Professor

• Akira MORI

Foraging and defensive behaviour in snakes

http://www2.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp/personal/Mori/mori.html

Associate professor

• Teppei JONO

Behavior, ecology and evolution of lizards

https://teppeijono.jimdofree.com/

Postdoctoral fellow

• Hajime SATO

Individual communication mechanisms in group-hunting fish

Group hunting (social predation) is a foraging strategy that enhances prey capture success through coordinated group behavior. I discovered that the false cleanerfish (Aspidontus taeniatus: Blennidae), which inhabit coral reefs, can temporarily exhibit a division of roles when raiding damselfish (Pomacentridae) mating nests to feed on eggs. Consequently, I aim to elucidate the communication functions they employ before and after group egg-eating.
https://researchmap.jp/hajime_sato?lang=en

Graduate student

• Yasunori OHTAKE (D5)

Prey recognition of frogs

It is said that frogs detect their prey by visual cues. Movement of prey is especially considered to be important. However, I think that frogs may use other cues such as olfactory cues and auditary cues. I am going to study what cues frogs use to detect prey.

• Ryobu FUKUYAMA (D4)

Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Lizards in a Tropical Dry Forest in Madagascar

Most lizards are insectivores, but some species also eat fruits. In some ecosystems which lack frugivore animals, lizards potentially have an important role as seed dispersers of trees. However, lizards have been overlooked as a seed disperser in most endozoochory studies and little is known about the role of lizards in tropical forests. To reveal the role of lizards in a tropical forest ecosystem, I study frugivory of lizards and chameleons in a Malagasy tropical dry forest.
https://sites.google.com/view/ryobufukuyama

• Kanta FUJISHIMA (D4)

Ecology of sea snakes

Marine elapids ("true" sea snakes and sea kraits) are important taxa for understanding transition from terrestrial to marine environments. They play key roles as mesopredators in warm coastal waters, yet ecological data is still scarce due to logistical difficulties. In Okinawa, which offers a rare environment well-suited for observing and collecting sea snakes, I am working to uncover their ecology using a multifaceted approach that includes mark-recapture surveys, stable isotope analysis, and implanted data loggers. I am also conducting an interspecific comparison of swimming performance and morphology using Japanese and Australian species, to further understand the diversification of the rapidly speciating Hydrophis sea snakes.
website https://sites.google.com/view/kanta-fujishima

• Ayane INOUE (D4)

Evolutionary mechanisms of courtship communication driven by reproductive interference in Rana tagoi

Two different Rana tagoi taxa in northern Kinki and other areas is reported, which are sexually isolated. There is character displacement when these two inhibit sympatrically: body size, size of webs and spots on legs. I am going to do research on differences in habitat microenvironment and food resource to know what resources cause character displacement.

• Ayaka SODA (D3)

The effect of territory on reproductive success of Eurasian wren

Eurasian wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes) breed along mountain streams and are polygamous, which is a minor style of breeding among birds. I study the basic ecology of Eurasian wrens and how the quality of territories they form in the non-breeding season influences their reproductive success.

• Hiroaki YANAGI (D3)

Foraging traits in earthworm-eating snakes

Many snake species have specialized head morphologies that allow them to swallow large prey whole, and they forage on large prey at low frequency. These traits are said to be one of the factors that have allowed snakes to flourish. However, some species forage at high frequency for smaller prey such as earthworms. I am conducting a comparative study of foraging traits in the genus Ptyas (Cyclophiops), which has evolved from a vertebrate diet to an earthworm diet on several times independently. This study would reveal how snakes adapt to strategy of frequent foraging for small prey.

• Shota IYODA (D2)

Elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms of thermal traits in genus Plestiodon

Lizards, which are ectothermic animals, maintain a constant body temperature by moving between sun and shade habitats. This behaviour is thought to reduce selective pressure on thermal physiological traits due to changes in thermal environment. However, some lizards have diverse thermal physiological traits, even among closely related species. When and under what conditions such physiological traits evolve and diversify is still largely unknown. I am working to elucidate the mechanisms driving the evolution of thermal physiological traits through comparisons between populations of Plestiodon marginatus, which tend to have higher preferred body temperature, in the Okinawa Islands.

• Ryosuke UNO (D2)

The defence system of myriapods (mainly centipedes)

Despite being one of the oldest groups of terrestrial arthropods on the planet, myriapods have been poorly studied compared to other arthropods such as insects and spiders. I study the diverse defence system myriapods have acquired over their long history in terms of predator-prey relationship surrounding them.

