FY2023 Annual Report

Marine Climate Change Unit
Professor Timothy Ravasi

Ocean and coral in Onna Village, Okinawa

Abstract

Our unit aims to understand how coral reef fish adapt to environmental changes such as climate change, heatwaves, overfishing and urbanization. Earth's oceans are warming and acidifying due to increasing anthropogenic CO2 production, and extreme events such as marine heatwaves are increasing in frequency, duration, and magnitude. Coral reef fish are especially vulnerable to spikes in temperature because they are already adapted to living close to their thermal limits. Determining which species can adapt to rapid environmental change, and how they will do so, is critical for predicting the ecological effects of climate change and their impact on the world economy.

In our laboratory research, we investigate how short-term as well as heritable changes in gene expression in multiple fish species are affected by increases in sea level temperature and acidity. We study animals that are descended from wild breeding pairs and have been reared in our aquariums over several generations. Using a unique device called the Heatwaves Simulator aquarium system based at OIST’s Marine Science Station, we expose fish to specific conditions, including the temperature and acidity level predicted to occur in seawater by the end of the century. We combine these manipulations with a range of advanced genomic technologies to identify the cellular mechanisms that allow coral reef fish communities in Okinawa and around the world to acclimate and adapt to changing conditions.

1. Staff

  • Tae Woo Ryu, Research Unit Group Leader
  • Roger Huerlimann, Postdoctoral Scholar
  • Shannon McMahon, Postdoctoral Scholar
  • David Miller, Visiting Researcher
  • Jamila Rodrigues, Visiting Researcher
  • Emanuela Borgnino, JSPS fellow
  • Nicolas Dierckxsens, OIST Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholar (50/50 with Nick Luscombe Unit)
  • Erina Kawai, Research Unit Scientific Diver
  • Jeffrey Jolly, Research Unit Technician
  • Chengze Li, Research Unit Technician
  • Gelyn Bourguignon, Fish Husbandry Technician
  • Michael Izumiyama, Graduate Student
  • Billy Moore, Graduate Student
  • Callum Hudson, Graduate Student
  • Ayşe Haruka Oshima Açıkbaş, Graduate Student
  • Kaisar Dauyey, Visiting Research Student
  • Johanna Linnea Johansson, Research Intern
  • Yoko Shintani, Research Unit Administrator

2. Collaborations

2.1 Anemonefish development and genomics

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researcher:
    • Professor Vincent Laudet, OIST, Japan

2.2 Coral Reef fish adaptation to marine heatwaves

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Professor Philip Munday, James Cook University, Australia
    • Professor Jennifer Donelson, James Cook University, Australia
    • Professor Jacob Johansen, University of Hawaii

2.3 Coral Reef fish adaptation to Ocean Acidification

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researcher:
    • Professor Celia Schunter, The University of Hong Kong, HongKong

2.4 Coral Reef fish genomics

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Deputy Director Piero Carninci, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Japan
    • Professor Jesper Tegnér, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
    • Professor Valerio Orlando, KAUST, Saudi Arabia

2.5 Coral Reef fish Physiology

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researcher:
    • Professor Martin Grossel, University of Miami, USA

2.6 Impact of coastal development on coral reef ecosystems

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Professor James Davis Reimer, University of Ryukyus, Japan
    • Professor Noriyuki Satoh, OIST, Japan

2.7 Natural analogues of climate stressors

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researcher:
    • Dr. Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpha, UMR ENTROPIE, Nouvelle Calédonie

2.8 Natural Volcanic CO2 Analogues

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Professor Ivan Nagelkerken, The University of Adelaide, Australia
    • Professor Sylvain Agostini, University of Tsukuba, Japan

2.9 Okinawa Coral spawning and development

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researcher:
    • Professor David J. Miller, James Cook University, Australia

2.10 Sharks physiology under climate stressors

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Professor Jodie L. Rummer, James Cook University, Australia
    • Professor Rui Rosa, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

2.11 Transgenerational acclimation

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researcher:
    • Professor Jennifer Donelson, James Cook University, Australia

2.12 Responses of Sea Urchins to Climate Change

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Dr. Ben Harvey, University of Tsukuba, Japan
    • Prof. Bayden Russell, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Professor Valerio Orlando, KAUST, Saudi Arabia

