FY2022 Annual Report

Mitarai Unit
Associate Professor Satoshi Mitarai

1.Abstract

Background

The Marine Biophysics Unit (MBU) was established at OIST in 2009, because of Okinawa’s ideal geographic position and access to the outstanding research resources of OIST. Okinawa’s beautiful coral reefs lie at the northern boundary of the Pacific Ocean region with the highest marine biodiversity, exposed to large seasonal variations in water temperature. Okinawa is located close to hydrothermal vent fields that support ecosystems of endemic species that do not depend on photosynthesis. It is also situated in “Typhoon Alley”, the region with the most frequent and fully-developed tropical cyclones on Earth. The MBU takes advantage of these natural resources to study the interaction of physical and biological processes in the ocean.

Biophysical Coupling in the Ocean

The MBU investigates biophysical coupling in the ocean at varying spatial scales, from micrometers for microbes to thousands of kilometers for biogeographic events, by incorporating physical, mathematical, and biological approaches. The physical oceanographic resources and expertise at the MBU, coupled with tools in marine ecology, molecular biology, and fluid dynamics, provide a unique laboratory system for studying oceanographic processes, influenced by powerful disturbances and climatic forcings. By quantifying the interactions of physical and biological processes in the ocean, our research seeks to protect them from human-induced changes that will otherwise lead to the collapse of these vulnerable ecosystems globally.

Membership

The MBU supports students and postdocs with a variety of backgrounds; however, physical oceanography and fluid dynamics are fundamental to all of the Unit’s research. In particular, MBU welcomes students and postdocs who are interested in employing physical and mathematical approaches to understand marine ecological systems. Students and postdocs are expected to have the intellectual curiosity, capacity, and motivation to design and execute research on their own initiative, with guidance and assistance from supervisors, advisors, peers, and collaborators.Thanks to generous subsidy funding at OIST, the MBU can support 2 or 3 students. Students who are interested in topics beyond Professor Mitarai’s expertise may be accepted if an external expert agrees to serve officially as a co-supervisor of the student’s Ph.D. research.

2. Staff

2.1 Members of the Marine Biophysics Unit

Lead Investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Research Unit Administrator: Tomoko Yoshino

Table 1. Members of the Marine Biophysics Unit

	Name	Period (yyyy-mm-dd)	Funding source
Postdocs	Angela Ares Pita	2017-08-01 – 2022-10-31	OIST & External^1,2
	Heng Wu	2019-07-01 – 2024-06-30	OIST
Students	Po-Shun Chuang³	2016-09-01 – 2022-06-30	OIST & External⁴
	Maki Thomas	2015-09-01 – 2023-05-30	OIST
	Otis Brunner	2018-09-01 – 2023-08-31	OIST
	Kota Ishikawa⁵	2020-09-01 – 2024-08-31	OIST
Technicians	Kazumi Inoha	2015-04-03 – 2023-09-03	OIST
	Akinori Murata	2021-02-01 – 2024-01-31	OIST
	Kimberlie Ward	2023-01-01 – 2023-06-30	OIST
Interns	Noam Vogt Vincent⁶	2022-06-09 – 2022-09-08	External⁷
	Sawyer Suzuki⁶	2022-08-08 – 2022-09-09	None
	Michelia Wibowo⁸	2022-11-21 – 2023-02-16	OIST
	Nicole Yap⁹	2023-02-06 – 2023-05-01	OIST

Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientist, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scholarship (20K19986)
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientist, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scholarship (18K18203)
Special mention by the Thesis Award Committee, for Academic Year 2021–2022
Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC1), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scholarship (18J20226)
Nominated for the 2022 JSPS Ikushi Prize, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scholarship
University of Oxford
Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Summer Program), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scholarship (SP20102)
University of Bordeaux, University of the Basque Country, University of Southampton
MarFishEco Sustainable Fisheries Consultants (Graduated from the University of Edinburgh)

2.2 New Members

Nicole Yap

Nicole’s research interests are focused on adaptive management and conservation. Her interdisciplinary background spans data science, remote sensing, ecology, oceanography, sustainable development and environmental policy. Having previously used Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) to predict whale shark (Rhincodon typus) spatial distributions under climate scenarios, Nicole joined MBU to learn different modeling methods and to explore the world of possibilities for their application. Her current research project aims to investigate spatial and temporal distributions of zooplankton in response to the changing environment using ocean circulation models. She would like to understand the implications for trophic mismatch to inform management and conservation strategies. Nicole has a MA in Sustainable Development (Geography) from the University of Edinburgh.

Maya Ann Street

Using her background is in biochemistry, Maya aims to study the structure and evolution of various pathogens. For her rotation she will be studying a class of Radiolaria called Acantharea. Though Acantharea are not pathogens, she is interested in understanding the effects of currents and turbulence on the distribution of these microorganisms.

