Biodiversity I

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Laboratory of Biodiversity Ｉ（formerly Systematics and Evolution Chair I）

　In our laboratory, we study taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, ecology, and evolutionary biology of invertebrates. We are trying to understand the diverse and complex bio-world through field survey, samplings, experiments, as well as laboratory raring experiments, observations, and analyses.

Diverse Animal World

　Numerous species of organisms live on our planet. Ordinarily-familiar members include vascular plants, insects, fish, beasts, and birds. The number of known organismal species is said to be about 1.5 million; the actual number is estimated to be ten to hundredfold. Animals comprise the most diverse group among them. Then,

　・Where and how are they originated from？
　・How many species of animals do exist on the Earth?
　・What kind of relationships do they have between other organisms？

We are interested in the above issues, and tackling to solve these promlems in our lab.

Descriptive taxonomy

　Description is the method to understand the living world. It is an essential step in classifying and systematizing the diversity of organisms. Characters of the species under question are observed carefully, and compared with those of known members by information from literature and type specimens. These considered to be undescribed will be published as new. Describing species may be a time-consuming work. New species can be described after detailed observations of carefully-prepared specimens and comparison with known species by examination of type material.

Evolution & Speciation

　We are studying reproductive isolation mechanism that cuts off gene flow between species, evolutionary history, and species problems of phytophagous lady bird beetles inhabiting northwestern Asia.