Title：Terrestrial birds soaring over the open sea: Insights into the ontogeny of flight

Language:  English

Abstract：The long-standing assumption that large terrestrial birds avoid the open sea has been challenged by advances in studying wild-ranging animals using bio-logging technology. We now know that terrestrial birds can take advantage of atmospheric support over the open seas and oceans to soar. The extent to which these birds are capable of efficiently soaring over the open sea, and their learning trajectories for doing so, remain little understood. In this presentation, I will share how we explore this using high-resolution GPS, accelerometry, and gyroscope data collected for 31 juvenile European honey buzzards Pernis apivorus migrating for the first time from Finland to Sub-Saharan Africa. We quantified the different flight behaviors at the sub-minute scale (including flapping, thermal soaring, and gliding) using data from multiple sensors and investigated the development of the birds’ soaring performance over the open sea. These investigations enabled us to quantify the efficiency of the juvenile birds in soaring over the sea and to identify variations in this behavior as the birds gain more experience during their first-ever migration attempt. The results will provide insight into the mechanisms of soaring over the open sea and facilitate future research to gain a predictive understanding of this behavior. 

2024年1月16日(金)　13:15～ @seminar room + zoom

Date: 16th January.  (Tue)  13:15-  @seminar room + zoom 

Presenter 1:  Satoru Yakuwa.

Title：  Relationships between polymorphisms in genes related to sphingolipid metabolism and personality in primates.
Language:  English (slides) & Japanese.
Abstract：To be announced.

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Presenter 2： China Kobayashi.

Title: Exploring multidimensional sociality of horses.

Language: Slides(English) & Talk(Japanese)

Abstract: A major characteristic of animal sociality is the duality of cooperation and conflict with others. Who cooperates with whom and who conflicts with whom is changeable depending on the situation, and the dynamics and mechanism of such inter-individual and inter-group relationships are not well understood. In this study, we chose the horse as our research subject to explore multi-dimensional sociality in complex societies. Similar to humans, horses can establish multi-level societies in the wild and form relationships not only within their own species but also with other species, humans. This study aims to examine how horses develop relationships with others and the mechanisms driving these interactions across three levels: intra-species dyad level, intra-species group level, and inter-species dyad level. We introduce the perspective of physiological mechanisms underlying these three approaches. Oxytocin is said to enhance in-group bonding while promoting out-group exclusivity. By administering oxytocin in three experiments with different targets, we aim to comprehensively understand these results and reveal the physiological mechanisms in multi-scale horse sociality.

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Presenter 3： Christen Lin

Title: Measuring emotional states in chimpanzees through judgment bias via a go/no-go touch screen task

Language: English (Slides & Talk)

Abstract: Emotional contagion describes the phenomenon where emotional states are transferred automatically between individuals, and can improve the fitness of animals and is a potential building block of empathy. There are few studies directly examining emotional contagion in chimpanzees, and so it is important to develop a system that can be used to examine this phenomenon in primates. Judgment bias, where the appraisal of novel stimuli by animals is known to be influenced by their emotional state, is a promising candidate method to investigate emotional contagion in chimpanzees, and has already been employed to examine emotional contagion in ravens (Adriaense et al., 2019). Chimpanzees in the Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior were trained on a touch screen go/no-go task developed to measure judgment bias in primates (Iki & Adachi, 2023), and individuals who completed training so far have participated in experiments utilizing snake images as inducers of negative emotion, in order to test if the touch screen task can effectively detect judgment bias in that direction. The chimpanzees were expected to press the buttons in the task more slowly after viewing snake images, due to being in a negative emotional state. Of the individuals who have completed training, one exhibited an increase in latency for button-pressing after viewing snake images, while the other demonstrated a weaker trend in the opposite direction. With further development of the training methods and experimental procedure, it is possible that this touch screen judgment bias task will be able to be utilized for emotional contagion experiments involving the presentation of chimpanzee videos. 

2024年1月9日(金)　13:15～ @seminar room + zoom

Date: 9th January.  (Tue)  13:15-  @seminar room + zoom 

Presenter 1: Dr. Tappei Mishina (Faculty of Agriculture, Kyusyu University)

Title： Maintenance of functional genomic diversity under genomic flatlining in stream eight-barbel loach populations.
Language:  Slides (English) & Talk (Japanese)
Abstract：世界規模での止まらぬ種多様性を代表とする生物多様性の喪失は、我々の直面する重要課題の一つである。種の絶滅は集団の絶滅の結果であり、生息地の分断化や喪失に起因する小集団化が引き金となる。理論的には、小集団化に伴って遺伝的多様性の喪失と、弱有害変異の蓄積が進むことによって集団の存続性が減少すると説明されている。しかしながら、小集団でありながら長期にわたり存続する例外もあるなど、小集団化の過程におけるゲノム内の遺伝的多様性動態や、遺伝子の機能的な反応はいまだよく分かっていない。