Academic Year 2022/2023, Term 2
Project: Monitoring Acantharea in Okinawa

Kimberlie Ward

Kimberlie has worked on several different model organisms (i.e., hermit crab, sponges, foraminifera) looking at behavior, evolution, development, and distribution patterns. She has experience in different techniques e.g., light-microscopy, DNA extractions, and probe development. She is highly trained in, and particularly enjoys marine fieldwork on boats or along the shore. She will be helping the MBU maintain their wet lab and assist members during their use.

Michelia Wibowo

Michelia Wibowo, a recent graduate with a Master's degree in Marine Environment, specializes in utilizing remote sensing and GIS techniques to map and study benthic ecosystems. Her current research interest is on investigating the deep-sea hydrothermal vents at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, with a focus on understanding the connectivity of these vents through the use of ocean current models.

Georgii Karelin

Georgii (or Gohan) analyzed existing models (Daisyworld, Wa-Tor and Forest-Fire cellular automata) and their implementation by working with relevant literature and programs. He implemented a numerical model and visualization program that allows users to analyze the outputs of simulations interactively.

Academic Year 2022/2023, Term 1
Project: Simple model of planetary system with dispersal distribution of species

Nanako Okabe

Nanako focused on the possibility of conducting research at the Kume-Jima Deep Sea Water Laboratory. Nanako is interested in the connectivity of deep-sea hydrothermal vents and larval dispersal, which are already being conducted at the Marin Biophysics unit. As an extension of this topic, she examined the possibility of combining the search for plankton of deep-sea origin in the deep water around Kume- Jima with dispersion modeling.

Academic Year 2022/2023, Term 1
Project: Plankton larvae monitoring using deep water intake facilities and searching for feasible topics based on that site

Sawyer Suzuki

Yanai Tadashi Scholar undertaking a BA Geology / MEarthSci Earth Science at the University of Oxford. Interests lie in the environment, specifically in oceanography and global weather patterns.

3. Collaborations

3.1 Collaborative Agreements

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT)

Type: Joint research agreement
Research topic: Research on atmospheric and oceanographic methods in ocean regions to improve performance of extreme weather prediction and elucidate atmospheric and oceanic interactions
Researchers (NTT): Masaki Hisada, Hiroshi Matsubara, Naoko Kosaka, Tatsuya Iizuka, Yuka Shinozaki, Yusuke Umemiya
Researchers (OIST): Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Kazumi Inoha, Tomoko Yoshino
Period: September 10, 2021 – March 31, 2023
Note: Entered on October 9, 2021, Amended on March 22, 2022, Member list updated on May 30, 2022, Member list updated on October 20, 2022

University of Guam (UOG)

Type: Joint research agreement
Research topic: Connectivity and population dynamics of corals in the Western Pacific Ocean
Researchers (UOG): Terry Donaldson, Atsushi Fujimura, David Combosch
Researchers (OIST): Satoshi Mitarai, TBD
Period: April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2025
Note: Entered on August 25, 2021

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO)

Type: Joint research agreement
Research topic: Coral ecosystem diversity and spatial distribution throughout the islands of Okinawa
Researchers (SIO): Stuart Sandin, Brian Zgliczynski, Sho Kodera
Researchers (OIST): Satoshi Mitarai, Kirk Sato, Yuichi Nakajima, Otis Brunner
Period: September 1, 2018 – August 31, 2022
Note: Entered on September 1, 2018, Expired on August 31, 2022, To be renewed

11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (11th HQ)

Type: Cooperative agreement
Purpose: OIST will use its best efforts to improve the sophistication of ocean tide model and current simulation, utilizing detailed sea bottom topographic data and abundant ocean-current survey data possessed by 11th HQ, and 11th HQ will use its best efforts to improve drift prediction accuracy, utilizing the sophisticated ocean tide model data and results of ocean current simulation improved by OIST.
Personnel (11th HQ): Takuma Kimura, Katsumi Nagakura, Shinobu Uchimura, Masayuki Nakagawa, Tsukasa Samizo, Ayaka Tanba
Personnel (OIST): Satoshi Mitarai, Kazumi Inoha, Akinori Murata
Period: April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2024
Note: Entered on March 27, 2012, Amended on March 31, 2015, Amended on March 31, 2018, Amended on March 30, 2021, Personnel updated on June 18, 2021, Personnel updated on May 30, 2022

Naha Coast Guard Office (NCGO)

Type: Comprehensive collaboration agreement
Purpose: The purpose of this Agreement is for the Parties to contribute to the enhancement of the safe and secure oceanic activities, the advancement of science and technology, and the development of local community and human resources, by the comprehensive collaboration and cooperation between the Parties, utilizing each Party’s functions within their respective areas of operation.
Personnel (NCGO): Katsuro Okawachi
Personnel (OIST): Albrecht Wagner
Period: Indefinite
Note: Entered on January 27, 2023

Naha Coast Guard Office (NCGO)

Type: Memorandum of Understanding on Marine Environmental Survey of the Sea Area Surrounding Apogama in Onna-son
Personnel (NCGO): Katsuro Okawachi
Personnel (OIST): Albrecht Wagner
Period: Indefinite
Note: Entered on January 27, 2023