• Reona OTSUKA (D1)

The study of antipredator behavior of Hynobius in Japan

Hynobius in Japan show specific antipredator behavior like tail elevation and skin secretion. I verify the significance and effect to predators of these behavior from bahevioral points of view.

• Ryotaro YANAGIHARA (D1)

Study on the tail-display behavior of lizards

Tail-displaying behavior is known in many lizards. Some of them have bright tails that can be autotomized, and it is generally believed that the conspicuous coloration serves to attract the attention and attack of predators. What factors influence the tail-display of lizards in the wild? What signals do tail-displays convey to predators and conspecifics? Based on these questions, I am conducting research on the Japanese Skink (Plestiodon japonicus).

• Shoma SAKATA (M3)

When preying on prey that is underwater from land, it can be difficult to determine the exact location of the prey due to the effects of light refraction. Vibakari, which live near water, are known to underwater prey, and I study in both field and laboratory experiments how they solve such problems.

• Ango MORIKAWA (M2)

The evolution from toad-eating to firefly-eating in Rhabdophis

Snakes of Rhabdophis are widely distributed in Asia and have a unique ecology. In addition to the venom they synthesize, they store toxin from toads that it preys on to protect itself from natural enemies. Furthermore, recent study shows that a derived clade of Rhabdophis has evolved to sequester toxin not from toads but from fireflies. This evolutionary shift from amphibian toads to insect fireflies is a very unusual phenomenon in the animal kingdom and it is expected to have been driven by several factors, including the use of toxin. I am studying how the Rhabdophis came to acquire a new resource, fireflies.

• Gumma KUBO (M2)

Study on the arm-waving behavior of the Japanese grass lizard

Arm-waving behavior is known in several species of lizards. Various functions of this behavior have been suggested, such as courtship and submission. It is known empirically that the Japanese grass lizard also displays arm-waving behavior. However, there has been no research on the arm-waving behavior in this species until now. I am studying the adaptive significance of arm-waving behavior in the Japanese grass lizard.

• Taiga KOBAYASHI (M2)

Research on the reproductive ecology of snakes

When animals engage in reproduction, the discovery of a mate is crucial. However, the mechanisms by which snakes detect potential mates remain unclear. In my research, I focus on olfactory communication in snakes, particularly in the genus Elaphe, to investigate how they find their reproductive partners and whether there are any phylogenetic patterns in their ability to detect mates.

• Hibiki ITO (M2)

• Tomoki SHINOHARA (M2)

Ecology focusing on the feeding behavior of Opisthotropis kikuzatoi

Opisthotropis kikuzatoi is an endangerd species endemic to Kume Island. This snake has a unique ecology, inhabiting mountain streams and feeding crustaceans. However, there is little study for this snake. I focus on the diet of O. kikuzatoi, and research its detailed prey species, feeding behavior, and other basic ecology.

• Jo TAGA (M1)

A study on the neck-waving behavior of Hebius vibakari

The Japanese keelback (Hebius vibakari) is known to show a unique behavior -neck-waving- characterized by trembling movements of the neck region when confronted with snakes that are potential predators. However, detailed studies on this behavior are lacking. My research investigates the specific conditions under which neck-waving behavior occurs and explores its functional significance.

• Tomohisa NAKATA (M1)

• Taisei KOMATSUBARA (M1)

• Arina OOMIYA (M1)

• Rikuto Maki (M1)

Undergraduate student

• Rin OKAZAKI

• Tomohisa ISHIZAKI

Assessment of the influence of other species and other individuals on the head-turning behavior of giraffes

Behaviors in which animals repeat the same behavior repetitively are known as “stereotyped behavior," and are often attributed to frustration or stress in animals, and are being studied in zoos and farms around the world. Although many studies have been conducted on giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), few studies have been conducted on giraffe head-turning behavior, which is considered to be that behavior. I am studying the details of the factors that cause giraffe head-turning behavior, focusing on the relationship between individuals of other species and other individuals of the same species.

• Ryo OOSHITA

International student

• Célian Chenal

Impact of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on the Behavior, Distribution, and Social Interactions of a Human Commensal Gecko Species, Gekko japonicus

As artificial light at night (ALAN) continues to increase, many species are being disturbed by human activities. On the other hand, some species, like Gekko japonicus, adapt to the anthropogenic environment. My study explores how ALAN affects the behavior and social interactions of these geckos by exanimating their activities in human-altered environments. By understanding how animals adapt to ALAN, we can develop more effective policies to protect ecosystems impacted by human activities.

Secretary

• Mayumi SAKAMOTO