Maintenance mechanisms of coral communities in Japan

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K07527
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamura Masako 東海大学, 海洋学部, 准教授 (50580156)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中島 祐一 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 海洋生態物理学ユニット, 研究員 (50581708) ; 御手洗 哲司 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 海洋生態物理学ユニット, 准教授 (80567769)
• Research Collaborator: SAKAI Kazuhiko ; KOHNO Hiroyoshi ; MEZAKI Takuma ; NOMURA Keiichi
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: サンゴ群集 / 維持・回復機構 / 幼生加入 / 分散機構 / 撹乱

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Community structure and recruitment of coral communities along the coast of Japan were observed. Field surveys were conducted at southern and central Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Shikoku, southern Wakayama and northwestern Izu peninsula. As a result, main composer of coral communities were similar at family level but % cover and impact of mass bleaching in 2016 differed among areas. In addition, the amount and family/species composition of recruitment were different among areas. These results suggested difference in maintenance mechanisms of coral communities among areas.

Free Research Field

海洋生態学、群集生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本は、１つの国で亜熱帯域から温帯域にかけてサンゴ群集を対象とした実態研究を行える数少ない場所であり、本研究はこの「地の利」を活かし、日本沿岸のサンゴ群集維持機構の解明を目指したものである。群集生態学、海洋物理学、集団遺伝学の手法を統合することで、地域よって異なる維持機構とその要因を推定した。これらの知見は、今後の日本の沿岸域生態系の動態予測や対策を講じる上で重要な基礎的知見である。