3.2 Visiting Researchers

Atsushi Fujimura

Affiliation: University of Guam
Position: Associate Professor
Webpage: https://www.uog.edu/directory/fujimura-atsushi
Funding source: Other than OIST
Research topic: Biophysical mechanisms of coral bleaching in the Western Pacific Ocean
Period: September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023
OIST visit: October 3–14, 2022, December 22, 2022, January 11, 2023

Yosuke Yamada

Affiliation: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Position: Researcher (tenure track)
Webpage: https://www.jamstec.go.jp/kochi/j/groups/geomicrobiology.html
Funding source: Other than OIST
Research topic: Observation and measurement of marine microbes and particles
Period: August 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023
OIST visit: September 13–28, 2022, February 16 – March 1, 2023

Alex Wyatt

Affiliation: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Position: Assistant Professor, Associate Director
Webpage: http://www.alexsjwyatt.com/
Funding source: Other than OIST
Research topic: Environmental drivers of coral reef ecosystems in the Ryukyu Archipelago
Period: July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022, July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
OIST visit:

Hajime Kayanne

Affiliation: University of Tokyo
Position: Professor
Webpage: https://www.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/people/kayane_hajime/
Funding source: Other than OIST
Research topic: Determination of marine physicochemical characteristics in Onna-son, Okinawa
Period: April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023
OIST visit: April 18–21, 2022

Tomoko Takeda

Affiliation: University of Tokyo
Position: Project Researcher
Webpage: https://kayannelab.com/
Funding source: Other than OIST
Research topic: Determination of marine physicochemical characteristics in Onna-son, Okinawa
Period: April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023
OIST visit: April 18–21, 2022, August 22 & 30, 2022, December 9–14, 2022

Andreas Andersson

Affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Position: Professor
Webpage: https://aandersson.scrippsprofiles.ucsd.edu/
Funding source: Other than OIST
Research topic:
Period: Not specified
OIST visit: December 4–18, 2022
Note: Max Rintoul (Student) also visited OIST.

3.3 Research Interns

Nicole Yap

Affiliation: MarFishEco Sustainable Fisheries Consultants (Graduated from the University of Edinburgh)
Status: Marine Consultant
Webpage: https://www.marfisheco.com/team/
Period: February 6, 2022 – May 1, 2013
Funding source: MBU

Michelia Wibowo

Affiliation: University of Bordeaux, University of the Basque Country, University of Southampton
Status: Graduate Student
Period: November 21, 2022 – February 16, 2013
Funding source: MBU

Noam Vogt Vincent

Affiliation: University of Oxford
Status: Ph.D. candidate
Webpage: https://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/people/noam-vogt-vincent/
Period: June 9, 2022 – September 8, 2022
Funding source: Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Summer Program), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Scholarship (SP20102)

Sawyer Suzuki

Affiliation: University of Oxford
Status: Undergraduate student
Period: August 8, 2022 – September, 9 2022
Funding source: None

3.4 Visitors

Masahiro Ichijo

Affiliation: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/
Date: March 29, 2023
Venue: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Kazumi Inoha, Akinori Murata
Note: 5th update meeting in the FY2022

Keiko Kiyota, Naoko Kamata, Yoji Serizawa, Yuko Tsuushou

Affiliation: Canon Foundation
Webpage: https://jp.foundation.canon/
Date: March 24, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Anna Nagamine, Naomi Sato
Note: Interview for ”Voice of Grantees", Meeting with TDIC, campus tour

Masako Nakamura

Affiliation: Tokai University
Webpage: https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/facultyguide/faculty/3984/
Date: March 13–14, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Kimberlie Ward, Kazumi Inoha
Note: Discussion on sample preservations

Yuichi Nakajima

Affiliation: National Institute for Environmental Studies
Webpage: https://www.nies.go.jp/researchers/301934.html#tab0
Date: March 13–14, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Kimberlie Ward, Kazumi Inoha
Note: Discussion on sample preservations

Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda, Ikuma Oshiro

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: March 10, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Kazumi Inoha
Note: COI-NEXT Kick-off symposium

Katsuhiro Kusunoki, Tsukasa Samizo, Ayaka Tanba

Affiliation: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/
Date: March 10, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Kazumi Inoha, Akinori Murata
Note: COI-NEXT Kick-off symposium, Mr. Kusunoki’s retirement

Yoshihisa Tachibana, Tetsuji Kimura, Toko Taira

Affiliation: Cabinet Office
Webpage: https://www.cao.go.jp/
Date: March 9, 2023
Venue: MSS
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Nicholas Luscombe, Masahiro Yamano
Note: Future extension of OIST Marine Science Station (for the Regional & Specialist Research University Grant application)

Oren Levy

Affiliation: Bar-Ilman University
Webpage: https://life-sciences.biu.ac.il/en/node/706
Date: March 6, 2023
Venue: OIST, MSS
Participant from OIST: Otis Brunner, Kota Ishikawa, Heng Wu, Nicole Yap, Maya Street, Nobuo Ueda
Note: OIST and MSS Visit