2.13 Microbiome of Commercially Important Sea Urchins

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Okinawa Prefectural Sea Farming Center

2.14 Biology of Endosymbiotic Sponge-Dwelling Polychaetes (Haplosyllis spp.) 

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Chloé Loïs Fourreau, University of the Ryukyus, Japan
    • Professor James Reimer, University of the Ryukyus, Japan

2.15 Microplastic Identification and Characterization (I’m sure you already planned to include this, but just in case)

  • Type of collaboration: Scientific Collaboration
  • Researchers:
    • Dr. Samantha Phan, OIST, Japan
    • Professor Jesper Tegnér, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
    • Professor Christine Luscombe, OIST, Japan

 

3. Activities and Findings

3.1 Design and Construction of the OIST Heatwaves Simulator aquariums system.

This year our unit in collaboration with Luxaqua, we designed and constructed the OIST Heatwaves Simulator, a unique aquariums system that will allows us and our collaborators to recreate a future environment including the simulation of marine heatwaves at the OIST Marine Science Station.

The OIST Heatwaves Simulator consist of three separate tank systems (Figure 1); 1) 10, 100L outdoor breeding pair tanks that will be used to house brood stock breeding pairs, 2) 10, 75L larval rearing tanks, that from 2022 onwards (F2, F3) will be used in the larval rearing stage of this multi-generational experiment, 3) 144, 55L tanks that will house experimental juvenile fish in different treatments. Temperature within these experimental tanks is controlled by four inline heaters, that allow five different temperature treatments to be specified in each individual tank. Temperature is controlled and monitored by automated software and associated temperature probes. Software also has remote monitoring and control capabilities.

This system is unique in the world and it will help to incentive collaborators from Japan and overseas to come to OIST and work with us at the marine station.

Figure 1. The OIST Heatwaves Simulator

3.2 Coral Reef fish Physiology and Metabolic Performance

To assess the effects of the different heatwave treatments on coral reef fish’s metabolic rates, in collaboration with Loligo Systems, we set up at the OIST Marine Station a 170ml mini-swim tunnel (Figure 1). Water flow within the swim tunnel is generated by a propeller, and laminar flow is created by a series of flow straightening plastic honeycomb meshes. The velocity of water within the tunnel is controlled by Loligo Systems AutoResp software and is calibrated using Loligo Systems fluorescent PE microspheres and the associated Digital Particle Tracking Velocity software. An oxygen dipping probe is inserted into the swim tunnel, allowing for continuous measurements of oxygen concentration within the tunnel. A pump can be used to flush the swim tunnel with fresh seawater from the waterbath if required. The swim tunnel is submerged within a temperature controlled waterbath allowing the temperature within the swim tunnel to be manipulated. Flushing of the swim-tunnel and resting chambers, monitoring of oxygen concentrations and temperature, and calculations of oxygen consumption rates are all completed automatically by Loligo Systems AutoResp software.

Figure 2. (A) Schematic of one Loligo Systems resting chamber set-up used to quantify RMR. A pump (A1) is used to flush the chamber with fresh seawater from the waterbath. A pump (A2) is used to recirculate water through a closed loop that passes through a flow through oxygen cell, within which oxygen concentration is measured by a fibre optic oxygen sensor (A3). (B) Schematic of a Loligo Systems 170ml mini-swim tunnel used to quantify MMR. A pump (B1) is used to flush the swim tunnel with fresh seawater from the waterbath. Water flow is generated within the swim tunnel by a propeller (B2) and oxygen concentration is measured by a 200mm oxygen dipping probe inserted into the opposite end of the tunnel (B3).

3.3 Amphiprion ocellaris Spawning and Larval Rearing

In order to conduct the planned long-term multi-generational experiment detailed above, we first needed to ensure that wild-caught A.ocellaris from Okinawan coral reef systems would spawn within aquaria. To test this, one breeding pair of A.ocellaris was acquired from local fishermen in September 2019. This pair was placed within a 200L aquaria at OIST Marine Science Station with a sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) and multiple rocks.

Figure 3. Images displaying (a) fertilized eggs of A.ocellaris (b) larval rearing tank and (c) juvenile A.ocellaris 1 month after hatching within aquaria at OIST marine science station.

