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Understanding visitation patterns is crucial in developing effective conservation strategies for protected areas, as it serves as an indicator for operating an ecosystem management plan that balances biodiversity and ecosystem services intertwined with public health and social benefits. However, limited data availability during the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered the comprehensive understanding of temporal changes in realized cultural ecosystem services, particularly in recreational activities within these areas. Our study utilized GPS data from mobile phones to quantify visitor characteristics and their contribution to recreational ecosystem services in protected areas at a national scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated the pandemic's relative impact on visitor patterns at 98 visitor centers in national parks and Ramsar sites in Japan. The total number of visitors and travel distance in various sizes of protected areas decreased after the outbreak of COVID-19. The number of visitors in the protected areas displayed a quick recovery despite the increasing positive COVID-19 cases during the following summer. Post-pandemic, visitors showed a preference for less densely populated protected areas closer to their home range. Our findings partly suggest that protecting a diverse range of conservation areas along the urban gradient could be an effective strategy for maintaining the resilience of recreational services during a prolonged pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the world's most widespread member of the order Carnivora, occurring across a large range of latitudes and inhabiting multiple habitat types. There is no comprehensive study of how the diets of this flexible generalist vary across the whole Asian continent. We conducted a meta‐analysis of red fox diets in Japan, examining the patterns in food type selection and their associations with seasonality, regional climate, vegetation productivity, and human influences at the national scale. Using linear mixed models, we revealed significant seasonal effects on the frequency of occurrence of mammals in general, ungulate carcasses, birds, and invertebrates in the diets of red foxes. Furthermore, the frequency of occurrence of mammals significantly decreased with mean annual temperature and increased with vegetation productivity. The frequency of invertebrate occurrences increased with temperature, and that of anthropogenic foods increased with human population density. Trophic diversity and dietary niche breadth increased with annual temperature but decreased with vegetation productivity and population density. These results suggest that the red fox is a flexible predator in Japan that adapts its foraging patterns according to variations in resource availability and abiotic conditions, while persistently consuming a certain ratio of animal prey to meet its metabolic requirements. Modifications of predators' trophic niches can influence structures of prey communities and interactions with sympatric competitors. Our findings are important for informing ecosystem management practices under ongoing environmental and social changes in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatiotemporal prediction of the response of planted forests to a changing climate is increasingly important for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. In this study, we present a methodology for estimating spatially varying productivity in a planted forest and changes in productivity with a changing climate in Japan, with a focus on Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) as a representative tree species of this region. The process-based model Biome-BGC was parameterized using a plant trait database for Japanese cedar and a Bayesian optimization scheme. To compare productivity under historical (1996–2000) and future (2096–2100) climatic conditions, the climate scenarios of two representative concentration pathways (i.e., RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) were used in five global climate models (GCMs) with approximately 1-km resolution. The seasonality of modeled fluxes, namely gross primary production, ecosystem respiration, net ecosystem exchange, and soil respiration, improved after two steps of parameterization. The estimated net primary production (NPP) of stands aged 36–40 years under the historical climatic conditions of the five GCMs was 0.77 ± 0.10 kgC m-2 year-1 (mean ± standard deviation), in accordance with the geographical distribution of forest NPP estimated in previous studies. Under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the mean NPP of the five GCMs increased by 0.04 ± 0.07 and 0.14 ± 0.11 kgC m-2 year-1, respectively. The increases in annual NPP were small in the southwestern region because of the decreases in summer NPP and the small increases in winter NPP under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. Under the RCP2.6 scenario, Japanese cedar was at risk in the southwestern region, in accordance with previous studies, and monitoring and silvicultural practices should be modified accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity patterns of marine crustaceans are still unknown in many locations or might have been overlooked due to our knowledge gaps, despite increasing sampling and data sharing efforts during the last decades. By analysing big data extracted from open portals such as Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) and Global Biodiversity Information System (GBIF), we aim to revisit the distribution and biodiversity patterns of the highly speciose and abundant Crustacea in the Northwest Pacific (NWP) from shallowest depths to the deep sea. This study focussed on selected benthic and pelagic crustacean (sub) classes and their species richness, sampling effort, and expected species richness (ES50) using equal/sized hexagonal cells, 5° latitudinal bands, 500 m depth intervals were analyzed. Crustacean species richness was highest in the tropical Philippines as well as around the Japanese islands. Pelagic crustacean species richness peaked at 30° latitude and declined beyond that. Benthic taxa; however, depicted high levels of species richness across most of the latitudinal gradient, reaching its highest point at 45° latitude. Due to the prevalence of certain crustacean orders in the deep sea, benthic species richness showed a distribution pattern with two distinct peaks across bathymetric gradients; with highest species richness recorded at shallow-water depths and also at abyssal depths. The most important environmental drivers of benthic and pelagic crustacean species richness were primary productivity (positive correlation) and salinity (negative correlation). Our study provides first insights into biodiversity patterns of the highly diverse Crustacea in the NWP and highlights strong differences between benthic and pelagic taxa. The results presented here could help us to better understand whether benthic or pelagic taxa might respond differently to climate changes in the NWP based on their distinct physiological and biological characteristics. This information is crucial in establishing species management strategies and ecosystem restorations in both shallow water and deep-sea environments. • Crustacean biodiversity in the NW-Pacific is high around Japan and the Philippines. • Benthic and pelagic crustacean biodiversity patterns differed in the NW-Pacific. • Overall, crustacean biodiversity was highest in shallow water depths. • Benthic crustacean biodiversity was elevated at abyssal depths. • Crustacean biodiversity is driven by primary productivity (+) and salinity (−). