Lucidophyllous Forest Development along the Pacific Coast of the Japanese Archipelago during the Holocene.

The paper deals with various aspects of the complex academic issue of studying the culture genesis in the Pacific Region based on the archeological data. Periods of strong cultural surges, milestones in the development of technologies and economy, crucial events in economy and social domain are of acute interest within the scope of the outlined problem. Such periods include the era turn (the 2nd century BC – 3–4th centuries AD), i. e. “The time of great leaders and stone tombs”. The research focuses on two regions – the southern part of the Japanese Archipelago (Kyushu, Ryukyu and Okinawa islands) and the tropical zone of the Pacific coast of America (from Western Mexico to the northern Chile) – and to individual parts of the South-Eastern Asia (the Philippines, Indonesia). The findings obtained in the course of the research confirm the hypothesis about similar formation scenarios of the tribal elite and accompanying components of architecture, arts and commerce in objects of “prestigious technologies” in the ancient cultures of the tropical and subtropical zones of the Pacific Region.

Download Full-text

Multiple waves of freshwater colonization of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago

BMC Evolutionary Biology ◽

10.1186/s12862-020-01713-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ryo Kakioka ◽

Seiichi Mori ◽

Tomoyuki Kokita ◽

Takuya K. Hosoki ◽

Atsushi J. Nagano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Pacific Northwest ◽

Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽

Parallel Evolution ◽

Divergence Time ◽

Northern Europe ◽

Phylogenomic Analysis ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Japanese Archipelago

Abstract Background The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a remarkable system to study the genetic mechanisms underlying parallel evolution during the transition from marine to freshwater habitats. Although the majority of previous studies on the parallel evolution of sticklebacks have mainly focused on postglacial freshwater populations in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe, we recently use Japanese stickleback populations for investigating shared and unique features of adaptation and speciation between geographically distant populations. However, we currently lack a comprehensive phylogeny of the Japanese three-spined sticklebacks, despite the fact that a good phylogeny is essential for any evolutionary and ecological studies. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago. Results We found that freshwater colonization occurred in multiple waves, each of which may reflect different interglacial isolations. Some of the oldest freshwater populations from the central regions of the mainland of Japan (hariyo populations) were estimated to colonize freshwater approximately 170,000 years ago. The next wave of colonization likely occurred approximately 100,000 years ago. The inferred origins of several human-introduced populations showed that introduction occurred mainly from nearby habitats. We also found a new habitat of the three-spined stickleback sympatric with the Japan Sea stickleback (Gasterosteus nipponicus). Conclusions These Japanese stickleback systems differ from those in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe in terms of divergence time and history. Stickleback populations in the Japanese Archipelago offer valuable opportunities to study diverse evolutionary processes in historical and contemporary timescales.

Download Full-text

School education for disaster risk reduction in Japan after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET)

Terrae Didatica ◽

10.20396/td.v14i3.8653531 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 313-319 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tatsuya Fujioka ◽

Yasushi Sakakibara

Keyword(s):

Natural Disasters ◽

Nuclear Power ◽

Formal Education ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Great East Japan Earthquake ◽

Japanese Culture ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

Education Today ◽

The Japanese Archipelago

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (GEJET), reminded us Japanese of the harsh realities of the natural envi-ronment in the Japanese Archipelago and the importance of crisis management systems. However, the treatment of disasters has not been neglected in Japan, where natural disasters have historically occurred. In Japan, here are two separate approaches to handling natural disasters in formal education. The first is learning within specific subject areas, particularly social studies and science. The second is educational activities that take place outside subject teaching hours. Although natural disasters are common in the Japanese Archipelago, this arc-shaped string of islands, surrounded by the ocean and possessing a rich natural landscape, has greatly influenced Japanese culture, science and technology, and education. The Pacific Ocean coastline of the Tohoku region has been frequently hit in recent years by large killer waves (Tsunami) that have repeatedly resulted in serious damage. The main difference between the 2011 GEJET, and the previous tsunamis that hit the region is the accident that oc-curred at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. Because the perspective of understanding science and technology from a social context is closely related to issues in education today.

Download Full-text

Multiple waves of freshwater colonization of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago

10.21203/rs.3.rs-59443/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ryo Kakioka ◽

Seiichi Mori ◽

Tomoyuki Kokita ◽

Takuya K Hosoki ◽

Atsushi J Nagano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Pacific Northwest ◽

Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽

Parallel Evolution ◽

Divergence Time ◽

Northern Europe ◽

Phylogenomic Analysis ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Japanese Archipelago