On the 31st of May 2020 eggs were observed within the breeding pair tank (Figure 1). The development of eggs was tracked using visual observation and comparisons to know stages of embryonic development. On the 7th of June, eggs were transferred to a larval rearing tank for hatching (Figure 3) and larval A.ocellaris were present in the tank on the 8th of June.

The successful spawning and larval rearing program of 2020 allowed us to develop for the first time at OIST Marine Science Station a larval rearing protocol.

3.4 The Sequencing of Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion clarkii and Epinephelus malabaricus genomes.

Our unit sequenced the genomes of three coral reef fish from the water of Okinawa island, the Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion clarkii and Epinephelus malabaricus (Table 1). All these genomes have been sequenced using PacBio long-reads sequencing combined with Illumina gDNA and transcriptome sequencing and binned into chromosomes using Hi-Seq contact map technology.

These genomes are among the most completed fish genomes ever sequenced and are available free for the entire community.

Figure 4. The phylogeny of Anemonefish   

Figure 5. The Chromosome-scale genome of the Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii)

3.5 Natural Analogues of Future Climate

Unique sites which are natural analogues of future ocean have a community that already exists under this naturally occurring extreme environment and can be utilized as a natural laboratory. These sites are subjected to daily changes in ocean chemistry, have dynamic interactions between habitat, predator, and prey, and have existed in long timescales. Inhabitants may have also adapted to these extreme conditions through generations. Although conditions at each extreme site vary and are not perfect simulations of future oceans, they can provide a window into how species may respond to climate change.

Our unit successful performed field expeditions at the following natural analogues.

Bourake, New Caledonia

In the Autumn of 2023, in collaboration with IRD, the University of Tsukuba, and the Victoria University of Wellington, PhD Candidate Callum Hudson conducted a week-long expedition to Bourake, New Caledonia, where he collected urchin specimen (Echinometra spp.) from within the acidified and warmed tidal mangrove lagoon, and nearby reference reef sites.

Rock-boring sea urchin (Echinometra spp.) living under low pH and high temperature conditions within the Bourake lagoon, New Caledonia.

Group photo of the team who visited Bourake.

Ioutorijima, Japan

In the fall of 2020, our team and collaborators from Tokyo University and the University of the Ryukyus conducted a three-day trip to the uninhabited island Ioutorijima. We collected eDNA samples and placed baited remote underwater cameras (BRUV) at the CO2 seep. We collected eDNA samples from the seep (future) and a nearby reef (control). We placed BRUVs with krill to determine the species that were present at the seep. Additionally, this trip produced a publication led by Reimer et al. (2021), which discovered and described a rare occurrence of aragonite-forming Nanipora at the CO2 seep site.


Figure 7. Map of Ioutorijima, Okinawa. The red circle indicated the CO2 Seep site, and the blue circle indicates the control reef. Water samples were collected at the yellow marker at the control site and the star located at the seep site.

Figure 8. Underwater photos of the habitat at CO2 Seep site (left) and Control reef (right). The bubbles are CO2 seeping from the ground.

 

Shikine island, Japan

In the Summer of 2023, in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba, and the University of Adelaide, PhD Candidate Callum Hudson completed a week-long trip to Shikine-jima, Japan, to collect sea urchins (Echinometra spp.) from the CO2 seep. He performed respirometry and dissected key tissues crucial to echinoderm homeostasis in order to understand how urchins living at the seep site respond to long-term acidification exposure.

The third image, Figure 3, is a single image with the caption below it.

Figure 9. Map of Shikine island and an expanded view of both control and seep site. The seep site is located at the top, and the control reef is at the bottom of the map. The blue dots represent where we collected water samples for eDNA analysis.

Figure 10.  Underwater image of CO2 seep (left) control reef (right) at Shikine island. The CO2 seep site was covered in turf algae compared to the control reef, dominated by coral.

3.6 Tropicalizing Range-Shifts in the Japanese Coastlines via Environmental DNA Metabarcoding (eDNA).

Since the industrial age, anthropogenic activities have resulted in a consistent increase of sea surface temperature and ocean acidification, causing a world-wide shuffling of species, as part of an overall poleward range shift in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Specifically for coral reef recruitment, a tropical decrease and subtropical increase at the 20° latitude have been recorded with shifts to the more temperate areas of Southern Japan. This “tropicalization” raises the questions whether the Ryukyu arc islands could be experiencing this poleward shift along its axis (taking into account the effect of the Kuroshio current) and if it is also acting as a refugia for the migrating coral reef communities from near the equator.

