Research Outline

It is said that there are tens of million of undescribed species, organisms whose scientific names have not yet been descided, still existing in the world. Taxonomy aims to match information such as scientific names, morphological traits, and sequences. The progress of taxonomic studies, which provides fundamental knowledge in biology, varies by group. And for less-known, the progress is generally lagging behind. However, considering that all organisms are closely interconnected to form ecosystems, the accumulation of knowledge about these “minor” organisms is also required.
I study a group of crustaceans called “ostracods,” which are small, c.a. 1 mm in body length, and have adapted various water environments. I am particularly focused on spring environments in Japan, aiming to investigate where and what kinds of ostracods inhabit, what morphological characteristics they have, and what genetic traits they possess.