CURRICULUM VITAE (last update, January 2023)
Shumpei KITAMURA, Ph.D.
Current Position:
Associate Professor, Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Bioresources and Environmental Sciences, Ishikawa Prefectural University.
1-308, Suematsu, Nonoichi, Ishikawa, 921-8836, JAPAN.
Tel: +81-76-227-7478, Fax: +81-76-227-7410, Email: shumpei [at] ishikawa-pu.ac.jp
Place of Birth:
Ishikawa, JAPAN (February 1975)
Nationality:
Japanese
I am a plant ecologist and my main interests are within tropical ecology. I am particularly interested in plant-animal interactions in tropical forests of Southeast Asia. I focus on the role of large frugivores, especially hornbills, as seed dispersal agents and the impact of their loss in tropical forest ecosystems. As seed dispersers, hornbills help grow trees in their forest habitat: this means where there are hornbills, there should be a relatively vigorous forest.
I did my Masters in Khao Yai National Park in Thailand, working on interactions between fruits and frugivores at the community level in Khao Yai forest and my PhD focusing on the effectiveness of hornbills as seed dispersers for large-seeded tree species (Aglaia spectabilis & Canarium euphyllum) again in Khao Yai. My post-doc study focused on consequences of hornbill-loss in small isolated forests of southern Thailand and what happens to hornbill-dispersed fruits in these half-empty forests. My current study focuses on the role of hornbills as long distance seed dispersers in Thai forest.
Ph. D. (Botany):
Department of Botany, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Japan, March 2003.
PhD thesis: Interactions between fruit and frugivores in a tropical seasonal forest in Thailand: special reference to seed dispersal by hornbills.
M. Sc. (Botany):
Department of Botany, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Japan, March 2000.
MS thesis: Seed dispersal by hornbills in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.
B. Sc. (Biology):
Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Japan, March 1998.
BS thesis: Seed dispersal by hornbills in a tropical forest in Thailand.
Associate Professor, April 2012 - Current. Ishikawa Prefectural University, Ishikawa, Japan.
Curator, April 2009 - March 2012. The Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo, Japan.
JSPS Research Fellow (PD), April 2006 - March 2009. Faculty of Science, Rikkyo University, Japan.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, April 2004 - March 2006. Thailand Hornbill Project, Mahidol University, Thailand.
JSPS Research Fellow (DC1), April 2000 - March 2003. Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Japan.
Postdoctoral Research, 2007-2009. Budo-Sungai Padi National Park & Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand.
・ Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Rikkyo University, Japan.
・ Consequences of seed disperser loss in lowland dipterocarp forests in Southern Thailand.
Postdoctoral Research, 2004-2006. Budo-Sungai Padi National Park & Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand.
・ Thailand Hornbill Project, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand.
・ Assessing the role of hornbills as seed dispersers in degraded forests of southern Thailand.
PhD Research, 2000-2003. Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.
・ Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Japan.
・ Assessing the role of hornbills as seed dispersers (via the contribution of hornbills for large-seeded plants).
MSc Research, 1998-1999. Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.
・ Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Japan.
・ Assessing the role of hornbills as seed dispersers (via frugivory of hornbills)
BSc Research, August 1997. Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.
・ Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Japan.
・ Evaluating the role of hornbill as seed dispersers (via seedling distribution around nests and roosts of hornbills)
Voluntary Fieldworker, July 1996. Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia.
・ Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Japan.
・ Collecting plant specimen (mostly fruits) during general flowering period.
Effectiveness of Brown-eared bulbuls as seed dispersers for shrubs and herbs in temperate forests of Japan, 2022-2025.
・ Japan Society of Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (2,700,000 JPY).
The fates of large-seeded plants in a half-empty forest, Thailand, 2017-2022.
・ Japan Society of Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (3,800,000 JPY).
The fates of hornbill-dispersed seeds in a tropical seasonal forest, Thailand, 2013-2016.
・ Japan Society of Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists B (3,400,000 JPY).
Seed shadows generated by hornbills in tropical seasonal forests, Thailand, 2010-2013.
・ Japan Society of Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists B (3,200,000 JPY).
Consequences of seed disperser loss in lowland dipterocarp forests in southern Thailand, 2006-2009.
・ Japan Society of Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral study (3,400,000 JPY).
Seed dispersal by hornbills in degraded forests of southern Thailand, 2004-2006.
・ Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand. Postdoctoral study (1,419,400 Baht).
Seed dispersal by hornbills in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, 2000-2003.
・ Japan Society of Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship for Doctoral study (3,000,000 JPY).
平成28年度 金沢大学と石川県立大学との教育研究活動 (100,000 JPY)
平成27年度 金沢大学と石川県立大学との教育研究活動 (100,000 JPY)
石川県立大学 平成27年度 若手研究プロジェクト (700,000 JPY)
石川県立大学 平成26年度 若手研究プロジェクト (640,000 JPY)
Japan Society of Tropical Ecology, KIRA Awards for young scientist (June 2006).
Hobbies: bird-watching, cooking (Japanese & Thai), hiking, & jogging.
Foreign language skills: speak English, Thai, & some Yawi (similar to Malay).
Voluntary member of Kyoto Municipal Zoo (1994-2003).
NHK Wildlife (Wildlife Photographer of the World: Thailand, South-East Asia, Chain of Life in Tropical Forest)