Are the high latitude coral communities in Okinawa and Southern Japan the future areas of refuge for the range-shifting reef organisms, with the help of Kuroshio? Even if so, how would all the coastal development taking place in Okinawa affect this in the short-term and how immediately disruptive it could be? Could these migrating organisms be fitter compared to the original residents and what implications does this have for the future biodiversity of Okinawa? And how could the climate change be affecting the speciation process in the long-term, when compared to the past drastic changing phases in the climate?

The current climate-driven range shifts and therefore the opening-up of novel niches could serve as a window to see into and characterize the process of speciation with hybridization and adaptive radiation. Searching for and studying these newly created potential hybrid zones, we could gain a better understanding of speciation mechanisms in a changing and connected ecosystem. This hybrid swarm theory of adaptive radiation could be tested using population genetics and transcriptomics, in the nature and in the laboratory using the clownfish model organism.

In an increasingly warm world, it is crucial to understand how the changing conditions are affecting the species for more effective mitigation and conservation efforts. Effective design and management of MPAs can be achieved using the information gained from population connectivity and genomics studies, which can point to important sites of refuge/recruitment/nurseries. Temporal and spatial sampling for and studying eDNA across Okinawa and Japan can characterize the effects of the immediately disruptive anthropogenic activities such as coastal development and reconfiguration on biodiversity.

Figure 11.  Marine Climate Change Unit members collecting and filtering seawater for environmental DNA (eDNA) studies in several location across Japan.

3.7 Microbiome of Commercially Important, locally threatened, Sea Urchins

Our unit has extended our collaboration with the Okinawa Prefectural Sea Farming Center to examine the gut-associated microbiome of cultured, commercially important, collector sea urchins (Tripneustes gratilla). The species is protected in Okinawa due to overfishing, however permission was granted by the Onna-village fishery for our team to collect a small number of individuals from reefs close to OIST. The microbiomes of cultured vs. wild individuals will be sequenced and compared in order to understand differences associated with urchin farming conditions that could have implications for sea urchin health and uni production.

Collector sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) collection from seagrass-coral reef habitats in Okinawa.

3.8 The effect of suspended sediments on coral reef fish assemblages.

To date, there is a paucity of research on how near shore coral reef fish will be impacted by increased suspended sediments. This is especially true of coral reefs on larger islands such as those in the Coral Triangle, Hawaii, and Okinawa.  To address this knowledge gap field surveys will be conducted at coral reef sites around Okinawa to properly access of suspended sediment events effect coral reef fish assemblages. Using historical data potential sites around Okinawa will be categorized by their suspended sediment history into “uncommon”, “common”, and “Chronic”. Three sites from each category will be identified and sampled from for this experiment. Surveys will be conducted before, during, and after increased suspended sediment events. The surveys will be conducted both by visual transects (Samoilys & Carlos, 2000) and by eDNA and eRNA sampling (Beng & Corlett, 2020). Using these two techniques will allow us a comprehensive assessment of the fish assemblage and provide us with a detailed understanding of how fish assemblage changes during these events. This knowledge will allow us and fellow researchers to more efficiently direct future research on suspended sediments towards the more sensitive and important coral reef fish species.

The effects of suspended sediment on the physiology and behaviour of marine fish are poorly understood. To improve our understanding of how suspended sediments may impact important marine habitats we will build a system at OIST Marine Science Station to allow the manipulation of suspended sediment in seawater. This system will be designed from previous experience building suspended sediment systems at James Cook University in Australia along with collaborating with the University of Hawaii. Once built we will be able to expose fish to varying levels of suspended sediments. This system will allow us to simulate observed suspended sediment events seen on coral reefs and predicted extreme events. Following exposure, we will test the physiology (aerobic scope, blood chemistry, swimming ability) and behaviour (anxiety, activity, burst response) of these fish to better understand how they will be impacted by suspended sediment levels (Figure B4.1). By conducting these experiments in parallel with the university of Hawaii and James Cook University we will be able to gain a robust understanding of how coral reef fish around the world are behaviourally and physiologically impacted by elevated suspended sediment events.

