Current Projects

Assessing adaptation over time and the effective population size of Japanese eel

Japanese eel is an important commercial fisheries species, yet has also been classified as endangered by CITES and the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Together with collaborators from the Japenese Fisheries Agency, collaegues and I at Nagano Univeristy are assessing the effective population size of Japanese eel and analysing SNP data from several time periods to determine if there are any loci under selection that could indicate adaptation over time.

Understanding connectivity and the effect of disturbance on the freshwater communities of the Chikuma River

The Chikuma-Shinano Basin is one of the largest in Japan and hosts a diversity of freshwater taxa. The basin is also subject to human (agricultural and urban development) and natural (floods) disturbances and fragmentation due to dams and weirs. Colleagues and I at Nagano University are using a combination of eDNA, fish surveys, biofilm community functional analysis, and more to assess the freshwater communities of this important river basin.

Global phylogeography and genomics of an emerging infectious disease of fish

Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS, in Japanese: 真菌性肉芽腫症) affects over 100 species of fish around the world. It was first described in Japan in the early 1970s, and then was observed in Australia, SE Asia, N America and more recently Africa. The disease is caused by a water mould (Oomycete), Aphanomyces invadans. This project aims to utilise a genomics approach to address questions that will help improve our understanding and management of this disease, such as where the pathogen originated, how it has dispersed around the world and whether and local adaptations have evolved.

Exploring the biodiversity of Japanese headwater streams

Headwater streams are often not well defined but they do make up a substantial portion of river networks and can make significant contributions to regional level freshwater biodiversity. Utilising traditional sampling and eDNA this project aims to investigate the biodiversity of headwaters in the Chikuma and Agano basins.

Population genetics to assist with wildlife management

I am also collaborating on several projects that use a population genetics approach to assist in wildlife management, e.g. introduced species (raccoon) in Nagano and freshwater fish (Salmonids) in the difficult-to-return zones in Fukushima.