Abstract Background: The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a remarkable system to study the genetic mechanisms underlying parallel evolution during the transition from marine to freshwater habitats. Although the majority of previous studies on the parallel evolution of sticklebacks have mainly focused on postglacial freshwater populations in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe, we recently use Japanese stickleback populations for investigating shared and unique features of adaptation and speciation between geographically distant populations. However, we currently lack a comprehensive phylogeny of the Japanese three-spined sticklebacks, despite the fact that a good phylogeny is essential for any evolutionary and ecological studies. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago.Results: We found that freshwater colonization occurred in multiple waves, each of which may reflect different interglacial isolations. Some of the oldest freshwater populations from the central regions of the mainland of Japan (Hariyo populations) were estimated to colonize freshwater approximately 170,000 years ago. The next wave of colonization likely occurred approximately 100,000 years ago. The inferred origins of several human-introduced populations showed that introduction occurred mainly from nearby habitats. We also found a new habitat of the three-spined stickleback sympatric with the Japan Sea stickleback (Gasterosteus nipponicus).Conclusions: These Japanese stickleback systems differ from those in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe in terms of divergence time and history. Stickleback populations in the Japanese Archipelago offer valuable opportunities to study diverse evolutionary processes in historical and contemporary timescales.

Download Full-text

Filling gaps in distribution of Japanese Paraneseuthia Franz: discovery of a new species on Okinawa-jima (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, cydmaeninae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4674.2.9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4674 (2) ◽

pp. 296-300

Author(s):

PAWEŁ JAŁOSZYŃSKI

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Complicated Structure ◽

Japanese Species ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Pacific Ocean ◽

The Japanese Archipelago ◽

Far Eastern ◽

A New Species ◽

Eastern Species

Five currently known Japanese species of the eutheiine genus Paraneseuthia occur on Honshū, Shikoku, Kyūshū, and Ishigaki-jima of the Ryūkyū Archipelago. The southernmost Japanese species was separated from its geographically (and very likely phylogenetically) closest relatives that live on Kyūshū by over a thousand kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. Paraneseuthia zanetae sp. n., found on Okinawa-jima, the largest Ryukyuan island, is described, filling this wide distributional gap. The new species is yet another member of the informal P. paradoxa group, which comprises all Japanese members of this genus that share similar male protibial modifications and a complicated structure of the aedeagus; also two Russian Far Eastern species show close morphological affinities to those inhabiting the Japanese Archipelago.

Download Full-text

Spatial distribution of oxygen-18 and deuterium in stream waters across the Japanese archipelago

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/hessd-11-10903-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 10903-10930

Author(s):

M. Katsuyama ◽

T. Yoshioka ◽

E. Konohira

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Pacific Ocean ◽

Sea Of Japan ◽

The Sea Of Japan ◽

Data Set ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Pacific Ocean ◽

The Japanese Archipelago ◽

Stream Waters

Abstract. The spatial distribution of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2H) of stream waters across Japan was clarified with a data set compiling sample data obtained from 1278 forest catchments during the summer of 2003. Both δ18O and δ2H values showed positive correlations with the mean annual air temperature and annual evapotranspiration, and negative correlations with latitude and elevation. Deuterium excess (d excess) values in stream waters were higher on the Sea of Japan side, and lower on the Pacific Ocean side, of the Japanese archipelago. The d excess in precipitation was generally higher in winter and lower in summer in Japan. The Sea of Japan side experiences a great deal of snowfall, and seasonal changes in monthly precipitation are rather small. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean side experiences a large amount of rainfall during summer with low levels of precipitation during the winter. Therefore, the lower d excess in stream waters on the Pacific Ocean side reflects summer precipitation, and the higher values on the Sea of Japan side are affected by delayed recharge from snowmelt. The isoscapes of stream water connote not only spatially integrated but also temporally integrated isotope signals of precipitation, and provide a framework for addressing applied hydrological, ecological, or meteorological research questions at regional scales, such as the effects of climate change.

Download Full-text

Spatial distribution of oxygen-18 and deuterium in stream waters across the Japanese archipelago

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-19-1577-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 1577-1588 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

M. Katsuyama ◽

T. Yoshioka ◽

E. Konohira

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Pacific Ocean ◽

Sea Of Japan ◽

The Sea Of Japan ◽

Data Set ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Pacific Ocean ◽

The Japanese Archipelago ◽

Stream Waters

Abstract. The spatial distribution of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2H) of stream waters across Japan was clarified with a data set by compiling sample data obtained from 1278 forest catchments during the summer of 2003. Both δ18O and δ2H values showed positive correlations with the mean annual air temperature and annual evapotranspiration, and negative correlations with latitude and elevation. Deuterium excess (d-excess) values in stream waters were higher on the Sea of Japan side, and lower on the Pacific Ocean side, of the Japanese archipelago. The d-excess in precipitation was generally higher in winter and lower in summer in Japan. The Sea of Japan side experiences a great deal of snowfall, and seasonal changes in monthly precipitation are rather small. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean side experiences a large amount of rainfall during summer with low levels of precipitation during the winter. Therefore, the lower d-excess in stream waters on the Pacific Ocean side reflects summer precipitation, and the higher values on the Sea of Japan side are affected by delayed recharge from snowmelt. The isoscapes of stream water connote not only spatially integrated but also temporally integrated isotope signals of precipitation and provide a framework for addressing applied hydrological, ecological, or meteorological research questions at regional scales, such as the effects of climate change.

