Development of the method for evaluating habitat importance of Japanese eels by using environmental DNA sequencing

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18485
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Conservation of biological resources
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Tanabe Akifumi 神戸大学, 理学研究科, 学術研究員 (40549044)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝的多様度 / ハプロタイプ / D-loop

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Because Japanese eels can be found in broad area including headwater stream to coastal area, we cannot determine which area is the most important habitat for Japanese eels. This should be solved for improving habitat environment of Japanese eels. Here, I developed the method for evaluating habitat importance of Japanese eels based on environmental DNA sequencing. In the test field, it is indicated that the upper area of estuarine basin is the most important habitat for Japanese eels. This result suggest that restoration of the upper area of estuarine basin and improvement of accessibility of this area from the lower area are required for recovering Japanese eel population.

Free Research Field

バイオインフォマティクス・群集生態学