Laboratory Of Marine Plant Ecology
Research and Education
In coastal reef areas, large brown algae such as kelp and sargassum form colonies called "marine forests" and "algae beds." Marine forests are not only highly productive through photosynthesis, but are also important from the perspective of biodiversity as habitats, spawning and nursery grounds for fish and shellfish, including useful fish species.
Based on ecology and fisheries science, we study how seaweed and herbivores such as sea urchins and snails interact in seaweed ecosystems. For this reason, we conduct field surveys by SCUBA diving, as well as indoor rearing, culture experiments, and genetic analysis in laboratories. In addition, we aim to establish technology to create or maintain marine forests in order to sustain coastal fisheries as ocean warming progresses. In collaboration with fisheries officials and food company researchers, we have also worked on research aimed at improving seaweed farming technology and improving the quality of sea urchins.
New Topics
2022
2022.10.15 Presented at the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science Tohoku Branch Convention (online) (Aoki/Suzuki)
2022.10.02 Presentation at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Crustacean Society of Japan (Hybrid) (Sonaka and Aoki)
2022.09.26 Graduation Ceremony (Harshna・Kellee)
2022.09.10 Emeritus Professor Yukio Azuma's final lecture was held: https://www.agri.tohoku.ac.jp/jp/news/
2022.09.04 Presented at the 2022 Joint Meeting of the Plankton Society of Japan and the Society of Benthology of Japan (Online) (Sonaka and Aoki)
2022.09.01 Master's thesis interim presentation was held (Liu, Abe, Tashiro, Horie)
2022.08.08 AMB course graduation thesis presentation was held (Kellee)
2022.06.21 Amanda's paper was published in Hydrobiology 1: 252-277 (Adriansyah)
2022.04.25 “Oceans – and the impact of humans and climate change” - Presentation at OIST-Tohoku U. 2nd Joint Workshop on Marine Science (Suzuki)
2022.04.05 Orientation for the new academic year was held.
2022.03.30 Harshna's paper was published in J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10: 479 (Harshna)
2022.03.30 Presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Algology (Online) (Suzuki, Horie)
2022.03.25 Graduation ceremony (Kakuda, Sekiguchi, Hori, Abe, Ogino, Tashiro, Chiba, Horie)
2022.03.04 Graduation thesis presentation was held (Abe, Ogino, Tashiro, Chiba, Horie)
2021
2021.02.14 Master's thesis presentation was held (Sekiguchi, Tsunoda, Hori)
2021.12.04 Presented at the 17th Echinoderm Research Meeting (Online) (Hori/Matsuda)
2021.10.29 Participated in the Ministry of the Environment's Tohoku Pacific Ecosystem Monitoring Survey (Yamada Bay, Iwate Prefecture) (Aoki/Suzuki)
2021.10.23 Presented at the Japan Society of Fisheries Science Tohoku Branch Convention (Suzuki/Kakuda)
2021.10.23-24 Presentation at the 59th Online Conference of the Crustacean Society of Japan (Sekiguchi/Fukasawa)
2021.10.23-24 The 59th Online Conference of the Crustacean Society of Japan was held
2021.10.15 Participated in the Ministry of the Environment's 1000 monitoring site survey (Shimoda, Izu) (Aoki/Suzuki)
2021.09.18 Presented at the Japan Society of Benthology and Plankton Society Joint Conference (Aoki/Amanda)
2021.09.14 Participated in ecosystem monitoring survey organized by the Ministry of the Environment, Tohoku Pacific Ocean (Onagawa Bay) (Aoki/Suzuki)
2021.09.01 Graduation research presentation of AMB course was held (Amanda/Lin)
2021.08.14 Leave a Nest "Marine Challenge Program 2021 Hokkaido/Tohoku" (Aoki)
2021.08.01 My (Aoki) book 'Wakame' was selected as a book for the Iwate Prefectural Reading Report Contest (Aoki)
2021.07.31 A snorkeling experience tour was held at Yura Beach in Yamagata Prefecture. (Aoki, Hori, Usui, Terashima, Tashiro)
2021.03.25 Graduation ceremony and graduation ceremony were held (Ito, Oh, Suzuki, Chuma, Maeda, Akakura, Terashima, Fukasawa, Matsuda, Watanabe)
2021.03.05 Graduation research presentation was held (Akakura, Terashima, Fukasawa, Matsuda, Watanabe)
2021.03.04 Shizugawa wakame seaweed farming with blue LED lights was broadcast on NHK TV and NHK World (Aoki)
2021.02.08 Master's thesis review and presentation was held (Wang, Suzuki, Chuma, Maeda)
2020
2020.12.17 Doctoral dissertation examination was held (Ito)
2020.03.25 A student from our laboratory received the 2019 Graduate School Dean's Award and the President's Award (Takagi)
2020.02.14 A student from our laboratory was selected for the Japan Society of Fisheries Science Tohoku Branch Chief Award (Takagi)
Organisms to be studied
Seaweeds
Arame・Ecklonia・Wakame・Fushisujimoku・Akamoku・Yoremoku・Makusa・Ibotunomata・Hijiki・Sujiaonori etc.
Animals
Kubogai, Koshidaka gangara・Kitamurasaki sea urchin・Bafun sea urchin・ Konbunonekuimushi・Kishishaktoridoronomi, Kominatowarekara・Hosowarekara・Muscular jellyfish・Jumonji jellyfish
History of Laboratory
Achievements
Research achievements in the laboratory so far (since 2014).
Alumni (Please click on the button to see our alumni)
Laboratory and Staff Members
Events in 2022
Our laboratory conducts 5 seminars and continuous research throughout the year.
In addition to research, we also actively participate in cherry-blossom viewing, BBQ, imoni party, and experience diving.
(These events could not be held in 2020-2021...)
Diving Stage Ariel
This is a long-established diving shop in Sendai that we are always indebted to!
Most of our students have received their diving licenses from here. Instruction for receiving your license is also available English!
Contact Information
Aquatic Plant Ecology Laboratory
468-1 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 980-8572
Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tohoku University
Agricultural Research Building (main building) 3F E316
Phone +81-22-757-4153 Fax +81-22-757-4155
The laboratory logo, which is based on the image of a seaweed ecosystem, depicts the organisms that are the subject of research in this laboratory.
The seaweed on the left is Arame, and the one on the right is Sargassum. Sea urchins (right: Bafun sea urchin, left: Kitamurasaki sea urchin) and snail shells are also found on the seaweed.
*The logo was created in May 2013.
Please click on the button to see our Alumni.