              ホトケドジョウ属魚類には、湿地帯に生息し近年の生息環境悪化による小集団化が知られる「ホトケ型」の他に、河川上流域の細流へ並行進出した「ナガレ型」が小集団で長期存続している。そのため、人為および自然条件下での小集団化に伴うゲノム進化過程を追求する良いモデルである。そこで、新規に染色体品質のゲノムを決定し、系統網羅的な全ゲノム解析を実施した。その結果、ナガレ型にはほとんど変異がなく、多数集団で共通するヘテロ接合性のホットスポットによって区切られたゲノム平坦化が見られた。ヘテロ接合性のホットスポットには免疫関連の遺伝子が多く見られ、こうした変異は小集団ながらも平衡選択によって維持されてきたと示唆された。また小集団から予想される有害変異の蓄積も見られなかった。一方で、ホトケ型集団では、一定の遺伝的多様性は維持されているものの有害変異蓄積の兆候が見られ、この傾向はヘテロ接合性のホットスポット近傍で顕著だった。本講演では、これらの結果を踏まえて、そもそも集団の存続に遺伝的多様性は必要なのか、どのような状況で絶滅リスクが高まるのかについて議論したい。

Biodiversity loss, represented by the ongoing loss of species diversity on a global scale, is our key challenge. Species extinction is the result of population extinction triggered by fragmentation and habitat loss resulting in small population sizes. Theoretically, the loss of genetic diversity and the accumulation of weakly deleterious mutations at small population sizes explain the reduced population viability. However, the dynamics of genetic diversity within the genome and the functional responses of genes at small population sizes are still poorly understood, with some exceptions persisting for long periods despite small populations.

Eight-barbel loaches are a good model to pursuit the genome evolutionary process associated with small population size under both anthropogenic impacts and natural conditions. This genus contains two contrasting ecotypes with different demographic histories. The "Hotoke" type, which inhabits wetlands, and the "Nagare" type, which invaded mountain streams in parallel. Several populations of the former ecotype are known to have suffered recent population declines due to habitat degradation, while the latter have persisted for a long time despite their small population size. We determined a new chromosome-quality genome and performed whole-genome analysis on phylogenetically comprehensive samples. The results of the "Nagare" type showed an absence of variation, with genomic flatlining separated by heterozygous hotspots shared by many populations. Immune-related genes were enriched in these heterozygous hotspots, suggesting that these mutations have been maintained by balancing selection despite their small population size. Furthermore, we found no evidence for deleterious mutation accumulation. On the other hand, the "Hotoke"-type populations showed some degree of genetic diversity, but showed evidence of deleterious mutation accumulation, and this tendency was more pronounced near the heterozygous hotspots. Based on these results, I'd like to discuss whether genetic diversity is necessary for the persistence of a population, and under what circumstances the risk of extinction increases.

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Presenter 2： Dr. Daniel Schofield (School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography, Oxford University)

                         https://www.anthro.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-daniel-schofield

Title： Visual AI for the Wildlife Sciences
Language:  English (Slides & Talk)
Abstract：The use of video recordings is fundamental to research in behavioural and wildlife sciences; however, expert manual annotation is both time-consuming and resource intensive. Machine learning offers the potential to rapidly analyse large scale video/audio datasets to increase the scale, depth and reproducibility of research, however these workflows are often not accessible to researchers without a background in computer science. In this talk I review research in the field of ‘computational ethology’; leveraging deep learning and computer vision to detect and track wild primates in video to study social behaviour. I outline the research of the Oxford EPSRC funded ‘Visual AI project’, and outline how researchers can leverage the latest AI tools and frameworks to transform their own research. 

2023年11月21日(火)　13:15～ @seminar room + zoom

Date: 21st November.  (Tue)  13:15-  @seminar room + zoom 

Presenter 1: Louise Mackie (PhD Candidate): Clever Dog Lab, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Austria)

Title: Who do I overimitate? A cross-species comparison of model identity’s influence on overimitation

Language:  Slides & Talk (English)

Abstract: Overimitation, the tendency to copy irrelevant actions from others, is a common behaviour observed in humans from childhood to adulthood. Recent research is shedding light on how overimitation in children is influenced by the identity of the model performing the irrelevant actions. Is this also the case with non-human animals? Model identity may be responsible for the lack of evidence of overimitation in other species. From domestic dogs to chimpanzees, contextual and species-specific considerations must be made before we can rightfully claim certain behaviours, such as oveirmitation, to be ‘human-unique’.

Presenter 2: Dr. Worata Klinsawat (PI Conservation ecology lab, King Mongkut's University of Technology, Thailand)

Title：Integrating phylogeography and population genetic monitoring for combating wildlife crime, promoting population recovery, and enhancing biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia
Language:  Slides & Talk (English)

Abstract：Historical geological events and complex climate fluctuations have shaped phylogeographic patterns and diversity of animal communities across Southeast Asia. This region however has faced a biodiversity crisis from habitat fragmentation and illegal wildlife trade at both local and international scale. The delay in identifying at-risk populations may hinder conservation efforts, endanger population viability and species persistence across human-modified landscapes. Integrating mitogenome and microsatellite variation data into an ongoing ecological and demographic monitoring will improve effectiveness in mapping spatial genetic diversity of elusive and wide-ranging birds and mammals, combating wildlife crime, planning captive breeding and reintroduction of genetically diverse founders. 

Presenter 1 ： Huiyuan Qi

Title：Development of epigenetic clocks in multiple felid species—from small to big, domestic to wild

         （ネコ科の多様な種におけるエピジェネティック時計の開発－小型種から大型種、飼育から野生まで－)

Language:   Slides (English)  & Talk (Japanese)

Presenter 2： Annegret Moto Naito-Liederbach

Title： Genetic Diversity Assessment and Conservation Implications for the Japanese Golden Eagle
Language:  English (slides & talking)

2023年10月24日(火)　13:15～ @seminar room + zoom

Date: 24th October.  (Tue)  13:15-  @seminar room + zoom 

Presenter 1 ： Shimei Shirasawa

Title：Undergraduate study and future perspectives

Language:  English (Slides & Talk)
Abstract：In this seminar, I will be explaining on my undergrad thesis and my plan for the master’s research plan.