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This paper explores the case for using “community-based shared values” as a potential driver for the “Heartware” aspects of governance in Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) – from a Japan-Malaysia policy learning perspective. This policy approach was originally inspired by the Japanese experience, and the paper investigates whether a similar strategy can be adapted in the Malaysian context-based on a qualitative exploratory case study of a local downstream watershed community. The community-based shared values are categorized into six functional values that can be placed on a watershed: industry, ecosystem, lifestyle, landscape, water resource and spirituality. The study confirmed the availability of a range of community-based shared values in each category that are promising to drive the heartware for integrated watershed management in the local Malaysian context. However, most of these shared values are either declining in its appreciation or nostalgic in nature. The paper ends with findings on key differences and similarities between the Malaysian and Japanese contexts, and concludes with lessons for international transfer of IWM heartware policy strategies between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of the 60th anniversary symposium of the Ecological Society of Japan (ESJ) was to re-examine the role of the Society. The first of five lectures, ' Development of Long- term Ecological Research in Japan,' discussed the increasingly important role of long-term and networked research studies. Ecological research in Asia faces many challenges, because Asia features natural and anthropogenic landscapes with highly diverse ecosystems. ' Developing Strategies of the Ecological Society of Japan for Worldwide Societies of Ecology with Special Reference to Strategies for Asia' emphasized the role of ESJ in promoting ecological research and outreach in Asia. Ecosystem sustainability is a key issue in both the theory and practice of ecosystem management. A framework concept of an environmental and biodiversity cycle was proposed in the session ' Linking Community and Ecosystem Dynamics' for understanding the mechanisms driving the sustainability of ecosystems. Ecosystem services are essential aspects of land use and conservation planning and management. ' Integrating Models of Ecosystem Services and Land Use Changes' reviewed recently-developed models that simulate patterns of land-use change and analyze its effects on ecosystem services and also recommended future directions for collaboration among researchers. ' Disaster Resilience and Coastal Ecology' highlighted the contributions of ecologists to evaluating the resilience of damaged coastal ecosystems and provided sound proposals to local communities and governments for rehabilitation plans. The past achievements and future directions of ESJ were discussed by the panelists and the audience in ' Past and Future of the Ecological Society of Japan.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farm ponds have high conservation value because they contribute significantly to regional biodiversity and ecosystem services. In Japan pond draining is a traditional management method that is widely believed to improve water quality and eradicate invasive fish. In addition, fishing by means of pond draining has significant cultural value for local people, serving as a social event. However, there is a widespread belief that pond draining reduces freshwater biodiversity through the extirpation of aquatic animals, but scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of pond draining is lacking. We conducted a large-scale field study to evaluate the effects of pond draining on invasive animal control, water quality, and aquatic biodiversity relative to different pond-management practices, pond physicochemistry, and surrounding land use. The results of boosted regression-tree models and analyses of similarity showed that pond draining had little effect on invasive fish control, water quality, or aquatic biodiversity. Draining even facilitated the colonization of farm ponds by invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), which in turn may have detrimental effects on the biodiversity and water quality of farm ponds. Our results highlight the need for reconsidering current pond management and developing management plans with respect to multifunctionality of such ponds. Efectos del Drenado de Estanques sobre la Biodiversidad y la Calidad del Agua en Estanques de Cultivo [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dung beetles serve as the intermediate host for Streptopharagus pigmentatus, a nematode parasite that infects an old world primate, the Japanese Macaque ( Macaca fuscata). This study compares the behaviors of infected and uninfected beetles in both transmission dynamics and the ecological role of the parasite. The results suggest that parasitism does not alter the beetle's use of shelter or choice of substrate on Yakushima Island, Japan. However, infected beetles consume significantly less feces. Dung beetles remove the majority of fecal material in this forest ecosystem, eliminating breeding grounds for many insect pests and burying nutrients that are essential for plant health. Thus, the nematode parasite S. pigmentatus, by altering its host's behavior, changes the availability of fecal resources to both plant and animal communities and should therefore be classified as an ecosystem engineer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses negotiating trends in consumption and conservation of natural ecosystems in the U.S., China and Japan for people to conceptualize and value nature in context to differing cultures. Role-plays are vital negotiation pedagogical tools to influence international environmental negotiations education. It reflects on converged worldviews of natural beauty and informs that as countries experience other cultures, the awareness of diverse cross cultural values will increase.

