2019 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 | Cave adaptation / historical biogeography / invasive species / new species / phylogeny / Japan / taxonomy |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In order to collect the necessary data five field trips were carried-out in Japan during the last year visiting caves and surrounding landscapes in Shikoku, Chubu and Kansai areas as well as Yamanashi, Okayama and Yamagata prefectures. A further field trip was set in Orchid Island (Taiwan). The taxonomic results of the study were summarized with 2 articles submitted to international journals.
A nearly-definitive phylogenetic tree of the Japanese spider genus Cyclocarcina, endemic of Japan, and its close related genera from China was reconstructed on the base of 5 gene fragments. Divergence time, ancestral area reconstruction, cave adaptation and other related analysis were started and are currently in progress. A systematic and taxonomic revision using an integrated approach is also under way which will include several systematic changes. A separate research was also carried-out to study the highly invasive species Nesticella mogera, a potential treat for local ecosystems. The study demonstrated the origin of the species from South China, highlighted its pattern of colonization and its recent niche-shift with a change of preference from caves to a wider range of habitats. The results of this study are currently being summarized in a manuscript. Additional minor studies, already started during previous years, were also finished and the results were published.
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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 work has been focused on gathering the necessary data for the main research. In order to accomplish this task a large part of the past year was used to organize and carry-out the field works. Such thing reduced the chance to work deeper on the analyses and, consequently, to get results to publish since it was necessary to acquire all the data before to continue the study. Nevertheless some good results were achieved although mostly related to secondary studies, the main goal of the research is still not fully reached. During the next semester I expect to finish all the remaining studies currently in progress and thus improve the results achieved.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Since all the necessary material was acquired during the last year, the final part of my postdoc will manly focus on finishing the analysis of the collected data related to the study of the evolution of the Japanese spider cave fauna summarizing the results in one or more articles. I’ll manly focus on finishing the reconstruction of the phylogeny of the spider genus Cyclocacrina as well as its origin and adaptation in relation with the geological events that formed the Japanese archipelago. The taxonomic articles on cave spiders which are currently in progress or were already submitted will be also carried-on until their final publication will be achieved.
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