Frontier Science in Ecology,
Genetics & Genomics
(Seminar in English)

The 13th  FSEGG seminar（2024）

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July 3rd (Thu), 16:30-17:30, room N31, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

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“Dynamic change of biological interactions and its consequences in ecological systems"

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speaker:

Minoru Kasada, Ph.D., Assistant Professor (Field Science Center, Hokkaido University)

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Interactions between biological organisms are changing with time and circumstances. This dynamic change of biological interactions affects ecological consequences such as biodiversity, community composition and population dynamics. In addition, the dynamic change of biological interactions is strongly influenced by the ecological consequences because they have similar time scales. Therefore, feedbacks between the biological interactions and the ecological consequences are expected to influence each other. This results in dynamically changing ecological networks. A number of interesting phenomena and theories triggered by these dynamic ecological networks have become known and studied in recent years. In this presentation, I will give an overview of the causes of the dynamic change of biological interactions and present examples of the relationships and feedbacks between the biological interactions and the ecological consequences, focusing on researches we have investigated.

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IN THE PAST:

The 12th  FSEGG seminar（2023）

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November 22nd (Fri), 17:00-18:00, room N12, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

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“Contingency and determinism in the genetic basis of convergent evolution in stickleback fishes"

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speaker:

Jun Kitano, Ph.D., Professor (National Institute of Genetics)

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Our research goal is to identify molecular changes underlying naturally occurring phenotypic variation and speciation and understand how such variations arise and spread within natural populations. Because of recent advances in genomic technologies, an increasing number of candidate genomic loci or genes responsible for adaptation and speciation have been identified. Molecular changes or causative mutations, however, have been rarely elucidated in most cases. Without knowing causative mutations, we cannot understand how many mutations are important, whether each mutation is additive or epistatic, or what kind of selective pressures have acted on each mutation. To this end, we take an integrative approach across diverse disciplines using stickleback fishes as models. In the seminar, I will introduce several recent findings in the genetic basis of convergent evolution in stickleback fishes and discuss contingency and determinism in the genetic basis of convergent evolution.

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The 11th  FSEGG seminar（2023）

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October 6th (Fri), 16:30-17:40, room N11 & Zoom, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

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“Natural history and conservation biology of native salmonids in the USA”

 

speaker:

Yoichiro Kanno, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D. & Noël Clark (Colorado State University)

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The USA is home to several species and sub-species of salmonids, and they are highly valued as commercial and recreational fisheries, similar to Japan. However, native salmonids have declined or locally extirpated, and understanding their natural history to inform conservation actions is important. In this presentation, we will discuss three projects related to native salmonid ecology and conservation in the USA, including spawning ecology of Chinook salmon, effects of inter-basin water transfer on cutthroat trout movement and gene flow, and big data analysis of brook trout to identify climate change refugia. We will also summarize management of these native salmonids under increasing human footprints.

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The 10th FSEGG seminar（2023）

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May 22nd (Mon), 14:30-15:30, room W109 & Zoom, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

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“Environmental DNA surveys of Pacific salmon ecosystems from natal rivers to the open ocean”

 

speaker:

Christoph Deeg, Ph.D. (University of British Colombia, Canada; Pacific Salmon Foundation, Canada)

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Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are foundation species around the North Pacific, but many wild populations have experienced declines, specifically at their southern range limits. These declines are multifactorial and poorly characterized. Environmental DNA is the study of DNA left behind in the environment by organisms ranging from microbes to whales. It offers a unique tool to survey the ecosystems that salmon inhabit, from their natal streams to the open ocean that hosts the longest but least understood phase of their life cycle. We have conducted three winter eDNA surveys of the eastern North Pacific that provide unprecedented insights into the challenging open ocean ecosystem that salmon navigate: From avoiding predators and finding prey, to the impacts of marine heatwaves. Customized sampling equipment has allowed us to improve sampling not only in the open ocean, but also in the near shore and freshwater environment illuminating the entire salmon life cycle. Together, we aim to establish eDNA as a key tool for salmon ecosystem monitoring and management.

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The 9th FSEGG seminar（2022）

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June 24th (Fri), 13:00-14:00, room N11, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

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“Ecology of chum salmon juvenile during their early marine life inferred from environmental DNA”

 

speaker:

Yuki MINEGISHI, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo)

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The studies on chum salmon in Japan has been conducted mainly in Hokkaido. In contrast, not much attention has been paid to the chum salmon population in the northeast area of the Honshu Island, including the Sanriku-ria Coast, Iwate Prefecture. However, the environment in this area is clearly different from that of Hokkaido, such as high water temperature in the coastal areas and rivers and the steep topography consisting of many semi-closed small bays, which should result in the local characteristics of ecological and behavioral traits. To understand the local ecological characteristics of chum salmon in the Sanriku area, we have been performing various studies on this species in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture. In this seminar, the ecology of juvenile chum salmon inferred from environmental DNA will be presented.