Ezri Tarazi

Affiliation: T3-Technion Technology Transfer
Webpage: https://t3.technion.ac.il/researcher/tarazi-ezri/
Date: March 6, 2023
Venue: OIST, MSS
Participant from OIST: Otis Brunner, Kota Ishikawa, Heng Wu, Nicole Yap, Maya Street, Nobuo Ueda
Note: OIST and MSS Visit

Makoto Tanaka, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: February 21, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Kazumi Inoha
Note: Meeting about COI-NEXT kickoff-meeting

Katsuro Okawachi, Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda, Kei Kawakami

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: January 27, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Albrecht Wagner, Amy Shen, Shigeharu Kato, Heather Young, Satoshi Mitarai, Tomomi Okubo, Hisashi Gakiya, Hiromichi Magai, Kentaro Takaoka
Note: Signing ceremony on Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement

Katsumi Nakagawa, Tsukasa Samizo, Hiroaki Takenaka, Ayaka Tanba

Affiliation: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/
Date: January 17, 2023
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Kazumi Inoha
Note: 4th update meeting in the FY2022

Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda, Kei Kawakami

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: December 21, 2022
Venue: Naha Coast Guard Office
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Hiromichi Magai, Kentaro Takaoka, Shoko Bito, Tomomi Okubo
Note: Cooperative Agreement

Atsushi Suzuki, Akira Iguchi, Naoyuki Saito

Affiliation: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Webpage: https://unit.aist.go.jp/igg/ja/index.html
Date: December 20, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai
Note: Junpei Minatoya (JOGMEC), Akiyuki Ishida (JOGMEC), Masahiro Suzumura (AIST), Masayuki Nagao (AIST) joined remotely.

Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: December 16, 2022
Venue: Naha Coast Guard Office
Participant from OIST: Hiromichi Magai, Satoshi Mitarai
Note: Cooperative Agreement

Peter Edmunds, Jose David Munoz

Affiliation: California State University, Northridge
Webpage: https://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/peter-j-edmunds
Date: November 30, 2022 – December 1, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Heng Wu, Otis Brunner, Youhei Morita, Yana Maneva
Note: Seminar on November 30, 2022

Yoko Tamura

Affiliation: Sustainable Island Ishigaki, Global Marine Consulting
Webpage: https://www.stbisg.com, https://www.worldoceanlab.com/
Date: November 14, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai
Note: Introduction of Sustainable Island Ishigaki activities

Katsuo Ookawachi, Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: November 7, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Shigeharu Kato, Shoko Bito, Satoshi Mitarai
Note: OHS matters and Cooperative Agreement

Christina Monroe, Daniel Chinen, Daralyn Yee

Affiliation: East West Center
Webpage: https://www.eastwestcenter.org/
Date: November 2, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Misaki Takabayashi, Satoshi Mitarai, Angela Ares, Maki Thomas, Otis Brunner
Note: Blue Economy Challenge

Marta Caccamo, Thomas Kohler

Affiliation: InnoDays
Webpage: https://www.innodays.org/
Date: November 2, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Misaki Takabayashi, Satoshi Mitarai, Angela Ares, Maki Thomas, Otis Brunner
Note: Blue Economy Challenge

Toshiro Tanimoto

Affiliation: University of California, Santa Barbara
Webpage: https://www.geol.ucsb.edu/people/toshiro-tanimoto
Date: November 2, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai
Note: Future OIST visits, etc.

Katsuhiro Kusunoki, Naoto Umehara, Yukiko Seki, Tsukasa Samizo

Affiliation: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/
Date: October 28, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai
Note: Commendation from the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard

Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: October 28, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Shigeharu Kato, Shoko Bito, Satoshi Mitarai
Note: OHS matters, Cooperative Agreement

Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: October 27, 2022
Venue: Naha Coast Guard Office
Participant from OIST: Shoko Bito, Satoshi Mitarai
Note: OHS matters, Cooperative Agreement

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda, Hikari Yonaha, Takashi Ikemiya

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: October 19, 2022
Venue: OIST (C209)
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Kentaro Takaoka, Shoko Bito, Junichi Ozawa
Note: Cooperative Agreement, Safety seminar in November, survey plans

Masako Ikeda, Koichiro Suzuki

Affiliation: Softbank
Webpage: https://www.softbank.jp/
Date: October 19, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Angela Areas Pita, Otis Brunner, Maki Thomas
Note: Interview on social contribution activities from academia

Kazuyuki Nashiro, Suika Tsumita

Affiliation: Onna Village Tourism Association
Webpage: https://www.onnanavi.com/
Date: October 19, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Angela Areas Pita, Otis Brunner, Maki Thomas
Note: Interview on social contribution activities from academia

Naoto Endo

Affiliation: NTT Space Environment and Energy Laboratories
Webpage: https://www.rd.ntt/e/se/
Date: October 7, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata
Note: Insurance inspection