The Shiga Prefectural Government (SPG) is in a process of reviewing and revising 'Mather Lake 21 Plan', which is a comprehensive conservation plan developed in 2000 for Lake Biwa. This study was meant to compass the values of people for Lake Biwa, allowing them to be reflected in the revised plan. The authors first conducted a value survey (VS) as a part of an opinion survey by the SPG, requesting prefectural inhabitants to evaluate the level of importance of five major functions of the lake in absolute terms. The five major functions include the following: water resources, ecosystem, landscape, lifestyle and industry. An experiment involving undergraduate students also was conducted, in which the students were asked to evaluate the level of importance, in both absolute and relative terms. Relative evaluations were accomplished by the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. The results indicated that (i) The average values of the prefectural people regarding Lake Biwa, in terms of the lake's functions, were determined, with the values found to be less subject to people's attributes; (ii) A good linear relationship between the absolute and relative evaluations was obtained in the student experiment, suggesting that the absolute evaluations could be converted to relative ones with the derived relationship; and (iii) By converting the absolute evaluations of the VS to relative ones, it was revealed that prefectural residents attached importance to the lake's functions, with the relative order of importance being water resources, ecosystem, landscape, industry and lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study demonstrated long-term changes in the stock size and species composition of the megabenthic community, including both vertebrates and invertebrates, in Tokyo Bay, Japan, a semi-enclosed coastal area in which the ecosystem has been affected by both natural and anthropogenic factors. We conducted fisheries-independent trawl surveys over a total of 26yr (1977–1995 and 2003–2009) to collect megabenthos from the entire bay. We also obtained environmental data for the bay from published records to investigate relationships between biota and environment. Abundance- and biomass-based densities of the megabenthos increased until the late 1980s, followed by an abrupt decline, which we attribute to changes in the densities of small to mid-sized dominant species. In the 2000s, although the abundance-based density remained low, biomass-based density increased substantially due to an increase in the numbers of large fishes. Cluster analysis divided the survey period into six groups showing characteristic species compositions and densities. Stepwise multivariate discriminant analysis (SMDA) revealed that changes in water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, precipitation, and copepod density were accompanied by simultaneous changes in the megabenthic community. The SMDA cross-validation test indicated that the percentage of incorrect classifications of the model ranged from 14.3% to 66.7%, implying that factors not incorporated in the model, such as fisheries pressure, might affect the changes in the megabenthic community structure. Our results suggest that major shifts have occurred in the megabenthic community structure in Tokyo Bay, and that both natural and anthropogenic factors can trigger these shifts in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The satoyama landscape is a traditional Japanese rural land-use system that represents a balanced relationship between human beings and nature, thereby sustaining a variety of ecosystem services, including the diversity of secondary natural environments. Overuse of the satoyama, as occurred during the Edo and early Meiji periods, as well as underuse as seen in the wake of the fuel and fertilizer revolutions of the 1960s, destroy this balance and hence the sustainability of this system. The Satoyama Initiative is an effort to rebuild a healthy relationship between nature and people who respect the traditional knowledge embodied in the satoyama system, and to explore new shared management systems (“new” commons) in which various actors, including corporations, participate in working toward the combined goals of a low-carbon, resource-circulating, nature-harmonious society. In the interests of furthering cooperation with developing nations, it is important that this initiative pay heed to the need for improved agricultural, forestry, and livestock industry productivity that harmonizes with the natural environment, and to the improvement of human well-being and the reduction of poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used terrestrial ecosystem models to estimate spatial and temporal variability in and uncertainty of estimated soil carbon dioxide (CO) efflux, or soil respiration, over the Japanese Archipelago. We compared five carbon-cycle models to assess inter-model variability: Biome-BGC, CASA, LPJ, SEIB, and VISIT. These models differ in approaches to soil carbon dynamics, root respiration estimation, and relationships between decomposition and environmental factors. We simulated the carbon budget of natural ecosystems over the archipelago for 2001–2006 at 1-day time steps and 2-min (latitude and longitude) spatial resolution. The models were calibrated using measured flux data to accurately represent net ecosystem CO exchange. Each model successfully reproduced seasonal changes and latitudinal gradients in soil respiration. The five-model average of estimated total soil respiration of Japanese ecosystems was 295 Tg C year, with individual model estimates ranging from 210 to 396 Tg C year (1 Tg = 10 g). The differences between modeled estimates were more evident in summer and in warmer years, implying that they were mainly attributable to differences in modeling the temperature dependence of soil respiration. There was a large discrepancy between models in the estimated contribution of roots to total soil respiration, ranging from 3.9 to 48.4%. Although model calibration reduced the uncertainty of flux estimates, substantial uncertainties still remained in estimates of underground processes from these terrestrial carbon-cycle models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Japan, the Environmental Quality Standard for zinc, established in 2003, was the first standard for the protection of aquatic species. To achieve this environmental criterion, the National Effluent Standard was lowered from 5mgL–1 to 2mgL–1 in 2006. However, some industries were permitted to apply a provisional effluent standard until 2011, when the provisional standard will revert to the national standard. Therefore, discussion about the environmental management of and countermeasures for the risk of zinc continues in Japan. The aim of this paper is to present the current status of the risk of zinc. Using long-term monitoring data for zinc from more than 3000 monitoring sites in Japan, both