For my undergrad’s thesis, I have observed the behaviour of a captive orangutans with a strong terrestrial nature and its hand preference. The subjects were habituated in Chausuyama zoo, Nagano and has been raised by the human hand at the same place. Some studies indicated that hand preference was a product of terrestriality. The subjects which were in the zoo showed strong terrestrial behaviour throughout the preliminary observation. However, the mother orangutan has passed away during the data collection, so the data was collected from 1 subject. The statistical analyses were performed in R using R studio and the graphs were based on the result of U-test.

For my master’s thesis, I will be researching on Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to investigate how they express positive emotions during grooming. Although, understanding the animal emotion has been a challenging topic in zoology, the topic has not fully studied due to its difficulties. Traditionally, the study was particularly difficult since the measurements were required to be attached to participants and the research was mainly conducted in laboratory. In contrast to this, a contact free method, infrared thermal camera (IRT) could be a tool to uncover further emotional states in wild animals during social interactions. Consequently, most recent studies using the IRT imaging has revealed animal’s physiological states when exposed to ecologically relevant situations. Here, I will be measuring the nose temperature of wild Japanese monkeys of Kojima islet, Japan when exposed to social grooming. 

Presenter 2： Hiroto Yoshimura

Title： A multifaceted approach to the study of plant-eating in feline carnivores
Language:    Slides (English)  & Talk (Japanese)

Language:  Slides (English)  & Talk (Japanese) 

Abstract：

現在、野生動物由来感染症が世界中で発生している。野生動物由来感染症の多くはEndemicな発生であり、早期に収束することが多い。一方で、今も世界で猛威を振るっているSARSCoV2を病原体とするCOVID19、鳥インフルエンザ、家畜分野では口蹄疫、豚熱、アフリカ豚熱等、病原体が一度ヒトや家畜に適応してしまうと甚大な被害を継続的に与える事例が度々発生している。本セミナーでは野生動物と接する際にリスクを減らすようなかかわり方、海外や国内の感染症浸潤地域に入った場合にどのような対応が推奨されるのか、またヒトやヒトが持ち込んだ家畜が野生動物に感染症を媒介（reverse zoonosis）し、被害を与えている状況について解説する。

Wildlife-derived infectious diseases are occurring all over the world. Wildlife-derived infectious diseases are endemic and often converge in early stages such as epidemics. However, such outbreaks sometimes cause extensive damage to the economy once the pathogen is adapted to humans and livestock, COVID-19 caused by SARSCoV2 and avian flu, foot and mouth disease (FMD), classical swine fever (CSF), and African swine fever (ASF). In this seminar, I will introduce how to reduce the risk when interacting with wild animals, what behaviors are recommended when we visit the area where the infectious disease occurs, and how humans and livestock pass the infectious diseases (reverse zoonosis) to wild animals.  

Presenter 1:  Dr. K V H Sastry (ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru India)

Title: Reproductive Technologies in Domestic Birds

Language: English

Abstract: Poultry are the domesticated avian species raised for eggs, meat and/or feathers. Poultry rearing was initially a backyard activity but now has grown up to a major commercial enterprise. Poultry products (meat and eggs) have been gaining popularity and occupying a considerable space in the food basket across the word. The specialized chicken lines have been bred in order to achieve either an efficient production of high-quality eggs or high growth rates. The phenomenal increase in egg production (Layers) and muscle growth (Broilers) has been achieved through high intensity selection coupled with suitable avian reproductive technologies over generations. Artificial Insemination is one of the widely used reproductive technologies for the breed/ strain development programs of poultry that helped in achieving the spectacular enhancement in production profiles. AI has become a boon to solving the fertility compatibility issues associated with male birds especially in broilers and turkeys. This technology also benefited in removing the inbreeding depression in some poultry species where strong pairing tendency is prevailed. AI is also getting momentum in non-domesticated birds assisting in creating viable, self-sustaining populations. Artificial Insemination technique has some of the important components such as semen collection, evaluation, semen diluents, semen storage, site of insemination, timing of insemination, number of sperm per insemination. Although the core components of the AI technique are same for all the species suitable modification are obligatory suiting to the variations in reproductive physiology of the species. In the layer industry, wherein female chicks are only preferred generally cull the co-hatched male chicks. Around 7 billion male chicks are killed immediately after their birth worldwide. Animal welfare organizations across the globe have been demanding for the elimination of these practices in the layer industry. Breeding companies, scientific groups, and hatcheries are attempting to resolve this issue, with a common aim to find feasible alternatives for the routine killing of male layer chicks. There is compelling necessity to develop suitable reproductive technologies to address this issue in poultry. Modulating the sex ratio towards female for layer industry has universal appeal. Fine tuning strategies for ZW males to produce spermatozoa bearing W chromosome and manipulation of sex specific gene expression to produce ZW males will be one of the viable options.