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda, Hiromitsu Miyagi

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: October 5, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata
Note: Cooperative Agreement

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: September 26, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Kentaro Takaoka, Shoko Bito, Junichi Ozawa
Note: Cooperative Agreement, Safety seminar in November

Makoto Tanaka, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: September 21, 2022
Venue: Naha Coast Guard Office
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Masahiro Ichijo, Katsuhiro Kusunoki, Takuma Kimura

Affiliation: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/
Date: September 15, 2022
Venue: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Participant from OIST: Peter Gruss, Heather Young, & Satoshi Mitarai
Note: Commendation from the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard

Sho Kodera, Gabe Turner

Affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Webpage: https://100islandchallenge.org/
Date: September 7, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Tomoko Yoshino, Kazumi Inoha, Angela Ares, Noam Vogt Vincent, Sawyer Suzuki, George Karelin

Katsuo Ookawachi, Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: September 2, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Sawyer Suzuki

Takuma Kimura, Katsumi Nakagawa, Tsukasa Samizo, Hiroaki Takenaka, Katsumi Nagakura, Ayaka Tanba

Affiliation: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/
Date: August 17, 2022
Venue: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: August 16, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: July 12, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: July 8, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata, Shoko Bito, Junichi Ozawa, Kosuke Mori
Note: Marine safety lecture

Yuji Maeda

Affiliation: NTT Space and Environmental Laboratories
Webpage: https://www.rd.ntt/e/se/index.html
Date: July 8, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Hiroshi Matsubara, Masaki Hisada, Naoto Endo

Affiliation: NTT Space and Environmental Laboratories
Webpage: https://www.rd.ntt/e/se/index.html
Date: July 7–8, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: June 16, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Ryu Toyama, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: June 23, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Shinobu Uchimura, Masayuki Nakagawa, Tsukasa Samizo, Ayaka Tanba

Affiliation: 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/
Date: May 30, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Katsuhiko Okazaki, Akira Koyama, Masaki Hisada

Affiliation: NTT Space and Environmental Laboratories
Webpage: https://www.rd.ntt/e/se/index.html
Date: May 18, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

Ryu Toyama, Hiromitsu Miyagi, Shonosuke Kyoda

Affiliation: Naha Coast Guard Office
Webpage: https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/11kanku/naha/
Date: April 20, 2022
Venue: OIST
Participant from OIST: Satoshi Mitarai, Akinori Murata

4. Activities and Findings

4.1 Fieldwork Activities

Shore Sampling and Observation (Boat/Kayak)

Participant: Akinori Murata
Date: March 15, 2023
Boat: Kazuya Hayashi
Application ID: FWA-2019-005-6
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Akinori Murata
Near-miss report: None
Note: Deployment of a Scripps sensor at Maeganeku. Outsourced diver was Toyohide Muro (https://d-shelter.oceancraft.net/)

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Nakano
Date: October 28, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Yoshikatsu Nakano
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Retrieved equipment from Chromis habitat (near ANA)

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Kim Chanyoung
Date: October 21st, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Kim Chanyoung
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Exchanged cameras in Chromis habitat (near ANA)

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Nakano
Date: October 4, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Yoshikatsu Nakano
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Exchanged cameras in Chromis habitat (near ANA)

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Nakano
Date: September 27, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Yoshikatsu Nakano
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Deployed ADV/ADCP and camera frame in Chromis habitat (near ANA)

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Kim Chanyoung, Satoshi Mitarai
Date: August 15, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Kim Chanyoung
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Retrieved equipment, preliminary survey for Chromis habitat

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa
Date: August 12, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Kim Chanyoung
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Exchanged cameras

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Kim Chanyoung
Date: August 2, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Kim Chanyoung
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Exchanged cameras

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Nakano
Date: July 26, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Yoshikatsu Nakano
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Exchanged cameras

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Nakano
Date: July 19, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Yoshikatsu Nakano
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Exchanged cameras

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Nakano
Date: July 14, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Yoshikatsu Nakano
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Deployed ADV/ADCP and camera frame in garden eel habitat

Reef observation (diving)

Participant: Kota Ishikawa, Yoshikatsu Nakano
Date: July 11, 2022
Boat: Yutaka Yonamine
Application ID: FWA-2021-016-5
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Yoshikatsu Nakano
Near-miss report: Nothing
Note: Preliminary survey to find target species

Wave Glider observations of surface winds and currents

Participant: Akinori Murata, Satoshi Mitarai
Date: August 29, 2022
Boat: Orge (Okinawa Ocean Works) at Itoman Port
Application ID: FWA-2021-017-4
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Akinori Murata
Near-miss report: None
Note: Check the status of NTT Wave Glider, TV Asahi staff

