Native or invasive? Biodiversity, distribution and systematics of Ostracoda (Crustacea) in Japanese rice fields

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06807
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45030:Biodiversity and systematics-related
• Research Institution: Lake Biwa Museum
• Principal Investigator: Smith Robin 滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館, 研究部, 専門学芸員 (70416204)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 神谷 隆宏 金沢大学, 地球社会基盤学系, 教授 (80194976)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Ostracoda / Crustacea / Rice fields / Taxonomy / Invasive species

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our research resulted in a better understanding of ostracods inhabiting rice fields, and the discovery of two new ostracods species from rice fields, one of which we have described, and the second one we are working on. We have identified a possible route for invasive ostracod species to enter and become established in Japan, namely the pet trade, and these species have the potential to become invasive in Japanese rice fields.

Free Research Field

Zoology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

As rice is the staple food in Japan, it is essential to fully understand the rice field ecosystem. Yet ostracods, which are often abundant in rice fields, are poorly studied, and their impacts on rice harvests not fully understood. This project aimed to address this issue.