JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY

Studies of genetic polymorphisms within a population have contributed to two areas fundamental to evolutionary biology: the mechanisms maintaining genetic variation within a population and the evolution of reproductive isolation (i.e., speciation). Various mechanisms and processes that maintain genetic polymorphisms within a population have been proposed, such as negative frequency-dependent selection, overdominant selection, and environmental heterogeneity. However, few experimental studies have confirmed that these processes operate in natural settings, for at least two reasons, (1) lack of understanding of the necessary conditions for protected polymorphism, and (2) incomplete empirical evidence. Here, I present a general review of the possible mechanisms of, and the underlying necessary conditions for, the evolution of protected polymorphisms. Next, I clarify problems in previous empirical studies using the case of negative frequency-dependent selection. Finally, I discuss the importance of a comprehensive approach that demonstrates causal links between the trigger of evolution and resulting evolutionary dynamics, for confirmation of the mechanisms and processes maintaining genetic polymorphisms within a population.

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Biogeography, an interdisciplinary field drawing on evolutionary ecology, community ecology, and conservation biology, aims to elucidate the processes shaping species distributions from both ecological and historical perspectives. Since the 1990s, biogeography has been advanced by the growth of phylogeography, with its basis in genetic analysis. New analytical tools, including geographic information systems (GIS), climate simulations, and ecological niche modeling (ENM), have brought further innovations. Combining simulations of past or future climates with ENM has allowed the estimation of past or future species distributions. Furthermore, combined analyses using GIS-related tools can reveal the processes of niche differentiation and speciation, and be used to reconstruct the migration histories of biological communities. In this review, we highlight useful analytical tools and data sources and explore their practical applications in biogeography and related fields. Next, we discuss the prospects of biogeography as a more integrated field, combining various data sources such as ancient DNA and the unprecedented amount of genetic data now available from next-generation sequencers.

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Application of the satellite remote sensing techniques to wildlife research began from discernment of the individual animal and/or evaluation of animal behavior from the photography experiments. Satellite remote sensing to wildlife research at the present has applied for the purpose of evaluating the animal habitat. Trends in satellite remote sensing for wildlife are evaluating the index of wildlife habitat and estimating relationship with an environmental variables and animal distribution. By mapping whether wildlife is suitable for what kind of environment such as potential habitat and habitat suitability, appropriate wildlife management including zoning becomes possible in animal conservation or human-wildlife conflicts. In this paper, we propose the examples in the adaptation of satellite remote sensing techniques to wildlife problems (conservation and management) in recent years. First, the studies about satellite remote sensing of habitat indicator and habitat fragmentation in giant panda conservation were described. Furthermore, the change in potential distribution of Japanese macaques in the long period is introduced as a case study of habitat suitability research. The objective of this study was to determine changes in habitat suitability by combining satellite remote sensing and habitat model. Finally, we propose the possibility of the wildlife research using satellite remote sensing techniques.

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