Genomic Introgression in the Hybrid zones at the Margins of the Species' Range Between Ecologically Distinct Species.

Populations in extreme environments at the margins of a species' range are often the most vulnerable to climate change, but they may also experience novel evolutionary processes, such as secondary contact and hybridization with their relatives. The range overlap resulting from secondary contact with related species that have adapted to different climatic zones may act as corridors for adaptive introgression. To test this hypothesis, we examined the hybrid zones along the altitude of two closely related species, one temperate and the other subtropical species, at their southern and northern limits on Yakushima Island, Japan.

Detour canal, a civil engineering heritage created through historical struggle for water resources, now provides the habitats for a rare freshwater fish.

The Ariake catfish, , is a freshwater fish endemic to Kyushu Island, Japan. However, these catfish are now endangered owing to environmental changes. Despite their status, there is scant quantitative research on the Ariake catfish regarding their potential conservation.

The complete mitochondrial genome of freshwater gammarid (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae).

This study presents the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of , a freshwater crustacean found in the western regions of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu in Japan. The entire genome is 16,429 bp in length, encoding a standard set of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes, as well as the putative control regions. The mitochondrial genome of is characterized by a high concentration of A and T nucleotides (67.

Fish fauna and environmental factors in river estuaries of small and medium-sized rivers on islands significantly influenced by warm currents.

River estuaries are influenced by terrestrial and marine areas, and have a unique environment that is constantly fluctuating. They are also important habitats for biodiversity conservation. Tanegashima Island is significantly influenced by the Kuroshio Current.

Preliminary assessment of genetic variation in the Japanese endemic freshwater crab, , based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.

, a freshwater crab species endemic to Japan, has the largest distribution range amongst the 19 known species in the country. Due to its low dispersal capability and restricted habitat to freshwater, it serves as an excellent model for understanding gene flow between geographically isolated populations. In this study, we analysed the genetic relationships of 26 populations collected from different locations in the Japanese archipelago using two mitochondrial DNA regions - cytochrome oxidase subunit I ( and cytochrome b ().

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of (Asparagaceae) on Shikoku Island, Japan, including five new species, one new subspecies, and two new status assignments.

Japan has 16 native species of the genus Tratt. (Asparagaceae). A recent study on based on field surveys and molecular phylogenetic analyses resulted in the discovery of six unknown taxa in Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku Island, southwestern Japan.

A new species of genus (Fagaceae) from Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam.

A new species, Ngoc, Binh & Son is described from Son Tra Nature Reserve, Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam. We examined the morphology and constructed a highly resolved phylogeny of and its relatives (including and ) using Multiplex ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq). The morphological analyses and molecular evidence support the distinction between the new species () and its relatives.

 (Hydrangeaceae), a new species from Osumi Peninsula, southern Japan.

Tagane & S. Fujii, from the Kimotsuki Mountains in the Ohsumi Peninsula, southern Japan, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to in having three-petaloid calyx lobes in marginal flowers, but is distinguished by the larger stamen number, and longer styles and seeds.

Fish diversity of a spring field in Hopong Town, Taunggyi District, Shan State, Myanmar (the Salween River Basin), with genetic comparisons to some "species endemic to Inle Lake".

Hopong, a small town in the Salween (Thanlwin) River Basin, Myanmar, is located 35 km northeast of Inle Lake, a famous ancient lake with numerous endemic fish species. We surveyed the fish fauna of a spring pond in Hopong in 2016, 2019 and 2020 and identified 25 species. Of these, seven, including and , had been considered endemic to Inle Lake and at least three species were genetically unique.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the complex (Hydrangeaceae) in western Japan, including a new subspecies of from Yakushima.

According to the contemporary classification of native to Japan, is a polymorphic species including six varieties. We discovered a plant identified as , but morphologically distinct from previously known varieties, in Yakushima island where approximately 50 endemic species are known. To determine the relationship of this plant with previously known varieties, we examined morphology and constructed a highly resolved phylogeny of and its relatives using three chloroplast genomic regions, L, L intron, A-H, and two nuclear genomic regions, ITS1 and ITS2, and Multiplex ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq).

A new subspecies of (Caryophyllaceae) from Yakushima, Japan.

An unknown taxon of was discovered in Yakushima, a Japanese island known to harbor several endemic species. To determine the identity of this taxon, this study employed MIG-seq for the reconstruction of a finely resolved phylogenetic tree of the newly discovered taxon, along with some related species of . The results showed that the newly discovered taxon is a relative of .

Morphological and molecular evidence reveals three new species of (Fagaceae) from Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Vietnam.

Three new species, Ngoc & Tagane, Ngoc & Yahara, and Ngoc & Binh are described from Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Central Highland of Vietnam. Morphological analyses and Maximum likelihood tree based on genome-wide SNPs support the distinction of those species from the previously known taxa in the region. The three new species are considered to be endemic to the Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park and the preliminary conservation status for each species is evaluated as Critically Endangered.

Validation of (Asparagaceae) as a new species and its phylogenetic affinity.

Molecular phylogenetic studies of (Asparagaceae) and its relatives, which are native to Japan, have been conducted and resulted in a highly resolved phylogeny. Specifically, the relationship of to Hatusima, is investigated. These data include genome-wide SNPs obtained through conducting multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq).

Mentality and behavior in COVID-19 emergency status in Japan: Influence of personality, morality and ideology.

The COVID-19 pandemic began in December 2019 and severely influenced society. In response, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency on 7th April in seven prefectures. The study conducted an immediate survey on 8th April to record the response of the general public to the first emergency status due to epidemics.

Quantitative comparison of flowering phenology traits among trees, perennial herbs, and annuals in a temperate plant community.

Premise: Flowering phenology may differ among life forms due to the costs and benefits to attract pollinators, dependence on outcross pollination, and resource availability in their habitats. However, few studies have compared flowering phenology among life forms within a community and described flowering phenology at the individual, species, and community levels.

Methods: We recorded flowering events for individuals of insect-pollinated trees, perennial herbs, and annuals from spring to summer of 2016 and 2017 in a warm-temperate forest in Japan.