Download Full-text

Multiple waves of freshwater colonization of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago

10.21203/rs.3.rs-59443/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ryo Kakioka ◽

Seiichi Mori ◽

Tomoyuki Kokita ◽

Takuya K Hosoki ◽

Atsushi J Nagano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Pacific Northwest ◽

Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽

Parallel Evolution ◽

Divergence Time ◽

Northern Europe ◽

Phylogenomic Analysis ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Japanese Archipelago

Abstract Background: The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a remarkable system to study the genetic mechanisms underlying parallel evolution during the transition from marine to freshwater habitats. Although the majority of previous studies on the parallel evolution of sticklebacks have mainly focused on postglacial freshwater populations in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe, we recently use Japanese stickleback populations for investigating shared and unique features of adaptation and speciation between geographically distant populations. However, we currently lack a comprehensive phylogeny of the Japanese three-spined sticklebacks, despite the fact that a good phylogeny is essential for any evolutionary and ecological studies. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago. Results: We found that freshwater colonization occurred in multiple waves, each of which may reflect different interglacial isolations. Some of the oldest freshwater populations from the central regions of the mainland of Japan (hariyo populations) were estimated to colonize freshwater approximately 170,000 years ago. The next wave of colonization likely occurred approximately 100,000 years ago. The inferred origins of several human-introduced populations showed that introduction occurred mainly from nearby habitats. We also found a new habitat of the three-spined stickleback sympatric with the Japan Sea stickleback (Gasterosteus nipponicus). Conclusions: These Japanese stickleback systems differ from those in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe in terms of divergence time and history. Stickleback populations in the Japanese Archipelago offer valuable opportunities to study diverse evolutionary processes in historical and contemporary timescales.

Download Full-text

Multiple waves of freshwater colonization of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago

10.21203/rs.3.rs-59443/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ryo Kakioka ◽

Seiichi Mori ◽

Tomoyuki Kokita ◽

Takuya K Hosoki ◽

Atsushi J Nagano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Pacific Northwest ◽

Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽

Parallel Evolution ◽

Divergence Time ◽

Northern Europe ◽

Phylogenomic Analysis ◽

Japanese Archipelago ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Japanese Archipelago

Abstract Background: The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a remarkable system to study the genetic mechanisms underlying parallel evolution during the transition from marine to freshwater habitats. Although the majority of previous studies on the parallel evolution of sticklebacks have mainly focused on postglacial freshwater populations in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe, we recently use Japanese stickleback populations for investigating shared and unique features of adaptation and speciation between geographically distant populations. However, we currently lack a comprehensive phylogeny of the Japanese three-spined sticklebacks, despite the fact that a good phylogeny is essential for any evolutionary and ecological studies. Here, we conducted a phylogenomic analysis of the three-spined stickleback in the Japanese Archipelago.Results: We found that freshwater colonization occurred in multiple waves, each of which may reflect different interglacial isolations. Some of the oldest freshwater populations from the central regions of the mainland of Japan (hariyo populations) were estimated to colonize freshwater approximately 170,000 years ago. The next wave of colonization likely occurred approximately 100,000 years ago. The inferred origins of several human-introduced populations showed that introduction occurred mainly from nearby habitats. We also found a new habitat of the three-spined stickleback sympatric with the Japan Sea stickleback (Gasterosteus nipponicus).Conclusions: These Japanese stickleback systems differ from those in the Pacific Northwest of North America and northern Europe in terms of divergence time and history. Stickleback populations in the Japanese Archipelago offer valuable opportunities to study diverse evolutionary processes in historical and contemporary timescales.

Download Full-text

Archaeological Jubilrr on the Occasion of the Centenary of Birth of Betty Meggers (1921–2012)

Teoriya i praktika arkheologicheskikh issledovaniy ◽

10.14258/tpai(2021)1(33).-12 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 189-204

Author(s):

Gavrilina T. ◽

◽

Tabarev A. ◽

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

North American ◽

Pacific Coast ◽

100Th Anniversary ◽

The North ◽

Relevant Today ◽

The Pacific ◽

The Japanese Archipelago ◽

The 1960S ◽

Archaeological Cultures

This article is related to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the world famous North American archaeologist Betty Jane Meggers (1921–2012), who made an invaluable contribution to the study of archaeological antiquities in Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, etc. Her long list of achievements includes the creation of a chronological chart for the archaeological cultures of the coastal part of Ecuador (in collaboration with Clifford Evans), remaining relevant today. Also, the name of B. J. Meggers is often mentioned in the context of the debatable hypothesis “Jōmon-Valdivia” which was made at the very beginning of the 1960s. It is focused on the possibility of transoceanic contacts between the population of the Japanese archipelago and the inhabitants of the Pacific coast of South America 5500–6000 years ago. This was preceded by a significant period of B. Meggers’ work in the Amazon (1947–1954). A brief outline of the first half of life and career of the North American researcher allows us to trace the main stages of transformations of her scientific interests. Keywords: South America, Brazil, Ecuador, Amazonia, biography, research history

Download Full-text