2017 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Phylogeography and species delimitations of IndoPacific deep corals.
| Project/Area Number |
17K15176
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| Research Institution | University of the Ryukyus |
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Principal Investigator |
フレデリック シニゲル 琉球大学, 熱帯生物圏研究センター, 研究員 (10625940)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | Mesophotic / Coral / Biodiversity |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY2017, a workshop with the Indonesian and Philippine collaborators was organised in Indonesia in September 2017 to synchronise research activities and train young researchers contributing to this project. In addition, the first quadrat data for Indonesian mesophotic corals were obtained together with Prof. Jompa (Hasanuddin University) and Dr. Madduppa (Institu Perantian Bogor). Additional photoquadrats were obtained together with Dr. Madduppa at two more sites in Indonesia and samples of Seriatopora for DNA analyses were collected by Dr. Madduppa.
MOUs and a letters of agreement, were prepared to facilitate collaboration between the Tropical Biosphere Research Center of the University of the Ryukyus and the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries of Hasanuddin University.
A manuscript on the genetic relationships between shallow and deep Seriatopora in Southern Japan was written and published in Frontiers of Marine Science.
A chapter on mesophotic studies in Japan was written for the Springer book "Coral Reef Studies of Japan" published in March 2018. In addition the preliminary results of this project were presented at the 19th annual meeting of the Japanese Coral Reef Society.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The main objectives for FY2017 could be achieved despite challenges in synchronising work schedule of all international collaborators as well as weather and logisitc (building of photoquadrats) constraints. The work achieved in FY2017 set strong and solid bases for future work in FY2018 (and beyond).
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In FY2018, quadrat and genetic data will be obtained in the Philippines together with Dr. Cabaitan (University of the Philippines) and a second filed trip in Indonesia will be organised. Collaboration will be established with NIWA in New Zealand to access to the latest protocols in biodiversity assessment based on image data.
The results of this project will be presented at the Gordon Conference on Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in USA.
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| Causes of Carryover |
A second travel to Indonesia could not be organised due to weather conditions and issues in the work schedule of the Indonesian collaborators. This travel will be organised in FY2018.
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