Key words: Artificial Insemination technology, Domesticated Birds, Gamete Preservation

------------------------------

Presenter 2： Dr. Ram Pratap Singh (Associate Professor, Department of Life Science, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya (Bihar), India)

Title: Avian Conservation: Multidisciplinary and Forensic Approach

Language:  English

Abstract: Birds are one of the most incredible creatures on Earth having distinct features as well as physiological and ecological requirements. Over 11000 bird species are present across the globe and each species plays an important role in our ecosystem. According to the report of Birdlife International (2022) 49% (5,412) of bird species populations are declining. Species with specific habitat preferences such as grasslands, arid land, forest, savannah and wetland show declining populations, globally. Common and widespread species are also substantially declining in abundance. The decline in bird population is attributed largely to habitat degradation, land use change, climate change and pollution, bird trafficking and anthropogenic factors. Considering the factors that affect bird species, species-specific conservation measures can be employed to control the crisis. However, an umbrella approach is needed to tackle bird decline on a long- term basis. This approach requires more focused studies on different aspects of bird biology to better understand reproduction, behavior, genetics, ecology, disease prevalence, etc. of birds. In addition, studies on illegal trafficking, and developing novel techniques for germplasm conservation and forensics are also important to help conserve birds.

Presenter 1 ： Negin Eslamibidgoli

Title：

1. The role of Autophagy in the heart

2. The potential role of latrines in communication and social interactions of invasive raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) on Yakushima island.

Language:  English
Abstract：

1. The role of Autophagy in the heart

In my undergraduate research, I investigated the role of the autophagy mechanism in the heart through a review study. Autophagy is a digestive process that occurs within eukaryotic cells, and its function is to maintain cell homeostasis and metabolic recycling. Studies have shown that autophagy is critical in maintaining myocardial cell homeostasis under normal and stressful conditions. However, this process is also reported to cause significant damage to cells during uncontrolled induction, and it could even lead to cell death. In this study, we concluded that autophagy's presence and function can be either beneficial or detrimental to the tissue's health, depending on its interaction with external and internal factors. With further fundamental research on the autophagy mechanism, it might be possible to develop more proper treatments using autophagy for various heart diseases.

2. The potential role of latrines in communication and social interactions of invasive raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) on Yakushima island.

For my Master's research, I plan to investigate the potential role of latrines in communication and social interactions of invasive raccoon dogs (Tanuki, Nyctereutes procyonoides) on Yakushima island. Tanuki is an opportunistic generalist species native to mainland Japan but invasive in Yakushima, where they could cause potential harm to endemic species through competition over resources, introducing new pathogens in the area, and promoting disease transmission. Tanuki performs an interesting behavior of defecating in specific sites repeatedly. There is little known about this behavior in Tanuki and the reason why they form latrines. I hypothesize that latrines are involved in communication and social interactions between Tanuki individuals, and I plan to investigate this hypothesis using field surveys and genetic analysis for individual, sex, and kinship identification.

Presenter 2： Mohamed M. Saidi

Title：

1.  Antimicrobial activity of Carica papaya seed extract

2. Genetic diversity of Captive Black rhinoceros species population in Japanese zoo: Implication for future conservation

Language:  English

Abstract：

1.    Antimicrobial activity of Carica papaya seed extract

In my undergraduate research, I studied the ability of Carica papaya seed extract in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria in Tanzania. Carica papaya, is a perennial plant that belongs to the family of Caricaceae, and several species of Caricaceae have been used as remedy against a variety of diseases. Studies conducted in Nigeria and Jamaica showed that there is a greater antibacterial activity in various extracts from different parts of the pawpaw tree. However, very little was documented regarding the antimicrobial activity of indigenous paw paw seed from Tanzania, despite their use as cure for various body complications like diarrhea, treatment of wound, relief of stomach ache and others. In study, we concluded that, Carica papayaseeds have bioactive compounds such as Tanin, alkaloids and saponin that are sensitive to microbial growth and can be sourced for antimicrobial drug formulations. 

Moreover, as part of my research experience, I will also introduce research I performed as Research assistant focused on the investigating the implication of various climate change induced coping and adaptation strategies on seaweed production levels in Zanzibar

2.    Genetic diversity of Captive Black rhinoceros species population in Japanese zoo: Implication for future conservation

For my Master’s thesis, I will access the genetic diversity of critically endangered Black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) living in Japan under captivity. The main roles of captive breeding programs especially for endangered species are serving the species from common wild environment poaching, insurance to wild re-introduction and behavior and physiological research among others. Species living in small and fragmented populations are severely prone to loss of genetic diversity, inbreeding depression and viability potential loss that may increase their extinction risk. For sound management and conservation, assessing the genetic health of a smaller population through genetic diversity plays a very critical role thus the purpose of this study. I predict to find considerable loss in genetic diversity and high relatedness among individuals by using molecular techniques.

Abstract：In my graduation thesis research, I introduced glucose sensing sensor to mice pancreatic cells, and try to monitor glucose concentration .This sencer named Red Glifon and it's a florescent sensor. It's flourescent peak refrect on glucose consentration where it is expressed. To deliver that molecule sencer to genome of pancreas, that was inserted in Adeno-associated virus(AAV) that can introduce into target cells. After 3 weeks of infection, mouse was incised under anethesia and we observed flourescent peaks of surface pancreas when glucose was insurted into gut. After that, I used immunostaining to see a localization of Red Glifon and Insulin(or Glucagon).