freshwater and marine, we found that the geometric mean concentration of zinc at freshwater sites was about 10.8μgL–1 and that the annual mean concentrations have been generally decreasing. We identified sites where zinc concentrations were high, and we also identified the most likely sources of zinc responsible for the high concentrations. The ecological risk of zinc was estimated at the conventional individual level and at the population level. Individual-level risk was detected at about 20% of freshwater sites, and population-level risk at about 2%. The risks were lower in more recent years; however, they remain at unacceptable levels. Our results show the necessity of risk reduction strategies. We propose a new approach for risk management and countermeasures that consider both individual- and population-level risks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An important aspect of the nitrogen cycle in coastal environments concerns the source of the nitrogen used in primary production. Phytoplankton production in Ise Bay, one of the most eutrophic embayments in Japan, is supported by external nitrogen derived from rivers and the ocean, and regenerated nitrogen formed in hypoxic water within the bay. We evaluated the contribution of each source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) to phytoplankton production in Ise Bay. A unique three-dimensional ecosystem model including nitrogen isotopes (δ 15N) was developed based on precise observations. Model results revealed that DIN (=ammonium+nitrate) consumption by phytoplankton exceeds the DIN supply from the rivers and ocean, indicating that a large amount of phytoplankton production in Ise Bay depends on regenerated DIN within the bay rather than on newly supplied DIN. However, the ratio of consumption to external supply differs seasonally. Distributions of simulated δ 15N clearly showed the source of nitrogen incorporated by phytoplankton in each source. The intrusion depth of oceanic water changes from the bottom to the middle layer in spring. Oceanic nitrate is transported into the euphotic layer by the middle layer intrusion and stimulates phytoplankton production at the bay mouth. The subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer then develops. In autumn, however, the intrusion depth of oceanic water changes from the middle layer to the bottom layer. Regenerated NO3 −, which is accumulated in the hypoxic water mass, is uplifted and continuously supplied to the euphotic layer. These results imply that phytoplankton production in Ise Bay is mainly dominated by the internal cycle rather than the external supply. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The rapid decline of semi-natural grasslands in Japan threatens many relic and endemic plant species. There is insufficient knowledge on how the impacts of land-use changes and management of grasslands have been affecting grassland ecosystems and what conservation measures may be taken to conserve as much of the existing plant diversity as possible. Aim: We assessed the existing management regimes for their suitability for conserving Red Data Book (RDB) species. Methods: We conducted our study in four districts of Kushima, Kyushu, south-west Japan, with different land-use histories. We compared species richness, plant density and abundance in six grassland types: regularly burnt, regularly mown, paddy levee, roadside, landslip and wetland communities in a total of 289 1 m x 1 m quadrats, recorded in172 grassland patches. Species richness plant density and abundance were analysed with special reference to RDB species under different land use history. Results: Species richness of grasslands did not differ across different land use histories, yet our analysis showed that the reduced area of grasslands markedly affected the density of RDB species. Grassland types differed in their ability to support RDB species: regularly burnt grasslands were the richest in RDB species and poorest in alien species, followed by regularly mown grasslands, paddy levees, landslip, wetland and roadside communities. Conclusions: Traditional management regimes, such as regular burning or mowing of grasslands have the best potential for conserving RDB species, and thus should be part of conservation management practices of semi-natural grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To conserve the foraging habitat of Daubenton¿s bat (Myotis daubentonii) in a large lowland river, we investigated the influence on this bat of prey variables (number or biomass) and insect origin (aquatic or terrestrial). We tested the hypothesis that river restoration (re-meandering) conducted in the Shibetsu River, northern Japan, enhances foraging habitat quality by increasing the abundance of aquatic insects. From June to September 2004, flying insects were collected using Malaise traps in restored and channelised reaches in the Shibetsu River. Bat activity was recorded by bat detectors placed near the Malaise traps in each of the two reaches. Foraging activity of Daubenton¿s bat was more strongly related to the number of insects than to biomass, and to adult aquatic insects than to terrestrial insects. The high dependence of Daubenton¿s bat on aquatic prey was attributed to the fact that aquatic insect numbers were always higher than those of terrestrial insects. Contrary to the hypothesis, Daubenton¿s bat was more active in the channelised reach than the restored reach in all months except June, and it synchronized its foraging activity with the seasonal distribution of adult aquatic insects. However, the study was undertaken just two years after restoration and the riparian vegetation had not yet established itself. Our results demonstrate the importance of aquatic insect abundance for Daubenton¿s bat throughout the seasons in large lowland rivers. A further decrease in aquatic insects, associated with progressive anthropogenic alteration of river environments, undoubtedly exerts a harmful influence on the conservation of this species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

