2018 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
| Project/Area Number |
18F18380
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| Research Institution | Tokyo Metropolitan University |
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Principal Investigator |
江口 克之 首都大学東京, 理学研究科, 准教授 (30523419)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
BALLARIN FRANCESCO 首都大学東京, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2018-11-09 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | biogeography / cave adaptation / DNA / Japan / origin / phylogeny / taxonomy |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In order to establish the phylogenetic relationships among the Japanese cave-adapted spiders and define their center of origin, a preliminary phylogenetic tree has been reconstructed on the base of 5 gene fragments. The tree includes the species available so far, belonging to the endemic Japanese genus Cyclocarcina and related genera from China. The study is currently being augmented with the material recently collected in Kyushu Island.
In addition, a taxonomic study of Japanese and European cave spiders has been carried-on on the base of morphological characters. One article describing a new species of cave spiders has been already accepted in the international Journal cave and karst studies (USA) and is currently under publication. One further taxonomic article is currently in progress.
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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
So far the study progress has been limited by the amount of data available at the beginning of the research since the winter period didn’t allow the collection of new data necessary to further improve the results. This happened because most of the caves inhabited by the target species are located in mountainous areas, difficult to find and reach during the Winter or early Spring season. Field trips necessary to increase the material for the study are expected during Spring and Summer. In this regard a first collection trip set in Kyushu Island has been already carried-on during the second half of March.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Aiming to acquire new data to further improve the study currently in progress, field trips in Southern and Central Japan are expected during Spring and Summer 2019. Two collecting trips will be set in Shikoku (Kochi, Tokushima provinces) and Honshu (Chubu and Kansai regions). Further short field collections will be possibly set-up to augment the material of study. New acquired material will be analyzed on the base of both molecular and morphological characters. Molecular results will be included in the preliminary phylogenetic tree aiming to reconstruct the spatio-temporal evolution of the target spiders and test the role of ancient climatic and geological events in Japan. A taxonomic revision of the species will be established using material already preserved in Natural History Museums
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