As a master student at WRC, I will research about 2 themes; 1)Interaction of Tushima leopard cats between captive ones and wild ones that would get close to captive ones. 2)Dietary changes of Tushima leopard cats.

I will observe captive leopard cats at acclimatization center, where number of wild cats increasing around. They have gotten closed to captive cats many times, so I put some cameras around the cage and I'll try to observe their interaction behavior. I also collect fecal samples of wild cats, and those samples would be used for sex determination and identifical determination , and also for hormone analysis in order to compare those data to captive one.

And I am also planning to do isotope analyze from wild cat's feces. Recently, at Tushima the number of hunted deer is increasing and there are many wirer traps in island; which leopard cats has also been caught by. I expected those cats eat those hunted deer and I will use wild cat's samples that have been collected from 1998.

By isotope analysis, I try to see if the cats eat deer and whether diet quantity would be changed.

10時～12時　森岡一先生　(WRC 特任教授)『野生動物研究者のためのABS基礎』

12時～13時　休憩

13時～13時15分　新宅勇太先生 (日本モンキーセンター・キュレーター／WRC特定准教授)『動物園飼育個体にまつわる課題（仮）』

13時15分～15時　森岡一先生『生息域外コレクションのABS対応』

Presenter 1 ： Dr. Heungjin Ryu (JSPS international research fellow. Department of Social Informatics, Kyoto University)

Title：Citibats: A citizen science-based bat acoustic monitoring program in Japan and Korea
Language:  English
Abstract：Citizen science, also known as public engagement in science, has been a rapidly rising discipline in science for the past few decades. Citizen science is also an effective way of promoting public education. In 2020, when there were growing concerns about bat conservation due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I started a citizen science program called Citibats in Korea to conduct acoustic monitoring on bats. The goal of the project is to monitor bats throughout Korea and raise public awareness of bats. Despite the pandemic situation, over 100 citizen scientists have contributed to the research over the last three years. As a result, we discovered 32 spots where at least three bat species were found and identified at least 14 bat species which account for around 70% of the bat fauna in Korea. In 2022, the project was extended to Japan with support from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The Citibats project is open to all people who are willing to join or start citizen science projects and outreach activities on bats. This year, this project aims to monitor bat migration between Japan and Korea over the sea and to compare bat distributions and activities in urban areas in the two countries. Now we are recruiting citizen participants for a hot spot survey in Kyoto and other areas in Japan so please let us know if you are interested in participating in the project.

Presenter 2： Lin Chaoyu

Title：Introducing my master research and the PhD research plan
Language:  English
Abstract：

1.Master's research: During my master's program, I focused on the subgenus of the genus Gekko. Species within this subgenus inhabit biodiversity hotspots in tropical and subtropical environments. In order to better conserve these species, it is crucial to conduct a more comprehensive investigation of their phylogeny and evolutionary history. In my study, I used 45 sequences (covering 19 species) to establish a phylogenetic tree based on the mitochondrial ND2 gene and CytB gene. This phylogenetic tree includes more species than previous evolutionary trees. Furthermore, by combining results of divergence time with ancestral area reconstruction analysis, I discussed their evolutionary history in the context of geological events, which could hint at a possible modern dispersal pattern itinerary.

2.PhD plan: Primates encounter complex survival scenarios and social environments, often necessitating risky decision-making to enhance their survival odds in the wild. My objective is to investigate whether cognitive differences among individual macaques lead to variance in survival decisions under uncertain conditions. Specifically, I aim to explore the link between risk preference and individual behavior in wild Japanese macaques. My research plan is as follows:

1)Differences in individual risk preferences when faced with choices in the environment, potential influencing factors, and individual variability. 

2)I plan to investigate and analyze the relationship between individual test results and key factors such as age, social status, and sex. This could potentially reveal variations in survival strategies among different individuals within the wild Japanese macaque population.

Date: 20th June  (Tue)  13:15-  @seminar room + zoom 

Presenter 1 ： Gakuto Ogawa

Title：Introduction of my past and future research
Language:  English (slides) & Japanese (talk)
Abstract： In this seminar, I will explain my graduation thesis and future research plan.

In my graduation thesis research, I described a new species of the spider. The specimens I observed were taken from Mt. Inone in Toyama Prefecture and have a characteristic trait of having hairs on the PA part. Previous studies have shown that PA traits are very important in this genus of spiders, and no species with PA cilia has been found so far. Therefore, it was judged to be a new species, and actual measurements and more detailed descriptions of its characteristics were performed, and the new species description was made.

The purpose of my research at WRC is to analyze changes in stress hormones in Tsushima leopard cats and contribute to their reintroduction into the wild. Currently, as part of the Ministry of the Environment’s protection and breeding project, a project to return captive Tsushima leopard cats to the wild is underway. However, understanding of the ecology and behavior of the Tsushima leopard cat, which is necessary for reintroduction to the wild, is insufficient, and detailed analysis is required. In my research, I would like to conduct the following three analyses.

1. Measurement of cortisol, which is an index of stress, from feces of Tsushima leopard cats.

2. With reference to the breeding diary prepared by the breeding staff, and withholding the results of 1, I attempt to identify behaviors and events that could cause stress.

3. Based on the results of sex hormone concentration measurements conducted by Gifu University, I will analyze the relationship between stress and reproduction.