Figure B4.1 Experimental process to test how suspended sediments effect the physiology and behaviour of coral reef fish.

How the duration of suspended sediment events factors into the impact on marine organisms is that we know very little about. Marine habitats can go through varying durations of elevated suspended sediment where events can be acute, lasting days to weeks (Larcombe et al. 1995; Fabricius et al. 2013) or chronic, which can last weeks to months (Fabricius et al. 2014; Butler et al. 2015). During wet season these events can also occur in pluses where rain events increase suspended sediments for a shorter period of time but habitats are able to clear between rains (Field et al. 2007; Fong et al. 2020). Additionally, as climate change advances we are expected to see more frequent and intense storm events (Konisky et al. 2016) which would in turn increase runoff events. To understand how the duration of suspended sediment events impact the physiology of coral reef fish we intend to exposure fish to four treatments (Figure B4.2). Building from the previous experiment we will focus on the most sensitive physiological and behavioural metrics to access how they are influenced by duration of events. The results from this experiment help us understand how the duration of suspended sediments factors into the health of coral reef fish and will better allow us to manage our valuable marine environments.

Figure B4.2. Suspended sediment exposure durations. Fish from the same population will be exposed to either chronic, pulse, or acute durations of suspended sediment.

3.9 Effect of microplastic on tuna meat quality and its intestinal microbiomes

This project was initiated upon a direct request by the Itoman tuna fishery association because they are concerned about the level of microplastic in the tuna they catch. My unit started this project in 2023 in collaboration with Prof. Cristine Luscombe (pi-Conjugated Polymers Unit) under the OIST’s mandate to promote Okinawa and its economy.

The presence of microplastics in the marine environment is an evolving phenomenon that can have widespread and lasting effects on marine organisms. Microplastic effects on aquatic organisms include impacts on reproduction, population dynamics, behavior, etc. These impacts can also have rippling effects on human populations that rely on marine food supplies. In particular, tuna are a major global food source and more than 7 million metric tons of tuna and tuna-like species are harvested yearly (“World Tuna Day 2 May” https://www.un.org/en/observances/tuna-day). Yet, despite the economic and social importance of the tuna industry, there have been no studies on the presence and abundance of microplastics in tuna. In this study, we investigate the presence, abundance, and chemical identification of microplastics in yellowfin tuna (T. albacares) gut samples in Okinawa, Japan. Currently, 10 gut samples have been processed according to the literature and have had microparticles (micro-sized particles before microplastic chemical confirmation) isolated on 45 nitrocellulose filter membranes (Martinelli et al., 2020). Figure 3.24 presents a summary of the workflow for microplastic analysis. All 45 nitrocellulose filter membranes have been mapped to generate filter maps and facilitate chemical analysis via Raman and FTIR microspectroscopy. The filter maps were then used to quantify and classify microparticles. A total of about 8,000 microparticles were located consisting of spheroid-, fragment-, and fiber-shaped particles. Based on preliminary results, we have identified microplastics as polyethylene (n=2), polyethylene/polypropylene copolymer (n=1), nylon (n=1), and graphitic material (n=2).  The current goal is to perform chemical characterization on about 10% of the total number of microparticle shapes quantified.

Workflow summary for microplastic analysis

The preliminary microbiome data showed that both tissues exhibit a similar bacterial richness, but the microbiome of the intestine is more evenly distributed (Figure A3.25a). In terms of overall diversity, there is a strong overlap between most intestine and stomach samples; however, there is a group of stomach samples that are strongly clustering separately (Figure A3.25b). There are some distinct differences in the microbial community, here shown at the phylum level (Figure A3.25c) and genus level (Figure A3.25d). In a next step, we plan to correlate these differences in alpha and beta diversity with the results of the microplastic analysis to investigate the potential effect microplastics can have on the tuna microbiome, and by extension tuna health.

Analysis of the intestinal and gastric microbiome of the bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis). (a) Alpha-Diversity: Evenness and Richness, (b) Beta-Diversity: nom-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, (c) community composition at the phylum level, (d) community composition at the genus level.