Wave Glider observations of surface winds and currents

Participant: Akinori Murata
Date: August 4, 2022
Boat: Orge (Okinawa Ocean Works) at Itoman Port
Application ID: FWA-2021-017-4
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Akinori Murata
Near-miss report: None
Note: Deployment of OISTer, Deployment and recovery of NTT Wave Glider (data retrieval and sampling interval changes), with Niho'ohe staff

Wave Glider observations of surface winds and currents

Participant: Akinori Murata
Date: July 30, 2022
Boat: Orge (Okinawa Ocean Works) at Itoman Port
Application ID: FWA-2021-017-4
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Akinori Murata
Near-miss report: None
Note: Recovery of OISTer (water leakage)

Wave Glider observations of surface winds and currents

Participant: Akinori Murata
Date: July 11, 2022
Boat: Orge (Okinawa Ocean Works) at Itoman Port
Application ID: FWA-2021-017-4
Lead investigator: Satoshi Mitarai
Onsite leader: Akinori Murata
Near-miss report: Misconfiguration of a release pin
Note: Deployment of OISTer and NTT Wave Glider, with Niho'ohe staff

4.2 Research Findings

Microbiomes of bloom-forming Phaeocystis algae are stable and consistently recruited, with both symbiotic and opportunistic modes

Phaeocystis is a cosmopolitan, bloom-forming phytoplankton genus that contributes significantly to global carbon and sulfur cycles. During blooms, Phaeocystis species produce large carbon-rich colonies, creating a unique interface for bacterial interactions. While bacteria are known to interact with phytoplankton—e.g., they promote growth by producing phytohormones and vitamins—such interactions have not been shown for Phaeocystis. Therefore, we investigated the composition and function of P. globosa microbiomes. Specifically, we tested whether microbiome compositions are consistent across individual colonies from four P. globosa strains, whether similar microbiomes are re-recruited after antibiotic treatment, and how microbiomes affect P. globosa growth under limiting conditions. Results illuminated a core colonial P. globosa microbiome—including bacteria from the orders Alteromonadales, Burkholderiales, and Rhizobiales—that was re-recruited after microbiome disruption. Consistent microbiome composition and recruitment is indicative that P. globosa microbiomes are stable-state systems undergoing deterministic community assembly and suggests there are specific, beneficial interactions between Phaeocystis and bacteria. Growth experiments with axenic and nonaxenic cultures demonstrated that microbiomes allowed continued growth when B-vitamins were withheld, but that microbiomes accelerated culture collapse when nitrogen was withheld. In sum, this study reveals symbiotic and opportunistic interactions between Phaeocystis colonies and microbiome bacteria that could influence large-scale phytoplankton bloom dynamics and biogeochemical cycles.

Extremely Stochastic Connectivity of Island Mangroves

Studies of mangrove population connectivity have focused primarily on global to regional scales and have suggested potential for long-distance connectivity, with archipelagos serving as stepping stones for trans-oceanic dispersal. However, the contribution of propagule dispersal to connectivity is still largely unknown, especially at local-scale. Identifying fine-scale propagule dispersal patterns unique to individual island systems is important to understand their contribution to global species distributions, and to select appropriate sizes and locations for mangrove conservation in archipelagos. Using population genetic methods and a release-recapture method employing GPS drifting buoys, we investigated the spatiotemporal scale of propagule dispersal of Rhizophora stylosa, one of the widely distributed mangrove species in the Indo-West Pacific. This study sought to quantify intra- and inter-island connectivity and to assess their contributions to oceanic scale dispersal of R. stylosa from the Ryukyu Archipelago, which spans over 545 km in southwestern Japan. Using 7 microsatellite markers, we tested 354 samples collected from 16 fringing populations on 4 islands. We identified 3 genetic populations, indicating distinct genetic structures comprising 3 distinguishable bioregions (genetic clusters). The western end of the archipelago receives relatively frequent migration (m > 0.1), but is genetically isolated from other sites. Based on genetic migration rates, we found that the central area of the archipelago serves as a stepping stone for southwestward, but not northeastward dispersal. On the other hand, with in-situ drifting buoys, we did not confirm prevailing dispersal directionality within the archipelago, instead confirming local eddies. Some buoys trapped in those eddies demonstrated potential for successful beaching from another island. A large portion of buoys were carried predominantly northeastward by the Kuroshio Current and drifted away from the coastal areas into the Pacific, contrary to local migrations. We found that the spatiotemporal scale of propagule dispersal is limited by the distance between islands (< 200km), propagule viability duration, and fecundity. Over all, recruitment does not occur frequently enough to unify the genetic structure in the archipelago, and the Ryukyu Archipelago is isolated in the center of the global mangrove distribution.