-------------------------------

Presenter 2： Nishimoto Chinatsu

Title：Undergraduate and master’s research
Language:  English (slides) & Japanese (talk)
Abstract：

１. 「Effect of cryoprotectant solution volume on embryonic development in mouse oocytes vitrification」
２. 「Improvement of oocyte freezing and in vitro maturation techniques using domestic cats’ ovaries to establish assisted reproductive technology (ART) in wild cats」

1. My undergraduate research was on oocytes cryopreservation, particularly vitrification. Vitrification is one method of cryopreservation, which involves replacing the intracellular fluid of the oocytes with a cryoprotectant, and rapidly cooling and freezing it with liquid nitrogen. However, the oocytes suffer cellular damage during the cooling and thawing process. To prevent cell damage to preserve and utilize high-quality oocytes, it is necessary to reduce the volume of cryoprotectants solution during vitrification. Our laboratory has developed a special device, Kitasato vitrification system (KVS), for oocytes vitrification which can minimize the volume of cryoprotectants, but its effect for post-thaw oocytes viability has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, using mouse oocytes as a model for human infertility medicine, the effects of KVS with different amounts of cryoprotectant on oocytes vitrification were examined. The results suggest that reducing the volume of cryoprotectant in vitrified mouse oocytes by using KVS device would improve their survival and fertilization rates.

2. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been developed for the treatment of human infertility. This also has a potential to contribute to maintain genetic diversity in endangered species and to overcome infertility problems in captive wild animals. However, optimal ART remains to be established in the feline family, which has many endangered species. In particular, oocytes have not been studied well in comparison to sperm, due to the difficulty of obtaining them and the size of the cells. In my master’s research, using feline ovaries as a model for wild cats, I will investigate techniques for cryopreservation and in vitro maturation of oocytes to promote their fertility. As for my research plan, I will focus on signaling systems that maintain and activate cell functions, including Sirtuins-mediated systems such as nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).   

Language ：  English
Abstract：

１． In general, small islands lack predators, because organisms at the higher trophic levels usually struggle to survive in such small islands. Although Iriomotejima Island, located in the southernmost part of the Ryukyu Archipelago is considered to be a small island and covers only an area of 284 km2, some predators are living inside it. The top predators on the island are represented by the Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) and the crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela perplexus). For understanding how these two top predators coexist on such small island, we have focused on their food habits, which is believed to be crucial for their survival in such small island with limited food resources. Although there are several diet analysis studies of these top predators in the literature, they were mainly based on fragmentally information and had failed to identify food items at the species level. Therefore, to compare the diets of these predators, we had used the DNA barcoding analysis based on DNA extracted from fecal samples. We had detected that food items were partially shared between them, particularly, the high occurrence of Sakishima rice frog (Fejervarya sakishimensis), showing the highest biomass in Iriomotejima Island, in the fecal samples of both predators. However, the frequency of occurrence of many food items were different between them seasonally. We concluded that the seasonal differences in the predation patterns among them and the predation of high biomass animals might explain the reason of coexistence of the two top predators in such small island with limited resources.

２． The Island ecosystems, with many unique endemic species, can help us to understand the vital impacts of the biodiversity and to learn more about the biological evolution issues. Iriomotejima and Ishigakijima Islands are two of the representative islands in Japan, and have many endemic species. My research target, crested serpent eagle, is an endemic top predator subspecies living in the aforementioned two islands and was listed as endangered (class IA) by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. The crested serpent eagles are considered important species for maintaining the ecosystems balance in these islands because they prey on a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates.

The poisonous cane toad was introduced and confirmed to have become established in Ishigakijima Island since 1978. Predators that prey on toads are sometimes known to die from the effects of their poison, raising concerns about the negative impact of the toads on the native species of Ishigakijima Island. However, despite frequent predation of toads by crested serpent eagles, no poisoning cases have been reported. Additionally, the previous diet analyses of crested serpent eagles on Ishigakijima Island are also limited to fragmentary information and do not accurately reflect the extent of the predation on cane toads. Therefore, my primary objective is to construct more detailed diet information for this eagle on Ishigakijima Island using DNA barcoding. This will provide a comprehensive understanding of the actual predation situation of cane toads.

Some animals that inhabit and coexist with the toads’ natural habitat were resistant to their toxins, it is believed that the crested serpent eagle acquired the toxin resistance too. On the other hand, cane toads have not been confirmed to be established on Iriomotejima Island, another habitat of this eagle, and it is unclear whether the eagle population on Iriomotejima Island is resistant to toad toxins or not. Therefore, my second objective is to understand whether the predation on poisonous toads can influence the evolution of the crested serpent eagle by comparing the genes and genomes of crested serpent eagles inhabiting these two islands.

Presenter 1 ： XU Zhihong (PhD thesis concept presentation) （13:15～ @Inuyama Campus Large Conference Room + Zoom）

Title：Linking Sociability to Disease Transmission in Macaques
Language:  English

Presenter 2： Annegret Moto Naito-Liederbach (PWS final examination) （15:30～ @WRC seminar room + Zoom）

Title：Conservation genetics of the Japanese golden eagle: from diversity to function
Language:  English

In this seminar, I will explain my graduation thesis and future research plan.