4. Publications

4.1 Journals

Peer reviewed journal articles

  1. High abundances of zooxanthellate zoantharians (Palythoa and Zoanthus) at multiple natural analogues: potential model anthozoans?  James Davis Reimer, Sylvain Agostini, Yimnang Golbuu, Ben P Harvey, Michael Izumiyama, Emmeline A Jamodiong, Erina Kawai, Hajime Kayanne, Haruko Kurihara, Timothy Ravasi, Shigeki Wada, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa. Coral Reefs. 2023/4/15, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-023-02381-9
  2. Research priorities for the sustainability of coral-rich western Pacific seascapes. Graeme S Cumming, Maja Adamska, Michele L Barnes, Jon Barnett, et al. Regional Environmental Change. 2023/4/21 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-023-02051-0
  3. Development of a real-time PCR (qPCR) method for the identification of the invasive paddle crab Charybdis japonica (Crustacea, Portunidae)    Tiffany JS Simpson, Claire M Wellington, Sherralee S Lukehurst, Roger Huerlimann, Heather Veilleux, Michael Snow, Joana Dias, Justin I McDonald.   PeerJ 6/12/2023. https://peerj.com/articles/15522/
  4. Brain transcriptome of gobies inhabiting natural CO2 seeps reveal acclimation strategies to long‐term acidification    Sneha Suresh, Alice Mirasole, Timothy Ravasi, Salvatrice Vizzini, Celia Schunter. Evolutionary Applications 6/15/2023. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/eva.13574
  5. The effects of climate change on the ecology of fishes    Ivan Nagelkerken, Bridie JM Allan, David J Booth, Jennifer M Donelson, Graham J Edgar, Timothy Ravasi, Jodie L Rummer, Adriana Vergés, Camille Mellin. PLOS Climate.  8/7/2023. https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000258
  6. Two new pygmy squids, Idiosepius kijimuna n. sp. and Kodama jujutsu n. gen., n. sp. (Cephalopoda: Idiosepiidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan Amanda Reid, Noriyoshi Sato, Jeffrey Jolly, Jan Strugnell, Marine Biology. 10/21/2023 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/edn3.509
  7. Sharks and their relatives: can their past help predict their future?    Aaron Hasenei, Jennifer M Donelson, Timothy Ravasi, Jodie L Rummer.  Frontiers in Marine Science. 11/1/2023     https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1268532
  8. Tissue-specific transcriptional response of post-larval clownfish to ocean warming. Billy Moore, Jeffrey Jolly, Michael Izumiyama, Erina Kawai, Timothy Ravasi, Taewoo Ryu.  Science of the Total Environment.11/2/2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723068481
  9. Neuromolecular responses in disrupted mutualistic cleaning interactions under future environmental conditions    S Ramírez-Calero, Jose Ricardo Paula, Eve Otjacques, Timothy Ravasi, Rui Rosa, Celia Schunter. BMC biology. 11/14/2023 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12915-023-01761-5
  10. Tissue-specific transcriptional response of post-larval clownfish to ocean warming. Billy Moore, Jeffrey Jolly, Michael Izumiyama, Erina Kawai, Timothy Ravasi, Taewoo Ryu,  Science of the Total Environment. 1/15/2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723068481
  11. Ecological generalism and physiology mediate fish biogeographic ranges under ocean warming. Chloe Hayes, Angus Mitchell, Camille Mellin, David J Booth, Timothy Ravasi, Ivan Nagelkerken. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 1/31/2024 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2023.2206
  12. Fish and coral assemblages of a highly isolated oceanic island: The first eDNA survey of the Ogasawara Islands, Ayşe Haruka Oshima Açıkbaş, Haruhi Narisoko, Roger Huerlimann, Koki Nishitsuji, Noriyuki Satoh, James Davis Reimer, Timothy Ravasi. Environmental DNA, 2/20/2024, https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.509