Effects of prey density and flow speed on plankton feeding by garden eels: A flume study

Feeding by zooplanktivorous fish depends on their foraging movements and the flux of prey to which they are exposed. While prey flux is a linear function of zooplankton density and flow speed, those two factors are expected to contribute differently to fish movements. Our objective was to determine the effects of these factors for garden eels, stationary fish that feed while anchored to the sandy bottom by keeping the posterior parts of their bodies inside a burrow. Using a custom-made flume with a sandy bottom, we quantified the effects of prey density and flow speed on feeding rates by spotted garden eels (Heteroconger hassi). Feeding rates increased linearly with prey density. However, feeding rates did not show a linear relationship with flow speed and decreased at 0.25 m s−1. Using label-free tracking of body points and 3D movement analysis, we found that the reduction in feeding rates was related to modulation of the eel's movements, whereby the expected increase in energy expenditure was avoided by reducing exposure and drag. No effects of flow speed on strike speed, reactive distance or vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA) were found. A foraging model based on the body length extended from the burrow showed correspondence with observations. These findings suggest that as a result of their unique foraging mode, garden eels can occupy self-made burrows in exposed shelter-free sandy bottoms where they can effectively feed on drifting zooplankton.

5. Publications

5.1 Journals

Pezner, A. K., Courtney, T. A., Barkley, H. C., Chou, W.-C., Chu, H.-C., Clements, S. M., Cyronak, T., DeGrandpre, M. D., Kekuewa, S. A. H., Kline, D. I., Liang, Y.-B., Martz, T. R., Mitarai, S., Page, H. N., Rintoul, M. S., Smith, J. E., Soong, K., Takeshita, Y., Tresguerres, M., … Andersson, A. J. (2023). Increasing hypoxia on global coral reefs under ocean warming. Nature Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01619-2
Yamada, Y., Patel, N., Fukuda, H., Nagata, T., Mitarai, S., & Azam, F. (2023). Bacterial surface roughness regulates nanoparticle scavenging in seawater. Limnology and Oceanography. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12309
Vogt-Vincent, N. S., Burt, A. J., Kaplan, D. M., Mitarai, S., Turnbull, L. A., & Johnson, H. L. (2023). Sources of marine debris for Seychelles and other remote islands in the western Indian Ocean. Marine Pollution Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114497
Brunner, O., Chen, C., Giguère, T., Kawagucci, S., Tunnicliffe, V., Watanabe, H. K., & Mitarai, S. (2022). Species assemblage networks identify regional connectivity pathways among hydrothermal vents in the Northwest Pacific. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9612
Rintoul, M. S., Courtney, T. A., Dohner, J. L., Giddings, S. N., Kekuewa, S. A. H., Mitarai, S., Monismith, S. G., Pezner, A. K., & Andersson, A. J. (2022). The effects of light intensity and flow speed on biogeochemical variability within a fringing coral reef in Onna‐son, Okinawa, Japan. Journal of Geophysical Research, C: Oceans. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jc018369
Ares, Á., Sakai, S., Sasaki, T., Shimamura, S., Mitarai, S., & Nunoura, T. (2022). Sequestration and efflux largely account for cadmium and copper resistance in the deep sea Nitratiruptor sp. SB155-2 (Phylum Campylobacterota). Environmental Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16255
Wepfer, P. H., Nakajima, Y., Fujimura, A., Mikheyev, A. S., Economo, E. P., & Mitarai, S. (2022). The oceanographic isolation of the Ogasawara Islands and genetic divergence in a reef‐building coral. Journal of Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14475
Mars Brisbin, M., Mitarai, S., Saito, M. A., & Alexander, H. (2022). Microbiomes of bloom-forming Phaeocystis algae are stable and consistently recruited, with both symbiotic and opportunistic modes. The ISME Journal. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-022-01263-2
Thomas, M., Nakajima, Y., & Mitarai, S. (2022). Extremely Stochastic Connectivity of Island Mangroves. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.827590
Ishikawa, K., Wu, H., Mitarai, S., & Genin, A. (2022). Effects of prey density and flow speed on plankton feeding by garden eels: A flume study. The Journal of Experimental Biology. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243655