In my graduation thesis research, I conducted expression and functional analysis of one protein during early development of the starfish, Patiria pectinifera. Echinoderms including starfish are located at the base of the deuterostomes which lead to vertebrates in phylogenic tree. Therefore, they are very important animals when considering phylogenetic evolution. It was clarified that the protein I analyzed may have important roles during development of the starfish in previous research. In my research, expression patterns of the protein were analyzed by RT-PCR and whole-mount in situ hybridization. Furthermore, its functions were analyzed by inhibition of translation of the protein using Morpholino antisense oligo. In conclusion, there may be a relationship between mature of nerve cells and the protein during early development of the starfish.

My research plan at WRC is to analyze mitogenomes of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Japan to clarify their evolutionary factors. There are some previous studies targeted at killer whales around the world, but they lack data obtained from Japan. The purpose of this research is to compensate data of evolutionary factors of killer whales in Japan for the previous studies. In my research, I would like to conduct three experiments using mitogenomes of killer whales in Japan in the below.

1. Determine the best phylogenic tree of killer whales around the world using data of mitogenomes

2. Predict genetic and timeseries distance of killer whales in Japan from those in other countries

3. Predict selection detection and demographic history of killer whales in Japan

Abstract：Once known as the “Land of a Million Elephants”, Laos’ Asian elephant population is on the brinks of extinction. Laos is a biodiversity hotspot of global importance. However, it faces environmental challenges due to rapid economic growth and unsustainable resource extraction practices. Despite having over 18% of land under protected areas, forest cover has declined at an alarming rate, to reach a historical low of 23%. Local livelihood systems are threatened due to the loss of biodiversity and degraded landscapes. So are the last Asian elephants of the country.

Since 2001, the Elephant Conservation Center (‘ECC’. Formerly ‘ElefantAsia’) and its partners aim to develop new approaches to conservation that address these challenges and provide co-benefits for people and nature in a financially sustainable manner. The ECC focuses on the conservation of elephants, which is a national symbol and offers a unique entry point to address conservation in a holistic and effective manner. A particularity of the ECC is to blend traditional mahout knowledge with modern science.

Presenter： Sébastien DUFFILLOT (Founder of Elephant Conservation Center)
Sebastien Duffillot, co-founder of ElefantAsia and the Elephant Conservation Center, President of France-based NGO “Elephants & People” (Des Eléphants & Des Hommes) and a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN will present past, current and future research and conservation work undertaken in Laos to protect this emblematic species. 

Presenter 1  (13:15~)： Sherif Ramadan

Title：Identification of a novel 10-bp indel in DRD2 3' UTR gene and its association with temperament of Egyptian buffaloes during milking
Language:  English
Abstract：Domestication has been essential to the progress of human civilization. Domestication is an evolutionary process accompanied by morphological, physiological, and behavioral changes. Tameness, enabled by reduced aggressiveness and increased tolerance toward humans, is the hallmark of domestication process. Dopaminergic genes (DRD1 to DRD5) play important role in the evolution of tameness during animals’ domestication. Domestic water buffalo has been grouped into two types based on behavioral and morphological characters: the swamp buffalo distributed and overlapped closely with rice agriculture in Southeast Asian countries prized for their draft power are characterized by extraordinarily docility and obedience. The river buffaloes distributed in Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Italy, prized for their high-fat and dry-matter milk contents are characterized by increased aggression and temperamental instability. The aim of the current study was to investigate the DNA polymorphisms and the possible association of one of the dopaminergic genes (DRD2 gene) with temperament of Egyptian river buffaloes during milking process.

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Presenter 2 (14:30~)： Pandora Pinto (PhD thesis out-line presentation)

Title：Exploring the origin mechanisms and adaptive significance of multi-male groups in feral horse societies
Language:  English
Abstract：

Animals adapt their behaviour to maximize their fitness in response to differences in their social and ecological environment, as well as competitive capabilities, so that we may expect variation in mating behaviour. In polygynous mammals, male’s mating success is highly variably and therefore competition for mates is intense with only a few individuals achieving reproduction. Consequently, some males may employ alternative mating strategies. In feral horses (/Equus caballus/), females (mares) can associate in year-round social groups with one male (single-stallion (SS) groups) or multiple adult males (multi-stallion (MS) groups). However, as stallions compete to monopolize mares, MS groups raise questions regarding their origin mechanisms and adaptive value. This thesis aimed to provide new insights on stallion mating strategies by reassessing previously proposed hypotheses and exploring intra-specific variation in stallions’ traits, using a multidisciplinary a
pproach and non-invasive technologies. The Garrano horse population in Serra d’Arga, a threatened and emblematic breed of northern Portugal, serves as a natural model to study horses’ social organization and behaviour due to the presence of natural predators (wolves, /Canis lupus signatus/) and low human management.
In chapter II, I explored if morphological features are a differentiating factor between stallions of SS and MS groups. Body size did not vary significantly among stallions, regardless of their status or female group size, suggesting that body size is not a good indicator of male quality and/or fighting ability in horses, as observed in other polygynous species. Thus, the hypothesis that MS stallions are inferior competitors, based on their size, and consequently cooperate to enhance their reproductive opportunities was not supported.
In chapter III, I tested the costs and benefits predicted for MS groups by previous studies. Demographic and behavioural data showed that reciprocal altruism and by-product mutualism hypotheses may not entirely explain the relationship between stallions in the same group. Dominant stallions in MS groups may profit from the presence of subordinate stallions, but the latter seems to benefit little in relation to their efforts. Conversely, I did not find discernibly clear negative effects of stallion-to-mare harassment in MS groups as proposed by the Consort hypothesis. Additionally, this study was the first to report on predation impact by wolves in MS and SS groups, highlighting the need to further explore how different ecological pressures shape horse behaviour and social organization.
In chapter IV, I looked into patterns of stallion-mare and stallion-stallion socio-spatial behaviour in feral horses and their contributing social factors. Mare group size, rank, reproductive status, and genetic relatedness had a significant influence on stallion-mare distance. The frequency of affiliative interactions between the sexes was mainly affected by mare group size and reproductive status, while stallion aggression towards mares was driven by mare group size, tenure, and genetic relatedness. While MS dominant stallions and SS stallions displayed similar patterns of interaction with females, in MS groups male status played a defining role in shaping stallion-mare and stallion-stallion social dynamics. Challenging prior hypothesizes framing MS groups as competitive associations driven by male-female relationships, these findings suggest it is the bond between the stallions that contributes to MS group formation.
Animal social interactions are nuanced, and cooperation and competition can be closely intertwined, even among cooperating male partners. Here I present novel results and offer new insights on the topic of MS groups, which have application for domestic horses’ welfare and population management. Ultimately, the findings of this thesis can contribute to our broader understanding of the selective pressures underlying alternative mating strategies and male sociality in polygynous species.