AbstractA project to eradicate invasive small Asian mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) is underway to conserve the unique ecosystem of Okinawa Island, Japan. In the present study, we tried to elucidate whether the mongoose is a host of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and to evaluate the reliability of surveillance of Japanese encephalitis (JE) using this species. Culex tritaeniorhynchus, the main vector mosquito of JEV, feeds on the mongoose. Eighty-five (35.4%) of 240 wild small Asian mongooses captured between 2001 and 2005 had neutralizing antibodies against more than one of four JEV strains. Prevalence rates of JEV antibodies tended to increase with body weight and length of the animals. One of three sentinel mongooses showed a temporal change in antibody titer. These results indicate that the small Asian mongooses on Okinawa Island are sensitive to JEV. From the antibody titers and the locations of capture, the JEV active area was clarified. We propose that surveillance of JE using mongooses captured under the eradication program is reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy photosynthetic capacity, measured as leaf maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax), is a key factor in ecosystem gas exchange models applied at different scales. We report seasonal and interannual variations in Vcmax of natural beech stands (Fagus crenata Blume) along an altitudinal gradient in the temperate climate zone of Japan. Estimates are based on 6 years of gas exchange measurements. Pronounced seasonal and interannual variations in Vcmax normalized to 25 °C (Vc,25) were found for sun leaves. The seasonal pattern of Vc,25 generally followed an inverse parabolic curve, with an increase in spring, peak values in the middle of the growth period and a decline in autumn. Leaf nitrogen concentration (Nl) and leaf mass per area were significantly related to Vc,25 during spring and summer, but were unrelated in autumn when Vc,25 declined. Annual peak Vc,25 ranged from 40.1 to 97.0 µmol m-2 s-1 and varied over as much as a twofold range at a particular site. Annual peak Vc,25 occurred about 28 days before annual peak Nl, with which it was poorly related. Our results show that it can be inappropriate to include constant values of photosynthetic parameters in ecosystem gas exchange models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the species richness and assemblages of longicorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Disteniidae) in ten secondary broad-leaved stands and eight plantation stands of Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica) of various ages after clear-cutting or plantation in Ibaraki, central Japan. The species richness of longicorns, which were collected with Malaise traps, was the highest in young stands, decreasing with the age of the stand for both broad-leaved and conifer stands. A canonical correspondence analysis divided the 18 plots into three groups based on longicorn assemblages and environmental variables. These three groups consisted of (1) very young (1–4 years old) stands after clear-cutting or plantation; (2) 12- to over 100 year-old broad-leaved stands; (3) 7- to 76-year-old conifer stands. The species richness of the longicorns was the highest in the young stands followed, in order of decreasing species richness, by broad-leaved stands and conifer stands. Possible causes of the high species richness in young stands include large amounts of coarse wood debris and flowers, which are resources for oviposition and nutrition for adults, respectively. The lower longicorn diversity in conifer stands than in broad-leaved stands may be due to the lower diversity of trees available as host plants in the former. Almost all species that occurred in conifer stands were also collected in young and/or broad-leaved stands, but the reverse was not true, suggesting that conifer plantations cannot replace broad-leaved stands in terms of longicorn biodiversity. We argue that an extensive conversion of broad-leaved forests into conifer plantations will lead to an impoverishment of the longicorn fauna, which may result in the degradation of ecosystem functions possibly carried out by them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured the vertical distribution and seasonal patterns of fine-root production and mortality using minirhizotrons in a cool–temperate forest in northern Japan mainly dominated by Mongolian oak ( Quercus crispula) and covered with a dense understory of dwarf bamboo ( Sasa senanensis). We also investigated the vertical distribution of the fine-root biomass using soil coring. We also measured environmental factors such as air and soil temperature, soil moisture and leaf area indices (LAI) of trees and the understory Sasa canopy for comparison with the fine-root dynamics. Fine-root biomass to a depth of 60 cm in September 2003 totaled 774 g m−2, of which 71% was accounted for by Sasa and 60% was concentrated in the surface soil layer (0–15 cm), indicating that understory Sasa was an important component of the fine-root biomass in this ecosystem. Fine-root production increased in late summer (August) when soil temperatures were high, suggesting that temperature partially controls the seasonality of fine-root production. In addition, monthly fine-root production was significantly related to Sasa LAI ( P<0.001), suggesting that fine-root production was also affected by the specific phenology of Sasa. Fine-root mortality was relatively constant throughout the year. Fine-root production, mortality, and turnover rates were highest in the surface soil (0–15 cm) and decreased with increasing soil depth. Turnover rates of production and mortality in the surface soil were 1.7 year−1 and 1.1 year−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric bulk depositions of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), soluble unreactive phosphorus (SUP), particulate inorganic phosphorus (PIP), particulate organic phosphorus (POP), total phosphorus (TP) and some other dissolved and particulate components were monitored for 3 years in Ashiu, Central Japan. The mean bulk depositions of SRP, SUP, PIP, POP, TP, dissolved components (Na, Mg, nss-Ca, K, V, Mo, nss-SO4) and particulate components (Al, Fe, Ti, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ba, Sr, Zn) were 175, 76, 136, 397, 783, 156,000, 10,900, 7450, 5470, 10.3, 1.52, 40,100, 13,200, 3590, 2630, 576, 624, 42.3, 30.2, 17.4, 8.2 μmol m−2 year−1, respectively. The value for TP deposition was in the lower range of previous literature. The low P deposition probably reflected the method applied to reduce the contribution of local particles, including (1) placement of samplers off the ground surface, (2) installation of multiple samplers, and (3) rejection of contaminated samples. Al data suggested that 15 ± 5% of TP was brought by lithogenic dust from East Eurasia. Nss-SO4 and Mo data and air-mass backward trajectories suggested that 39 ± 4% of TP was derived from coal combustion in China. It was speculated that the rest (47 ± 6%) of the TP deposition might be predominantly attributed to the contribution of local biogenic particles. Net atmospheric TP input (lithogenic dust and fossil fuel combustion) was almost equal to the TP outflow from Japanese forests on granitic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betula maximowicziana is a long-lived pioneer tree species in Japanese cool temperate forests that plays an important role in maintenance of the forest ecosystem and has high economic value. Here we assess the wide-range genetic structure of 23 natural populations of B. maximowicziana using 11 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci. Genetic