Identification of spawning induced pheromone and clarification of synchronous spawning mechanism in bivalves

• Project/Area Number: 15K14561
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kurita Yoshihisa 東北大学, 農学研究科, 助教 (40725058)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YOSHIKUNI Michiyasu 九州大学, 大学院農学研究院, 教授 (50210662)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: フェロモン / 一斉産卵 / 精巣 / バイオアッセイ / HPLC / 二枚貝 / 産卵 / 同調性 / 産卵誘発物質 / 軟体動物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to determine the spawning induced pheromone of bivalves, and to elucidate the endocrinological basis of synchronous behavior of their spawning. Analysis using multiple bivalve species suggested that a synchronous spawning system via spawning inducing pheromone may be a widely common mechanism for bivalves. We also attempted to isolate and purify substances possessing spawning-inducing activity using Mytilid bivalves.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] First record of the brachiopod Lingula reevii (Brachiopoda, Lingulidae) from the Sea of Japan. (2018)
  • Author(s): Kazuki Kanno, Akihiko Koyama, Yoshihisa Kurita
  • Journal Title: Biogeography Volume: 印刷中
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Biological report of a giant deep-sea squid Onykia robusta collected from the Sanriku coast, Japan: Implications for low genetic diversity. (2018)
  • Author(s): Yoshihisa Kurita
  • Journal Title: Marine Biodiversity Volume: 48 Issue: 1 Pages: 685-688
  • DOI: 10.1007/s12526-017-0770-8
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Evolution of the molluscan body plan: the case of the anterior adductor muscle in bivalves (2016)
  • Author(s): Yoshihisa Kurita, Naoki Hashimoto, Hiroshi Wada
  • Journal Title: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society Volume: 119 Issue: 2 Pages: 420-429
  • DOI: 10.1111/bij.12812
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Molecular analysis of the distributions of the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea (O.F. Muller, 1774), and threatened native clam, C. leana Prime, 1867, on Kyushu Island, Japan. (2016)
  • Author(s): Takuya Okawa, Yoshihisa Kurita, Kazuki Kanno, Akihiko Koyama, Norio Onikura.
  • Journal Title: Bioinvasion records Volume: 5 Pages: 25-29
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Noninvasive molecular methods to identify bivalve species using DNA extracted from the mantle cavity waters. (2018)
  • Author(s): Yoshihisa Kurita, Minoru Ikeda, Akihiro Kijima
  • Organizer: International symposium -Fisheries Science for Future Generations-
  • Int'l Joint Research