Development of the precise analytical techniques for studying migratory history using isotope ratios of heavy elements

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14602
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
• Principal Investigator: TAYASU Ichiro 総合地球環境学研究所, 研究基盤国際センター, 教授 (80353449)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAKANO Takanori 総合地球環境学研究所, 名誉教授 (20155782) ; SHIN Ki-Cheol 総合地球環境学研究所, 研究基盤国際センター, 助教 (50569283) ; SAITO Yu 総合地球環境学研究所, 研究基盤国際センター, 研究員 (60469616)
• Research Collaborator: FUDAMOTO Konomi 京都大学, 大学院・理学研究科 ; PALMISANO Elisa 京都大学, 生態学研究センター, 研究生
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 安定同位体 / 重元素 / 硬組織 / ストロンチウム / 生息履歴

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We tried to demonstrate the utility of concentrations of rare elements and isotope ratios of heavy elements, which have not been well studied in the field of ecology for studying migratory patterns.
We analyzed strontium isotope ratios and Sr/Ca ratios of whole otoliths in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) caught at the coastal areas of Iwate, Japan. Strontium isotope ratios of otoliths and water in one tidal tributary showed that the sticklebacks caught at the upstream sites inhabited only within the upstream, but the sticklebacks caught at the downstream sites inhabited not only in the downstream but also in the upstream or the near mainstream sites.
Then, we measured the concentrations of Nd and Pb in goby species caught at several places in Japanese coasts. These elements were higher in gills and digestive organs that are connected directly with the outer environment than the rest of body.

Free Research Field

同位体生態学