diversity within populations was relatively low in all populations (mean HE, 0.361; mean allelic richness, 2.80; mean rare allelic richness, 1.02). The population differentiation was also relatively low ( FST, 0.062). Genetic distance-based and Bayesian clustering analysis revealed that the populations examined here could be divided into a southern group and a northern group. Analysis of rare allelic richness and Bayesian clustering revealed evidence for both southern and northern refugia during the last glacial period. Furthermore, a comparison of regional genetic diversity revealed significant clines in allelic richness. In spatial genetic structure evaluation, significant isolation by distance (IBD) was detected among the 23 populations, but not within regions. Moreover, significant population bottlenecks were found in all populations under infinite allele model (IAM) assumptions. These unusual, significant bottlenecks might be because of the processes of postglacial colonization and the species’ characters and/or life history as a long-lived pioneer tree species. The wide-range, regional genetic structure found in this study provides an important baseline for conservation and forest management, including the identification of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) and/or management units (MUs) of B. maximowicziana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese freshwater fish habitats can be generally categorized into 1) rivers and streams, 2) ponds and lakes, and 3) rice fields and small irrigation channels connecting them. Of these, reviewing studies on stream fish habitat is the primary objective of this paper. Streams in Japan have widely received severe habitat alterations through construction of artificial instream structures as well as modification of riparian vegetations. As a result, streamdwelling fishes that require natural flow regimes, substrates, and riparian vegetation have declined their populations in great deal in many parts of the country. Recent studies have found riparian forests control water temperature and provide woody debris creating cover structures for the stream fishes resulting in enhancing their carrying capacity. Differences in riparian vegetation types (forest versus grass) played an important role in determining the local distribution of salmonids. Also, experiments removing concrete-lined channel and installing log-drop structures demonstrated that such the treatment greatly improved fish habitat. As the general public became aware of the serious degradation of aquatic habitats, river management policy has gradually shifted to include conservation and improvement of river environment as habitat for wildlife during the last two decades. For fish migration, installation of fishway on dams has been prevailing, and research efforts have been made to design more effective fishway and passable weirs. In many cases, however, such restoration work lacks ecological data for assessment of their effectiveness. accumulated, a vital issue will be how it is accounted into actual management. Future studies on fish habitat should shift toward treating habitat network at larger spatial scales to seek better designs for distributing appropriate habitats over a whole catchment. Such studies should also include clarifying the habitat requirements of endangered species and effects of non-native on native species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable management of ecosystems can provide various socio-ecological benefits, including disaster risk reduction. Through their regulating services and by providing natural protection, ecosystems can reduce physical exposure to common natural hazards. Ecosystems can also minimize disaster risk by reducing social and economic vulnerability and enhancing livelihood resilience. To showcase the importance and usefulness of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), this study (1) analyzed the land use change in a watershed in central Japan, (2) applied the concept of Eco-DRR, and made land use management recommendations regarding the watershed scale for reducing the risk of downstream flooding. The recommendations that emerged from the application, based on the land use change analysis, are: the use of hard infrastructure and vegetation to store and retain/detain stormwater and promote evapotranspiration is recommended for downstream, urban areas; the sustainable management of upland forest ecosystems and secondary forest-paddy land-human systems, and proactive land use planning in the lowland delta, where built land is concentrated, are key to the watershed-scale landscape planning and management to reduce downstream flooding risks. • Sustainable management of ecosystems is key to disaster risk reduction. • Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction was applied to a watershed in central Japan. • We recommend complementing grey infrastructure with nature-based solutions. • Upstream ecosystem management is as critical as downstream land use planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed freshwater temperature data from 1982 to 2016 throughout Japan to better understand how waters are warming in Japan. We used linear regression to determine the temperature change rate and Mann–Kendall tests to identify significant temporal trends in the annual maximum and mean temperatures. Among 11,240 monitoring sites screened, 159 with fewer missing values were selected for analysis. On the basis of this analysis, we identified and ranked the sites showing significant temporal increasing or decreasing trends for future management. At nearly half (42%) of the analyzed sites, the annual mean freshwater temperature was increasing; thus, in the future, adverse impacts from warm temperatures may increase in those aquatic ecosystems. The temperature change rate of fresh water was higher than that of air, indicating that the observed increases in freshwater temperature were not due to atmospheric warming only. Among individual sites, the annual maximum freshwater temperature change rate ranged from −1.27 to 1.91 °C/decade, and the annual mean rate ranged from −1.13 to 1.28 °C/decade. Few other studies have reported decreasing temperatures for fresh water. We expect our results will improve understanding of how freshwater temperatures are changing at a large scale, enhance understanding of human impacts on the aquatic environment, support effective management of ecosystems experiencing temperature changes, and help to minimize the loss of biodiversity over the next half century. Image 1 • Freshwater temperatures during 1982–2016 were analyzed nationwide in Japan. • The temperature change rate of fresh water was higher than that of air. • Annual freshwater temperature change rate ranged from −1.27 to 1.91 °C/decade. • 67 sites among 159 showed annual mean temperature increasing trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The studied programs broadly dealt with nature, including travel and education ones. • The number of nature programs in Japan was greater in mountainous than coastal areas. • The number of nature programs was associated with the presence of famous mountains. • Temporal changes in spatial distribution of nature programs reflected social trends. Cultural ecosystem services (CES) represent the intangible dimensions of the links between people and ecosystems. The evaluation and mapping of CES are critical and can be deeply involved in policy and decision-making concerning the management of ecosystems. Many previous studies have evaluated CES occurred through on-site and proximate contacts with nature such as walking in the forest, watching wildlife, or enjoying landscapes. However, fewer studies evaluated CES occurred in an off-site and distant way through conventional media such as TV and radio, and their spatially explicit evaluations are particularly rare. This paper focused on nature TV programs in Japan as an indicator of CES related to education, aesthetic enjoyment, and nature experience. We revealed the geographical distribution of nature programs across the Japanese archipelago. The associations of the number of TV programs with a range of key factors are discussed. The number of nature programs, and the temporal trends in such associations are explained. We obtained 4,117 nature programs that covered 1,691 locations across the Japanese archipelago between 2004 and 2017. We found that many nature programs dealt with World Natural Heritage Sites (WNHS) and World Cultural Heritage Sites (WCHS), including the Shiretoko peninsula (85 programs), Yakushima island (35 programs), Mt. Fuji (52 programs), and the mountainous areas around the Japanese Alps. In general, the number of Hyakumeizan (100 famous Japanese mountains) and the proportion of WNHS, WCHS, and lake areas within the search radii of 5, 10, and 15 km from the geotagged location of nature program were significantly positively correlated with the number of nature programs across the study period (2004–2017). In particular, the presence of famous mountains has become a relevant predictor of the number of nature programs since around 2012, consistent with the rise of mountaineering and hiking trends in Japan. Our result suggests that the designation as WNHS and WCHS would facilitate maintaining and managing invaluable nature and cultural landscapes of outstanding universal value, and thereby contributing to provide CES through TV programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract--The ecosystem and biodiversity conservation plan in progress in Hiroshima City was reviewed. Hiroshima City had prospered as a castle town, but severely suffered from A-bomb damage at the end of World War II. Since then, Hiroshima City performed greenery activities with restoration and planted trees in public facilities. At present, Hiroshima City is promoting a 3rd tree-planting campaign. As part of this campaign, the master plan of greenery of Hiroshima City is being laid. This plan aims not only at beautification in city area but also at ecosystem and biodiversity conservation in expanded city areas. In this paper, we report on the development of the situation in Hiroshima City since the end of World War II and the conservation planning of greenery which, for the most part, concerns zoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dry and wet depositions of atmospheric ammonia (NH 3) is one of the important pathways of nitrogen loads to aquatic ecosystems and should be managed to mitigate lake eutrophication. Crop and livestock agriculture, one of the largest emitters of NH 3 in Asian countries, are known to cause high spatial and seasonal variation of NH 3 and influence the surrounding lake basin areas via its dry and wet deposition. However, the spatial characteristics of the NH 3 concentration in basin scale are not completely understood for regulation in NH 3 emission because a paucity of monitoring network is currently available for NH 3 in many Asian countries. Here we aim to clarify dominant factors of spatial and seasonal variations of the NH 3 concentration in a shallow eutrophic lake basin (Lake Kasumigaura basin) surrounded by agricultural areas in eastern Japan. Passive sampling over various land use categories in the basin was conducted at 36 sites in total from October 10, 2018 to January 14, 2020. Mean NH 3 concentration in the observational period was in the order of farmland (6.6 ppbv), lake (5.9 ppbv), rural (3.5 ppbv), and forest (2.6 ppbv). Interestingly, the observed NH 3 concentration near the livestock houses were higher in winter than summer, which was inconsistent with knowledge of seasonal changes of current NH 3 emission inventory based on temperature-driven volatilization process. Comparing monthly NH 3 concentrations at farmland and lake sites with various meteorological factors, we suggested the importance of seasonal advection of NH 3 from high emission sources to which has been rarely paid attention by the previous past studies. Consequently, a higher nitrogen input by dry deposition of NH 3 was preliminarily estimated over the lake than that of wet deposition of total nitrogen. Our finding of a role of seasonal advection in NH 3 spatial pattens should be considered for lake ecosystem management since its deposition is known to be closely related to the ecological processes such as phytoplankton blooming. • Passive sampling of NH 3 was made at 36 sites in a lake basin for 16 months. •High NH 3 concentration in winter was observed around emission source areas. •A role of advection was suggested in a lake basin under a monsoon circulation. •Estimated dry deposition of NH 3 was higher than wet deposition over the lake. •Advection of NH 3 should be considered in lake ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildflower viewing is recommended as a form of ecotourism in protected areas to facilitate conservation practices; but this relationship between the conservation of attractive flowering plant species and whole plant diversity has not been quantitatively evaluated. The Kirigamine Plateau in Japan encompasses a protected area that supports high grassland species diversity. Browsing activity by the expanding sika deer populations has negatively impacted this region in recent decades, drastically decreasing blooming flower resources that attract ecotourism. The effectiveness of conserving plant diversity through the placement of deer fences by local conservation practices was evaluated, and indicator species requiring future conservation strategies were identified. Compared to outside the deer fences, the five species diversity metrics (flowering plant richness, flowering abundance, flowering functional diversity (flowering FD), plant species richness, and threatened plant species richness) were significantly