Journal preprint

  1. The transcriptional landscape underlying metamorphosis in the Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)  Roger Huerlimann, Natacha Roux, Ken Maeda, Polina Pilieva, Saori Miura, Michael Izumiyama, Vincent Laudet, Timothy Ravasi, research square  7/21/2023  https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-3155248/v2
  2. Transcriptomic responses in the nervous system and correlated behavioural changes of a cephalopod exposed to ocean acidification. Jodi Thomas, Roger Huerlimann, Celia Schunter, Sue-Ann Watson, Philip Munday, Timothy Ravasi  TechRxiv  7/31/2023 https://www.techrxiv.org/doi/full/10.22541/au.169052790.09398364
  3. Cross-talk between tissues is critical for intergenerational acclimation to environmental change. Sneha Suresh, Megan J Welch, Philip L Munday, Timothy Ravasi, Celia Schunter  bioRxiv  11/17/2023, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2023/11/17/2023.11.15.567297.full.pdf

4.2 Books and other one-time publications

  1. Climate Change Effects on Fishes, Ivan Nagelkerken, Bridie Allan, David Booth, Jennifer Donelson, Camille Mellin, Timothy Ravasi, Jodie Rummer, Oxford Bibliographies in Ecology Author, 2/23/2024, DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199830060-0252

4.3 Oral and Poster Presentations

  1. Session Chair - What natural analogues teach us about the future of coral reefs, Timothy Ravasi. 6/19/2023, 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium
  2. Effects of marine heatwaves on the physiology of a coral reef snapper, Lutjanus carponotatus. Shannon McMahon, Philip Munday, Timothy Ravasi, Jennifer Donelson. 6/20/2023, 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium
  3. Gut microbiome and host molecular response of the malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus) to a marine heatwave. Roger Huerlimann, Shannon McMahon, Micheal Izumiyama, Chengze Li, Jeffrey Jolly, Timothy Ravasi 6/20/2023, 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium
  4. The Seragaki Island clownfish restoration project in Okinawa. Erina Kawai, Jeffrey Jolly, Michael Izumiyama, Naomi Asato, Hiroki Takamiyagi, Saori Miura, Kina Hayashi, Manon Mercader and Timothy Ravasi. 6/20/2023, 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium
  5. Utilizing natural volcanic CO2 seeps to study the adaptive potential of fish communities to climate change. Michael Izumiyama, Erina Kawai, Jeffrey Jolly, James Davis Reimer, Ben P. Harvey, Shigeki Wada, Sylvain Agostini, and Timothy Ravasi. 6/22/2023, 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium
  6. Session Chair - Plasticity and adaptation of reef organisms to environmental change, Timothy Ravasi 6/22/2023, 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium
  7. Impact of Ocean Warming on Early-Life Stage Clownfish    Billy Moore, Jeffrey Jolly, Michael Izumiyama, Erina Kawai, Taewoo Ryu, Timothy Ravasi. 6/23/2023, 5th Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium
  8. Targeted haplotype-aware assembly of low-complexity regions and small genomes with NOVOLoci. Nicolas Dierckxsens, Michael Mansfield, Lisanne Vervoort, Nicholas M. Luscombe & Joris Vermeesch. 10/4/2023, The 14th International Workshop on Advanced Genomics
  9. Long–term eDNA biomonitoring of the fish assemblage at the Mermaid's Grotto - “Apogama”: The first year. Ayşe Haruka Oshima Açıkbaş, Michael Izumiyama, Roger Huerlimann, Chengze Li, Erina Kawai, Je rey Jolly and Timothy Ravasi. 10/19/2023, International Symposium: Past, Present and Future of the Marine Environment and Ecosystems
  10. Environment and Wellbeing: A Transdisciplinary Approach    Rodrigues, Jamila. 11/16/2023    OIST-KEIO Showcase Talk Series 5 "Science Meets Society", OIST seminar room
  11. The effects of marine heatwaves on the physiology of a coral reef snapper    Shannon J. McMahon, Philip L. Munday, Timothy Ravasi & Jennifer M. Donelson. 11/20/2023, Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, New Zealand
  12. Long–term eDNA biomonitoring of the fish assemblage at the Mermaid's Grotto - “Apogama”: The first year  11/20/2023, Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, New Zealand
  13. Suspended sediments and the physiology of a coral reef fish, Amphiprion ocellaris. Johanna Johansson. Shannon McMahon, Timothy Ravasi 11/21/2023, Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, New Zealand
  14. The epigenetic landscape of coral reef fish acclimation and adaptation to climate change, Timothy Ravasi 11/23/2023, Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, New Zealand
  15. Physiological and Transcriptomic Response of Early-Life Stage Clownfish to Future Ocean Warming. Billy Moore, Jeffrey Jolly, Michael Izumiyama, Erina Kawai, Taewoo Ryu, Timothy Ravasi  11/23/2023, Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, New Zealand
  16. Gut microbiome and host molecular response of the malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus) to a marine heatwave. Roger Huerlimann, Shannon McMahon, Micheal Izumiyama, Chengze Li, Jeffrey Jolly, Timothy Ravasi 11/23/2023, Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, New Zealand
  17. Utilizing natural analogs of future oceans to study the adaptive potential of fish communities to climate change     Izumiyama, Michael; Agostini Sylvain; Jolly Jeffrey; Kawaii Erina; Moore Billy; Rodolfo-Metalpa, Riccardo and Ravasi, Timothy. 11/23/2023. Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, New Zealand
  18. Physiological and Transcriptomic Response of Early-Life Stage Clownfish to Future Ocean Warming Billy Moore, Jeffrey Jolly, Michael Izumiyama, Erina Kawai, Shannon McMahon, Taewoo Ryu, Timothy Ravasi, 1/10/2024 Swansea University, UK

