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GCOE This newsletter reports our field investigation
in Cambodia (January 7 - 16, 2010) and the
two symposiums held in February-March
2010.
Research on plant diversity in Cambodia
One of the primary tasks in our GCOE project is to clarify functional and phylogenetic diversity in tropical forests. We have investigated three different environments, evergreen natural forests, deciduous natural forests, and community forest. The former two were situated in Kampong Thom Province and the rest in Kampong Chhnang province. We collected 199 specimens and 179 DNA samples. Most species had local and scientific names, but there were some species with incorrect scientific names as well as species yet to be identified. We are proceeding to identify the species using DNA bar-coding and morphological approaches.
Evergreen natural forest (January 8-11)
We collected 85 specimens and 81 DNA samples, including 6 unknown species.
Suprisingly, one of the permanent plots had been lost to logging for a rubber plantation (see photo to right). This is very unfortunate since lots of effort have been made to monitor forest dynamics in the permanent plots.
Deciduous natural forest (January 10)
We collected 26 specimens and 24 DNA samples including 1 unknown species.
Community forest (January 12-14)
We collected 88 specimens and 74 DNA samples including 2 unknown species.
Asian Conservation Ecology
Newsletter Vol.2, No.1 April, 2010
Attendee
Tetsukazu Yahara Tsuyoshi Kajisa Shingo Hosoishi Makiko Tateishi Hironori Toyama
(by Hironori Toyama)
No local name Local name: Phlong
Localname: Tlok Bakdong
Local name: Rokar Romleay chhiem
Thmeinh
Bonlar buas
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GCOE
Research on ant fauna
Currently, the ant fauna of Cambodia is poorly known. The long-term goal of this faunal survey is to provide data on Indochinese ant fauna for dissemination which can be used for wider biodiversity studies. Indochina plays a
role as part of the great “Green Corridor” connecting tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia with temperate forests
in East Asia. Cambodia is therefore one of the most important areas for study to gain a clearer understanding of Asian biodiversity.
A preliminary survey was conducted at the „Permanent Sample Plots‟ in both the natural forest of Kampong Tom Province and the community forestry of Kampong Chhnang. The survey was conducted from the 8th - 13th January, 2010 (in the dry season). At least 50 ant species were collected by a nest series sampling. In the future winker extraction will be used from leaf litter samples during the rainy seasons.
Our GCOE program has been formed as an inter-University collaboration. One of the key features of this program is to assemble knowledge and techniques among people who has different research backgrounds. This promotes multidisciplinary study, which is essential for nature conservation. The 1st Joint Symposium between
Kyushu Univ. and Univ. of Tokyo, which took place on the 4-5th February 2010 at Kyushu Univ., had over 50 participants. After five keynote lectures and introduction of six core sites, 15 graduate students from each University
introduced their studies and exchange ideas. This symposium was first step to facilitate collaborations between Universities. The next symposium will be held in early 2011.
Symposium Report:
“Global COE: The 1st Joint Symposium between Kyushu Univ. and Univ. of Tokyo”
4-5 Feb. 2010, International Hall, Kyushu Univ.
Oecophylla smaragdina (the community forestry in Kampong Chhnang Province)
Weaver ants: This species distributes in Southeast Asia and Australia. They make nests, which is made of leaves connected with the silk produced by larvae, on the trees.
Polyrhachis sp. (PSP in Kampong Tom Province) Spiny ants: They nest in the folded leaves and patrol around their nest.
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GCOE
The International Symposium on Ecology, Migration and Conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill was held by our GCOE program (co-presented by BirdLife International and under the auspice of Fukuoka City and The Nishi-nippon Shimbun). In 1990, the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) was considered to be at the edge of
extinction. Since then, through various conservation acts and initiatives, the population has increased to 2,300 individuals. However, this species is still in urgent need of protective conservation measures, because its habitat continues to be strongly threatened by human activity. We had around 60 participants including 20 invited speakers from 6 region/countries (China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Korea and Japan). Participants shared
knowledge and discussed problems in the conservation of this species and its habitat. In a closed session with experts and invited speakers, we agreed to call attentions on the importance of conservation of this species and to protect coastal wetlands from overdevelopment.
(by Shin Nishida)
Symposium Report:
“Global COE International Symposium on Ecology, Migration and Conservation of the
Black-faced Spoonbill”