Draft Genome Sequence of the Aerobic Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacterium Roseobacter sp. Strain OBYS 0001, Isolated from Coastal Seawater in Otsuchi Bay, Japan

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Roseobacter sp. strain OBYS 0001, isolated from coastal seawater in Ostuchi Bay, Japan. This genome sequence could be useful for our understanding of the variation in photosynthesis-related genes among aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs.

First record of the genus Ventojassa Barnard, 1970 (Amphipoda, Ischyroceridae) from Japan

The ischyrocerid amphipod Ventojassa dentipalma Kim & Kim, 1991 was recently collected from Otsuchi Bay, northeast Japan. The present specimens represent the second record of the species as well as the first Japanese record of the genus. Brief morphological descriptions and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided. Details of the characters distinguishing the species from V. ventosa (Barnard, 1962) are discussed.

NORTHEAST PACIFIC SEAWATER RADIOCARBON RECORDED IN ABALONE SHELLS OBTAINED FROM OTSUCHI BAY, JAPAN

ABSTRACTReconstructing past ocean currents in the coastal regions is necessary to better understand the relationship between oceanographic changes and coastal ecosystems. It is known that variations have occurred with large-scale climate changes such as ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillations) and PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillations). Thus, reconstruction of past seawater conditions in coastal regions is needed to better understand the relationship between oceanographic changes and coastal ecosystems. Seawater radiocarbon is a unique proxy to understand the properties of water masses. Reef-building corals have been employed extensively and successfully in conducting this type of research into past ocean circulation histories. However, their distribution is limited to the low latitudes and hence alternative archives are required for studies in mid to high-latitude locations. Here, we use abalone shell samples obtained from Otsuchi Bay located in the Tohoku region on the Pacific coast of Northern Japan. Radiocarbon in abalone shells was compared with dissolved inorganic carbon in two-year-long records of river water as well as seawater. The data indicate that abalone shells can be used to reconstruct past seawater radiocarbon variations in northern Japan where coral skeletons are not available for ocean mixing studies.

Northward range extension of Porcellanopagurus nihonkaiensis Takeda, 1985 (Decapoda, Anomura, Paguridae) in Japan

For the first time the occurrence of Porcellanopagurus nihonkaiensis Takeda, 1985 is reported both from Sagami Bay and Otsuchi Bay. The use of an empty shell of a true limpet of the family Lottiidae Gray, 1840 by Porcellanopagurus sp. is herein also reported for the first time.

DEVELOPMENT OF MULTISCALE MULTIPHYSICS INTEGRATED SIMULATOR FOR TSUNAMI RUNUP CALCULATION COUPLED WITH STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) has shown that Tsunami disasters not only cause flooding damage but also can be a phenomenon accompanied by many damage of structures. In order to evaluate the damage of the building due to the tsunami, a three dimensional numerical tank with structure analysis is required, but the calculation cost is very high to calculate from the tsunami source of the tsunami to the inundation zone. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop a system that can calculate the destruction of buildings from a wave source of the tsunami in a series and confirm its validity. Specifically, the stability of Tsunami breakwaters in Kamaishi Bay and the seawalls in Otsuchi Bay was investigated.