's Home page
 


 
 

 

  <Academic Staff> 
   UYE Shin-ichi (Professor)
   NAGANUMA Takeshi (Associate Professor)
   KOIKE Kazuhiko (Associate Professor)
 
 
A gigantic Echizen jellyfish


An expedition to the Arctic
to collect extremophilic bacteria
 
 Marine Ecosystem and Evolution

 
The oceans constitute the largest part of the earth’s biosphere and provide habitats for various creatures from microbes to whales. We study how marine biodiversity came about, and how the marine ecosystem has evolved over geologic time.
 
1) Understanding the structure and evolution of the marine ecosystem (Yamamoto, H.)
2） Evolution, diversity and symbiosis in chemosynthesis-based ecosystems (Fujiwara, Y.)
3)Diversity, evolution and origin of microbial eukaryotes (protists) (Takishita, K.)
 
 


Go to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology's Home page 

 
 

 

  <Academic Staff> 
   YAMAMOTO Hiroyuki (Visiting Professor)
   FUJIWRA Yoshihiro (Visiting Professor)
   TAKISHITA  Kiyotaka (Visiting Associate Professor)
 
  image
Research at the hydrothermal vent field of Okinawa Trough (depth 1500 m)

image
Colony of deep-sea clams found around the seafloor observatory off Hatsushima in Sagami Bay (depth 1100 m)
 
 Conservation and Management of Coastal Ecosystems
 

We perform various researches to effectively and sustainably promote fisheries in coastal seas. Under the philosophy “REVIVAL of the FERTILE SEA”, emphasis is placed on environmental conservation and coastal ecology, particularly concerning tidal-flat, seaweed bed, and harmful algal blooms

 

1) Molecular ecology (Hamaguchi, M.)　
2) Coastal conservation ecology, algal ecophysiology
  (Yoshida, G.)
3) Red tide science, aquatic virology (Nagasaki, K.)

 
 
Go to the Laboratory's Home page of Prof. Nagasaki
   
 

 

  <Academic Staff> 
   HAMAGUCHI Masami (Visiting Professor)
   NAGASAKI Keizo (Visiting Professor)
   YOSHIDA Goro (Visiting Associate Professor)
 

   
 
image
Fishes in a seaweed bed


image
Virus infecting a harmful
bloom-forming alga
 
 Evaluation of Plant Environment
 
The laboratory of Plant Science investigates how plants grow and develop in response to environmental factors examined from various facets of plant structure and function.
 
1) Vibration techniques applied to fruit texture and tree physiology (Sakurai, N.)
2) Molecular dynamics of cell wall polysaccharide synthesis (Nakagawa, N.)

 
 
Go to the Laboratory's Home page
 


 
 

 

  <Academic Staff> 
   SAKURAI Naoki (Professor)
   NAKAGAWA Naoki (Assistant Professor)
 

   
 

Measurement of fruit quality
by vibration technique


Mutant (css) seedlings with altered
cell wall and abnormal sucrose
sensitivity (indicated by arrows) developed in our laboratory
 
 Plant Environmental Science
 
We conduct various studies on the assessment and analysis of soil microbial biomass, microfloral diversity and interactions among plant-soil-microorganisms in order to improve plant production and to maintain soil sustainability and fertility.
 
1) Assessment of soil microbial biomass and soil conditions for optimal the plant growth and environmental conservation
  (Kouno, K.)
2) Effects of organic materials on soil microflora useful for plant growth and the control of soil-borne diseases
  (Nagaoka, T.)
 
 
Go to the Laboratory's Home page
 

 
 

 

  <Academic Staff> 
   KOUNO Kenji (Professor)
   NAGAOKA Toshinori (Associate Professor)
 

   
  image
The role of microbial biomass
in soil nutrient availability
and environmental conservation
(Click the picture to enlarge)


Improvement of phosphorus
availability in soils
 
 Assessment of Microbial Environment
 

Root-secreted compounds have impacts on soil nutrient dynamics and plant-microbial interactions in the rhizosphere. In order to understand a microcosmic biosphere ‘the rhizosphere,’ we are studying both functions of microbes and plants and their interactions.

 

1)  Study on functions of root-secreted compounds and microorganisms involved in P dynamics in soils (Wasaki, J.)
 
 
Go to the Laboratory's Home page
   
 

 

  <Academic Staff> 
   WASAKI Jun (Associate Professor)

   
 
Lupine plants which can grow well under low P condition
Cluster root formed by lupin plants to enhance P acquisition