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我が国のサケ・マス研究は北海道に集中している。一方、本州・東北地方のサケ個体群については、この地域が分布の南限付近であることに加え、リアス海岸地形や冬期に高い河川・沿岸水温など、北海道とは明瞭に異なる環境条件を有することから、回帰から遡上、産卵および初期生活史など、サケの行動・生態に独自の地域性があることが想定される。そこで、本州の東北太平洋岸のサケの地域的生態特性を明らかにすることを目的として、岩手県大槌町を中心に三陸のサケに関する様々な研究を進めている。本セミナでは、特に環境DNAを用いた研究から明らかになった三陸のサケ稚魚の生態について紹介する。

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*2019-2021は日本進化学会、サケ学研究会、環境DNA学会年大会を研究室主催したためFSEGGセミナーはお休みしました。

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過去の開催

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第一回 FSEGGセミナー　（2013.6.27）　

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1. “How to Assemble a Human Genome? Mix generous amounts of Junk DNA and Indifferent DNA, add a Dollop of Functional DNA and a Sprinkling of indifferent DNA (Malicious DNA optional)”

Dan Graur, Ph.D. (Prof., University of Houston)

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2. “Adaptation toward the dead-end? Effects of captive environment on natural reproduction of fish”  

Hitoshi Araki, Ph.D. (Prof., Hokkaido University)

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第二回 FSEGGセミナー　（2014.7.10）　

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1. “Using adaptive genetic markers to improve conservation decisions”

Kathleen O’Malley, Ph.D. (Assist. Prof., Oregon State University)

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2. “Physiological mechanisms of olfactory imprinting and homing in salmon”

Hiroshi Ueda, Ph.D. (Prof., Hokkaido University)

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3. “Environmental DNA: a novel survey tool for aquatic animals”

Toshifumi Minamoto, Ph.D. (Assist. Prof., Kobe University)

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4. “Fish diversity and distributions; environmental DNA method and ecosystem services”

Hideyuki Doi, Ph.D. (Lecturer, Hiroshima University)

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第三回 FSEGGセミナー　（2015.10.30）　

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1. “Genetic basis for colonization of new niches in sticklebacks”

Jun Kitano, Ph.D. (Prof., National Institute of Genetics, Japan)

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2. “Molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying parallel loss of photoperiodic reproduction”

Asano Ishikawa, Ph.D. (Assist. Prof., National Institute of Genetics, Japan)

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第四回 FSEGGセミナー

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Part-I　（2016.10.5）　

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1. “Ecological mysteries of cowries”

Takahiro Irie, Ph.D., Assis. Prof. (University of Tokyo)

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Part-II 　（2016.11.2）　

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2. “Parasites as a potential driver of energy flow through food webs”

Takuya Sato, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (Kobe University)

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第五回 FSEGGセミナー(2017.5.29)　

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1. “Population genomics reveals the mating system evolution in Arabidopsis”

Takashi Tsuchimatsu, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D., Chiba University

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2. “Quantifying genetic and epigenetic control of gene expression in Drosophila and mice”

Naoki Osada, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D., Hokkaido University

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第六回 FSEGGセミナー　(2017.11.13)　

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“Genetics of species diversification in Drosophila”

Aya Takahashi, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Tokyo Metropolitan University

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第七回 FSEGGセミナー　（2018.1.25）　共催：応用生態工学会（札幌）

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「Connections among river, fish and human being – 川と魚、人間社会のつながり」

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1. “Ontogenetic changes in thermal habitats of Pacific salmon and their implications for the potential effect of rising temperature”

Kentaro Morita, Ph.D., Chief Scientist in the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency

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2. “River-Ocean connections provide a special gift: lessons from ayu fisheries in Honshu and Hokkaido island”

Jun-ichi Tsuboi, Ph.D., Chief Scientist in the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency

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3. “Ecological linkages between groundwater and surface water in an urban river”

Junjiro Negishi, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Hokkaido University

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第八回 FSEGGセミナー

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Part-I　（2018.11.6）　

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1. “Evolving animal-plant interactions and ecological communities”

Shunsuke Utsumi, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. (Hokkaido University)

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Part-II 　（2018.11.15）　

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2. “How and why genetic polymorphisms could be maintained in natural populations? In cases of guppies and human populations”

Masakado Kawata, Ph.D., Prof. (Tohoku University)