Abstract：Amazon has the highest freshwater fish fauna in the world with more than 3000 species formally described living in black-, clear- and white- water types. Many hypotheses have been developed considering different factors as evolutionary drivers of the Amazon fish biodiversity. They mainly focused on speciation through allopatric processes. However, the Amazon aquatic environment highly varies in physical and chemical parameters, affecting the sensory systems of the aquatic biota. Here, I investigated how the divergent Amazon water types can drive the evolution of the Amazon fish. Firstly, I reviewed the physical and chemical characteristics of the Amazon waters and how they can drive the divergent evolution of the sensory systems, ultimately leading populations to be reproductively isolated. Then, I used the sailfin tetra Crenuchus spilurus, an Amazon small fish species that lives in forest streams of black and clear water types, as a model species to investigate how divergent underwater lighting conditions drive populations apart through behavioral and genetic experiments. I evaluated the effects of different colored water types on male ornaments’ colors and on female mating choice. Black water light increased the perception of the male ornaments’ red colors. However, it also decreased the among-individual variation of the ornament red coloration. All females preferred larger-ornamented males as mating partners. Females living in clear waters were more likely to accept mates and under black water lighting conditions. On the other hand, different lighting conditions did not affect the mating choice for those females living in black waters. I suggest that the lower among-individual variation in male ornaments coloration due to the environmental lighting condition under black water represents a potential fitness cost to females living in such waters. I also investigated the female color preference outside the mating context. Females from black and clear waters preferred red colors; however, such preference was stronger for those females living in clear waters. I also investigated the expected maximum absorbance wavelength (λmax) and the expression levels of the long wavelength (LWS) genes - responsible for sensing red colors. I found three copies of the LWS1 (red color sensitive) and two copies of the LWS2 (green color sensitive) genes in all samples. These copies of the LWS1 gene were genetically similar and the expected λmax did not differ among the populations. The expression levels of the LWS1 genes were similar for all populations; however, it could be expected since individuals were kept under similar captivity conditions before the acquisition of the genetic samples. The two copies of the LWS2 did not differ in their expected λmax. Because of the high environmental instability in the Amazon forest streams, I propose that visual adaptations may occur in the gene expression profile. I encourage future investigations into Amazon forest stream biota for a better understanding of how the biota evolves and the drives of such huge biodiversity. Finally, understanding the evolutionary mechanisms in Amazon fish fauna can help us to manage the actual biodiversity and propose optimal conservation efforts. 

【Introduction】Over the last half century, sea otters (Enhydra lutris) have been slowly and steadily returning to eastern Hokkaido. These sea otters feed upon a variety of benthic organisms, including crabs, sea urchins, and bivalves, etc. In this area, a major red tide (Karenia selliformis) event occurred in the fall of 2021, resulting in a massive sea urchin die-off. To see if this event had an impact on the diet composition of sea otters in eastern Hokkaido, we observed the feeding behavior and revealed the change of diet percentage composed.

【Materials and Methods】We conducted survey from May to September during 2018-2022 in eastern Hokkaido. When sea otters were spotted, and confirmed to be feeding, the feeding dive observation would begin. Observations were made focally utilizing binoculars, and prey items were identified to the highest level of specificity possible.

【Results and Discussion】In the 2022 research period, there was an observed decrease in the percentage of otter diets comprised of sea urchins. Both the percentages of bivalves and snails displayed an increase in 2022. As generalists meaning they consume a wide variety of prey, sea otters have a resilience and an ability to adapt to loss of access to specific prey items. Historically, sea otter populations have shown an ability to change in the face of shifts in the benthic organism community. In Amchitka Island in Alaska, for example, during a time period when there was greater limitation in the otter’s ability to access sea urchins, the diet composition of the local sea otter population showed a shift towards a higher percentage of fish. From this research period, it could be shown that sea otter population’s diet displayed a shift in response to an environmental stressor that reduced access to a certain prey item (sea urchin percentage fell from an average of 11% over the preceding years to 0% in 2022). However, there is not enough of a significant change to determine if it is a behavioral change. Therefore more data must be collected going forward to determine the greater impact on sea otter behavior and the population’s health in general.