Phylogenetic relationships among the members of the epiphytic moss, Aptychella robusta s. lat. (Pylaisiadelphaceae), mainly from East and Southeast Asia, were examined using chloroplast DNA (rbcL, rps4, and trnL-F) sequences as well as morphological features based on detailed examination of type and authentic specimens. Present analysis revealed unexpected species diversity in the group formerly recognized as A. robusta s. lat. and A. planula, and total 12 species were recognized here including 6 new species in the group; they are A. formosana H.Akiyama, Shevock & K.-Y.Yao sp. nov., A. minutissima H.Akiyama, Shevock & M.Matsumoto sp. nov., A. muelleri Dixon, A. perdecurrens (Dixon) T.J.Kop., A. planula (Mitt.) M.Fleisch., A. robusta (Broth.) M.Fleisch. s. str., A. rubiginosa H.Akiyama, N.Printarakul & N.Hayashida sp. nov., A. subdelicata Broth., A. triangularis H.Akiyama & Shevock sp. nov., A. viridis H.Akiyama sp. nov., A. yakumontana H.Akiyama & N.Hayashida sp. nov., and A. yuennanensis Broth. Some of the species previously recognized as synonyms of A. robusta or A. planula by Tan & Buck (1989), Tan (1991), and Tan & Jia (1999) are treated as separate species here; they are A. subdelicata, A. muelleri, and A. yuennanensis.

View full abstract

The management of grassland is important in Mongolia. In order to evaluate the effects of grazing on grassland, plant and plant communities outside and inside the experimental grazing-free fences at the riverside of the Orkhon River and on the flat place at Mogod Sum (County), Bulgan Aimag (Province), north-central Mongolia, were compared based on the growth form. The fences (size: 5 m × 5 m, height: 1.5 m) were established in May, 2014 and the plants were surveyed in August. The riverside was dominated by Carex duriuscula, a productive sedge, under heavy livestock grazing. Tall tufted type (Tt) plants were more abundant inside the fence. On the flat place, Tt type plants, such as Stipa krylovii and Leymus chinensis, and short tufted type (Ts) plants grew, showing a higher plant diversity. By eliminating grazing using fences, plants of Tt, Er (erect type), and Br (branched type) types were more abundant inside the fences than outside. The amounts of smaller plants including Ts, Pr (prostrate), Ro (rosette) types were not greatly different between inside and outside the fences. Tufted type plants (Tt, Ts) were more abundant inside the fences than outside probably because of their ability of tillering. From these responses, we concluded that the growth form is useful to evaluate the effects of grazing on grassland.

View full abstract

The authors gave a lithological description and performed the measurement of magnetic susceptibility concerning Quaternary Genbudo lava, Hidaka lava, Ogura lava and Kinuzuri lava as well as that of early modern to modern basalt stone structures in northern Hyogo Prefecture and northern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Stone structures such as lanterns were mainly produced from the middle of the Edo period to the Meiji period and some were made until the Showa period. According to the results of lithological observations and magnetic susceptibility measurements, it is assumed that basalt stone structures in the northern part of Toyooka City are composed of Genbudo lava, those in Hidaka Town in the south-western part of Toyooka City originate from Hidaka lava, and those in Yabu City, Asago City and Fukuchiyama City are composed of lava（mainly Ogura lava and partly of Kinuzuri lava）deriving from the Yakuno Volcano. Many lanterns made of Ogura lava manufactured in the early modern period can be found in the area. One of the reasons for the large number of lanterns made of Ogura lava is that owing to its well-developed columnar joints, this lava can be easily quarried into the size and shape suitable for processing lanterns.

View full abstract

Between March and July, 2020, and February and July, 2021, seasonal fluctuation of sea slug assemblage was quantitively surveyed using a transect (approximately 45 m) crossing a rocky spot (14–17 m depths) surrounded by sand in western Sea of Japan. As the results, a total of 60 species and 1,924 individuals of sea slugs were counted. The total number increased to 134 in 2020 and 172 in 2021 during June when the water temperature increasing, and sharply decreased to 30 in 2020 and 40 in 2021 during July. The total species increased to 21 in 2020 and 25 in 2021 during May and then tended to decrease around the total species. The dominant species (N > 100 in total) were Gymnodoris alba (N = 408), Aplysia sp. 1 (N = 333), Siphopteron flavum (N = 262), Sakuraeolis enosimensis (N = 134), Hypselodoris festiva (N = 121), Dermatobranchus otome (N = 104). It was the first report that the most dominant species were sea slug eaters such as Gymnodoris species, but it might be temporal outbreak. Siphopteron flavum showed the highest number during mid-June, while they disappeared during early June in both two years.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

The workshop "What kind of broadcasting methods are easily understood for persons with auditory agnosia?" was held for persons with auditory agnosia as well as their assistants and speech-hearing therapists. The workshop was attended by 26 persons with auditory agnosia, 26 assistants and therapists. During the workshop, participants were divided into groups after the verification of their understanding of language sounds. According to the verification, the responses of persons with mild auditory agnosia and nondisabled were accepted as valid opinions, and those with severe disabilities as reference. In the workshop, the following criteria were established: (1) use of the human voice, (2) use of multisensory integration, (3) attachment of a chime, and (4) repetition of the same thing by male and female announcers. When asked to listen to a prototype disaster information according to the criteria, nondisabled significantly chose "suitable as the same thing for both men and women", but there was no significant difference among those with auditory agnosia. When asked to choose subtitles for video of actual disaster scene, nondisabled found it easier to understand "subtitles that transcribe all statements and highlight only the important parts in yellow," but for other persons, no significant difference was detected.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Recently, Pinus luchuensis forests on Amami-Oshima Island have been considerably damaged by pine wilt disease. To elucidate the current distribution of P. luchuensis forests is an important step in planning measures for forest conservation and management on the island. Therefore, in February 2022, we first observed the growth condition of P. luchuensis trees and then recorded the distribution of P. luchuensis forests on the island through a moving car. Most P. luchuensis stands were primarily composed of short, cone-shaped trees, whereas tall, umbrella-shaped trees were few. Broad-leaved trees dominated the understory of P. luchuensis stands in which tall trees survived; this was also observed in P. luchuensis stands where standing-dead trees remained. These findings suggest that P. luchuensis forests, previously managed for timber and wood fuel, have been almost replaced by broad-leaved forests due to pine wilt disease and subsequent forest succession on the island.

View full abstract

I report the very end of an oriental white stork named "Izushi" that has been believed as the last wild stork of Japan. It nested in Toyooka basin until 1965, captured in 1967 and was dead in 1986. It was stuffed by Sakamoto Manufactory in 1987 and stored in Kobe Oji Zoo, but the whereabouts were not known thereafter. This time, the stuffed stork stored in Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo from at least 1992, was specified as "Izushi," based on characteristics of feathers and measurements of body morphology.

View full abstract