higher inside the fences. Except for flowering FD, plant species richness was positively correlated with all other species diversity metrics. The important species analysis identified four species as indicators of conservation for plant diversity and flowering FD out of the top 20 indicator species. The construction of deer fences had a strong positive effect on the preservation of four diversity metrics. However, to conserve flowering FD, additional strategies need to be implemented in this area. Conservation planning based on flowering plant diversity and cultural ecosystem services is vital in reducing the loss of biodiversity in semi-natural grasslands in protected areas worldwide. • The identification of ecosystem services can drive biodiversity conservation. • The relationship between the conservation of attractive flowering plants and whole plant diversity was evaluated. • Plant species diversity metrics were significantly higher inside deer fences. • Important species analysis identified four species as indicators of conservation. • We suggest that additional strategies need to be implemented in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the Scientific Committee meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, where Western scientists will debate over Japanese researchers' plan to kill 50 humpback whales annually to explore ecosystem dynamics in the Southern Ocean. Whale researchers are concerned about the widening range of Japan's scientific program and the fact that whales are being killed by Japan within IWC's Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Under the scientific whaling program, Japan's Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA), launched in 1987, the Japanese have killed 65,00 minke whales there. Meanwhile, scientists at the Government of Japan's Fisheries Agency are contending that the project is aimed at scientific research.

Conservation of marine ecosystems is important for the sustainable utilization of marine resources under environmental changes and anthropogenic impacts. In Japan, fishery management has been based on single-species stock assessments and little attempts have been made to assess and manage the impacts of multi-species multi-gear fisheries except for a few local case studies. In this study, we analyzed two local Ecopath food-web models constructed for Japanese waters (Northeastern Japan and Seto Inland Sea). We adopted a comparative approach to assess the ecosystem characteristics and fishery impacts through a comparison of these models with other published Ecopath models for various periods and regions of the world ocean. Among the metrics derived from Ecopath outputs, total biomass and total productivity represented the gross metabolic activities of the systems, and trophic level fractionation of biomass and catch reflected the trophic structure of the food webs and fishery removals. Loss of food for top predators, primary production required, and mean and variance of trophic level of catch were good indicators of the impacts and patterns of fishery removals. Our results illustrate the characteristics of food webs and fisheries in Japanese local ecosystems: The Northeastern Japan model showed the moderate productivity of the ecosystem, and fishery removals from lower and wider trophic levels. The Seto Inland Sea model indicated large impacts of fisheries on the low productivity neritic system. Such profiling of ecosystems and fisheries provides good overviews that will help initiate stakeholder discussion toward the set-up phase of ecosystem-based fishery management in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TOC and the origin of the SOM showed both spatial and seasonal variations. • Terrestrial organic carbon was the most dominant in SOM in all season. • While algal bloom occurred, algal organic carbon was relatively rare in SOM. Knowledge of the origin of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in lakes contributes to our understanding of the carbon cycle and provides valuable guidance for lake ecosystem management. To elucidate the changes in the spatial and seasonal origins of SOM in a eutrophic lake, we collected sediment at 31 sampling points in Lake Hachiro, northern Japan, in June and November of 2016 and April and June of 2017, and measured total organic carbon (TOC) and fatty acid biomarkers. We found that TOC and the origin of SOM showed both spatial and seasonal variations. TOC was relatively high in the eastern part of the lake and may reflect the hydrological conditions therein. The average TOC of sediment collected from the 31 sampling points increased from June to November 2016, concomitant with an increase in cyanobacterial fatty acids. A cyanobacterial bloom was observed in the water column from July to October of that year, and the input of cyanobacterial carbon to the sediment may explain the TOC increase during this period. We also detected an increase in TOC from November 2016 to April 2017, which coincided with increases in fatty acids of terrestrial and diatom origin. In this regard, we suspect that meltwater inflow during this period may have borne large quantities of terrestrial organic matter, and diatoms are known to predominate in Lake Hachiro during the spring. In contrast, from April to June 2017, we recorded decreases in TOC and all fatty acid biomarkers, with the exception of those derived from bacteria, indicating that decomposition processes prevailed during this period. Quantitative estimates indicated that, despite the spatial and seasonal variations, terrestrial organic carbon was the predominant carbon source in Lake Hachiro, even when the waters were eutrophic and algal blooms were present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsunamis are high-impact, long-duration disasters that in most cases allow for only minutes of warning before impact. Since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, there have been significant advancements in warning methodology, pre-disaster preparedness and basic understanding of related phenomena. Yet, the trail of destruction of the 2011 Japan tsunami, broadcast live to a stunned world audience, underscored the difficulties of implementing advances in applied hazard mitigation. We describe state of the art methodologies, standards for warnings and summarize recent advances in basic understanding, and identify cross-disciplinary challenges. The stage is set to bridge science, engineering and society to help build up coastal resilience and reduce losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents news items concerning science developments worldwide for the week of June 8, 2001. Campaign of bioinformatics companies in Canada for government support in a public database on protein interactions; Launching of the millennium ecosystem survey by the United Nations; Reduction of the budget of science agencies in Japan.