5. Intellectual Property Rights and Other Specific Achievements

Nothing to report

6. Meetings and Events

  1. [Seminar] Coral reef ecology and restoration research at the St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, Singapore, by Dr. Jani Tanzil, Dr. Lionel Ng, and Mr. Ow Yong Wei Long, National University of Singapore

  2. [Seminar] Tara Jambio Microplastic Joint Survey: Science x Art x Education by Prof. Sylvain Agostini, Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba and Tara Ocean Japan

  3. [Seminar] The Intricate Dance of Coral Symbiosis: A Journey Through Partnership, Competition, and Environmental Challenges by Prof. Manuel Aranda, Professor of Marine Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

  4. [Seminar] Don’t assume that you know me! The dangers of biological preconceptions and the fascinating diversity of life.by Dr. Octavio Ruben Salazar Moya, Research Scientist of Marine Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

7. Media outreach

Nothing to report

8. Educational outreach

  1. Out reach program collaborated with Tara ocean japan about micro plastics, Erina Kawai, 6/4/2023

  2. A Window into the Future: Using CO2 seeps and Natural Analogues to Study Global Change, Callum Hudson, 7/11/2023, Kaiho High School, OIST

  3. Lecture about marine climate change and hands-on experiences, Erina Kawai. 8/15/2023 OIST SHIMA outreach program (2023)

  4. The history of the science of climate change, Ayse Haruka Oshima. 8/15/2023 OIST SHIMA outreach program (2023)

  5. Lecture on marine ecology and environmental issue 海洋の生態系や自然環境問題, Erina Kawai. 8/22/2023, Fukuoka Ogoori High School OIST visit

  6. Lecture on outreach program for clownfish restoration project, Erina Kawai, 9/27/2023, Visitors from Shinanen Inc. at OIST Marine Science Station

  7. Lecture on outreach program for clownfish restoration project, Erina Kawai, 11/2/2023, Visitors from Onna Village Office at OIST Marine Science Station

  8. Using Natural Analogues to Understand the Responses of Sea Urchins to Climate Change. Callum Hudson, 12.7/2023, Oita Prefecture Saeki Kakujo High School, OIST.

  9. Lecture on SDGs environment issue, Erina Kawai, 12/19/2023, Tottori Yonago Higashi High School OIST educational program (online)

  10. Using Natural Analogues to Understand the Responses of Sea Urchins to Climate Change.Callum Hudson, 2/6/2024, Musashi Academy RED Summer Program, OIST.

  11. RNA extractions from fish tissues with the Marine Climate Change Unit, Johanna Linnea Johansson, 2/19/2024-2/20/2024  OIST Science Challenge

  12. How to do a 3 minutes presentation - workshop to help students to prepare their 3 minutes presentation, Roger Huerlimann, 2/19/2024-2/20/2024  OIST Science Challenge

  13. Lecture on Environmental issue and SDGs -What is Climate Change, What will happen in ocean? Erina Kawai, 2/29/2024, Naha Jogaku Elementary School