5.2 Books and other one-time publications

Nothing to report

5.3 Oral and Poster Presentations

Ishikawa, K., Wu, H., Mitarai, S., & Genin, A. (2023). Differential responses of swimming reef fish and anchored garden eels to turbulence. SICB 2023, Austin, Texas, USA (hybrid), January 3–7, 2023. (Oral on January 6, 2023 at 10:15am)
Brunner, O., Mitarai, S., & Suzuki, Y. (2022). Simulating dispersal and metacommunity dynamics at hydrothermal vents. BES Annual Meeting 2022, British Ecological Society, Edinburgh, Scotland, December 18–21, 2022. (Oral on December 19, 2022 at 11:45am–12pm)
Ishikawa, K. (2022). Effects of flows on feeding behavior of reef fish. Okinawa Marine Science Network, Nishihara, Okinawa, November 25, 2022. (Oral on November 25, 2022)
Niwa, S., Takeda, T., Fujita, R., Kayanne, H., Tajima, Y., & Mitarai, S. (2022). Seiche in coral reefs of Onna, Okinawa. 25th Japan Coral Reef Society Meeting, Ishigaki, Okinawa, November 11–13, 2022. (Oral on November 11, 2022)
Kataoka, K., Takeyasu, K., Uchiyama, Y., & Mitarai, S. (2022). Quantifying wave-induced effects on Lagrangian transport: with an application to larval dispersal of corals. 69th Annual Conference on Coastal Engineering, Yokosuka, Japan (hybrid), November 8–11, 2022. (Oral on November 9, 2022
Ishikawa, K., Wu, H., Mitarai, S., & Genin, A. (2022) Adaptation of garden eels to flows. 93rd Zoological Society of Japan, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, September 8–10, 2022.
Yamada, Y., Mochizuki, T., Patel, N., Azam, F., & Mitarai,, S. Relationship between bacterial surface properties and nanoparticle scavenging in seawater. The Oceanographic Society of Japan Fall Meeting, Online, September 3–7, 2022. (Oral on September 6, 2022)
Kosaka, N., Nakamura, T., Kura, T., Iizuka, T., Umemiya, Y., Itami, G., Murata, A., & Mitarai, S. (2022). Evaluation of typhoon observation data utilizing an autonomous Wave Glider. AOGS2022 the 19th Annual Meeting, Online, August 1–5, 2022. (Virtual poster on August 4, 2022)
Kosaka, N., Iizuka, T., Umemiya, Y., Itami, G., Murata, A., & Mitarai, S. (2022). A comparison of satellite and reanalysis with in-situ ocean observation utilizing an autonomous Wave Glider. International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium 2022, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 17–22, 2022. (Virtual oral on July 29, 2022)
Rintoul, M., Courtney, T., Dohner, J., Giddings, S., Inoha, K., Kekuewa, S., Mitarai, S., Monismith, S., Pezner, A., & Andersson, A. (2022). Modulation of biogeochemical variability by physical processes on a fringing coral reef. 15th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bremen, Germany, July 3–8, 2022.
Fujimura, A., & Mitarai, S. (2022). What phenotype, genotype, and environmental factors underlie coral vulnerability and resilience to thermal stress and bleaching? 15th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bremen, Germany, July 3–8, 2022. (Oral on July 6, 2022 at 11:45−12:00)
Umemiya, Y., Kosaka, N., Iizuka, T., Itami, G., Nakamura, T., Kura, T., Murata, A., & Mitarai, S. (2022). Validation of a vertical model of ocean wind using “synchronous ocean observation” data from UAV (multicopter) and Wave Glider. Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2022, Makuhari, Chiba, Japan, May 22–27, 2022. (Virtual poster on May 30, 2022)
Kosaka, N., Nakamura, T., Kura, T., Iizuka, T., Umemiya, Y., Itami, G., Murata, A., Mitarai, S. (2022). A comparison of satellite and reanalysis wind products with in-situ Wave Glider and UAV ocean observations. Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2022, Makuhari, Chiba, Japan, May 22–27, 2022. (Virtual poster on May 30, 2022)
Mitarai, S., Nakamura, M., Nakajima, Y., Touber, E., & Winn, S. (2022). Toward modeling propagule dispersal of corals, seagrasses, macroalgae, and mangroves. Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2022, Makuhari, Chiba, Japan, May 22–27, 2022. (Virtual oral on May 27, 2022)
Ishikawa, K., Wu, H., Mitarai, S., & Genin, A. (2022). Effects of flow speed on plankton feeding by garden eels: a flume study. Microscale Ocean Biophysics 2022, Mallorca, Spain, May 22–27, 2022. (Poster on May 25, 2022)
Wu, H., Yamada, Y., Chuang, P.-S., Ishikawa, K., & Mitarai, S. (2022). Effects of ambient flows on the transparent exopolymer particle release from branch corals and the associated bacterial growth. Microscale Ocean Biophysics 2022, Mallorca, Spain, May 22–27, 2022.(Poster on May 23, 2022)
Vogt-Vincent, N., & Mitarai, S. (2022). The Kuroshio Current at the Last Glacial Maximum and implications for coral paleobiogeography. EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, April 3–8, 2022. (Oral on May 23, 2022)
Kosaka, N., Nakamura, T., Kura, T., Iizuka, T., Umemiya, Y., Itami, G., Murata, A., Mitarai, S. (2022). A comparison of satellite and reanalysis temperature products with in-situ Wave Glider and UAV ocean observations. Meteorological Society of Japan 2022 Spring Meeting, Online, May 17–21, 2022. (Virtual poster on May 20, 2022)

6. Intellectual Property Rights and Other Specific Achievements

Nothing to report

7. Meetings and Events

7.1 Invited lectures

Mitarai, S. (2022). Efforts to improve the sophistication of ocean tide model and current simulation. Commendation from the Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard, 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, Naha, Okinawa, Japan, September 15, 2022.
Mitarai, S., Nakamura, M., Nakajima, Y., Touber, E., & Winn, S. (2022). Toward modeling propagule dispersal of corals, seagrasses, macroalgae, and mangroves. Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2022, Makuhari, Chiba, Japan, May 22–27, 2022.

8. Other

Nothing to report.