Laboratory of Fisheries and Environmental Oceanography

        Staff       Professor:              Fujiwara, Tateki, Dr. Agric. Sci.

                       Associate Professor:   Kasai, Akihide, Dr. Agric. Sci.

                      Doctor's program : (6)   Master's program : (5)     

                      Undergraduate : (4)

Main subjects

a) Tracking of marine animals to connect with environmental fluctuation

Tracking of fish and turtles for observing underwater behavior of free-ranging animals and their environment using bio-telemetry system and micro data-sensor recorder.

b) Eutrophication process in estuaries

          To establish nitrogen and phosphorus budget in estuaries, we conducted mass flux measurements in Osaka Bay – Kii Channel system and also Ise Bay through the year.  It is revealed that a large amount of nutrients flows into the estuaries from the ocean. The amount of this natural loading is comparable to that of the terrestrial loading.

c) Estuary shelf interaction and mass transport

Shelf water intrudes into estuaries and affects water quality in estuaries. Depth of the intrusion plays an essential role in the development of hypoxia in estuaries. We are studying this gravitational vertical circulation under the effect of Earth’s rotation and also developing numerical models that simulate the obtained results. These models contribute to water quality management in coastal seas.

d)Analysis of food chain by using stable isotope ratio
            Food chain is analyzed by using isotope ratio of nitrogen and carbon in muscular tissue of marine animals. The relative contributions of terrestrial organic matter to the particulate organic matter in the habitat and in the bivalves’ diet were estimated from d¹³C values: the former was more than 90%, while the latter was less than 20%. This indicates the bivalves selected their food from the organic matter available in their habitat.