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Newsletter - Asian conservation ecology
This newsletter reports field observation
study, recent major activities and
upcoming events
Laos Field Report
Name: Mitsuhiro Aizu1, Satoshi Yoshizawa1 & Wataru Tanaka2
1: Biosystematics Laboratory, Social and Cultural Studies
2: Watershed management Laboratory, Urban and
Environmental Engineering
“The investigation of freshwater turtles and tortoises in Laos”
We investigated turtles of wildlife and markets
in Laos from August, 22nd to September, 5th,
2013. Field survey was conducted at eight
locations of which were six from northern part and
two from southern part by walking around the
rivers, ponds, and rice paddy fields. We visited 22
markets and found a lot of sold wild animals (birds,
amphibians, reptiles), at most of the markets
(Photo 1). The outline of our research is
described below (Fig.1). In August 23rd, we
arrived at Vientiane. There were five in our party,
(Photo 1: Laotian markets)
(Fig.1 Trail map of the investigation)
Dr. Dai Suzuki , Mr. Kengo Fuse, Mr. Mitsuhiro
Aizu , Mr. Satoshi Yoshizawa and Mr. Wataru
Tanaka .
One day after arrived, we added another
member, Prof. Bounthob Praxaysonbath is the
Laotian coordinator of our research, and went to
the markets around Vientiane to find sold turtles.
Then in August, 25th, we moved from Vientiane
to Vang Vieng, and investigating markets, rivers,
and ponds to find sold or wild turtles. At one of
markets, we found spit-roasted bats. From
motives of curiosity, we ate them and immediately
regretted them.
On the way (August, 26th) from Vang Vieng to
Xieng Khuang, we happened to get better chance
to collect Laotian insects. There were so many
insects which were attracted by the illuminations
of a sightseeing facility in mountainous area.
In August, 27th, we explored wild turtles in a
rice paddy field and a pond, but couldn’t find any
them. At the pond where we sought turtles, local
people were hunting swallows, using birdlime trap.
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Newsletter - Asian conservation ecology
In Laos, swallow’s meat is favored for traditional
fermented food.
The next day, we visited the rice paddy field
near the river on our way from Xieng Khuang to
Vientiane, there were many aquatic insects and
then we caught a green snake, and on August,
29th, we arrived at Vientiane and joined Prof.
Kunio Araya.
In August, 30th, we flew to Pakse, the southern
area of Laos and there were t turtles in the pond
of the hotel that we stayed in the day.
And then, In August, 31st, we finally could find
a wild turtle but it disappeared in a pond before
we captured. In the night, we succeeded to catch
two Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) attracted by the
illuminations of a hotel in Attapeu (Photo 2).
(Photo 2: Tokay geckos (Gekko gecko))
As one of them was almost maximum body size.
Mr. Aizu and. Mr. Tanaka tried to test its bite
power by being bitten their hands on purpose.
Other members tried to stop them, but they
complied with their scientific desire. As a result,
they knew that the power was painful to wake up
during all night, but now they feel that “We had a
really good experience and never forget these
Laos days”.
1st of September, we stayed in mountainous
area and collected many insects, especially stag
beetles. The next day, we returned to Vientiane
and made specimens of six freshwater turtles.
The specimens have been stored at National
University of Laos.
In this investigation, we found seven freshwater
turtle species and one tortoise species from
markets, and made six specimens. In addition, we
collected many insects, reptiles and amphibians.
Some of them have not been recorded from Laos
yet, so we plan to report them by original research
paper.
We were astonished at the Laotian culture that
local people use every living resources (wild
insects and animals) as foods. We have never
been in such a food culture, thereby, some insect
foods and animal foods we tried have brought a
new experience to us.
We unfortunately could not catch any wild
turtles, but we thought that all surveyed locations
seem to be good for turtles. So we felt that they
are in high hunting pressure and we have to set
traps or something for catching them.
Mikatagoko Field Report
Kenzo Kaifu
The University of Tokyo
GCOE field activity was held from September
17 to 19 in Kugushiko, one of Mikata goko, Fukui.
Eight staffs and one graduate student participated
from the University of Tokyo and Kyushu
University. We had planed the field trip from Sep
16, but we canceled field works on the first day
(Sep 16) because storm warning related typhoon
18th was issued over three prefectures including
Fukui. On the site, we realized the damage of
heavy rain. We made field survey on species
composition of benthic communities mainly shijimi
clam. We also had meeting with local people
about shijimi clam restoration and exchanges
opinions about conservation activities in the
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Newsletter - Asian conservation ecology
(Photo: Collection of benthic organisms and sediments
with Ekman-Birge type bottom sampler)
(Photo: measuring water quality in Kugushiko)
(Photo: workshop about shijimi clam with local people)
Malaysia Field Trip
Dr. Yuichi Kano organize a field trip in
Malaysia from 14 September to 2 October
2013. Censuses on freshwater ichthyofauna
in Pahang River in Peninsular Malaysia and
in an isolated island (Langkawi or Tioman
Island) was conducted.
Other recent activities
■
Symposium, Meeting & Seminar
Prof. Tetsukazu Yahara, Dr. Yuichi Kano, and
Dr. Ibrahim Djamaluddin gave their talks on
Mini-symposium on biodiversity monitoring
and database in tropical Asia (organized as a
part of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Observation
Network Workshop) held on 12 September at
Hakozaki Campus, Kyushu University.
7th Asian Conservation Ecology Seminar was held on September 30th at Hakozaki
Campus, Kyushu University. We invited Dr.
Hisashi Sato (Nagoya University). His lecture
was entitled "Simulation of the vegetation
structure and function in a Malaysian tropical
rain forest using the individual-based
dynamic vegetation model" (in Japanese).
The 18th GCOE international seminar
‘Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics of Phaseoloid Legumes (Fabaceae,
Leguminosae)’ was held on 10 October at
Hakozaki Campus, Kyushu University. We
invited Dr. Ashley Egna (Smithnian
Institution).
The 19th GCOE international seminar course
‘Phylogenetics and biodiversity’ was held on 25-26 October at Hakozaki Campus, Kyushu
University. We invited Dr. Jonathan Davis
(McGill University, Canada) and Dr. Mehrdad
Hajibabaei (University of Guelph, Canada).
(Photo: students attend on seminar course)
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Publications
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Newsletter - Asian conservation ecology
Aoyama J, Tsukamoto K, Washitani I (In
Press) Do Japanese eels recruit into the
Japan Sea coast?: A case study in the
Hayase River system, Fukui, Japan.
Environmental Biology of Fishes
海部健三 2013 IUCNウ ギレッ リ 会議
報告 in: うな丼 未来 ウ ギ 持続的
利用 可能か？ 東ア ア鰻資源協議会日本
支部 編, 青土社, 東京.
This book contains all the presentations, posters
and discussions in the open symposium held on
22th July that was partly supported by GCOE
Asian Conservation Ecology. Released on 24th
Oct.
Upcoming events
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Field course
Yakushima Field Trip
Prof Yahara and Dr. Kuroe will organize a field trip
in Yakushima from 30 October to Novenmber 16.
Sampling of stomach contents of sika deer,
censuses on frost-floor vegetation and litters will
be conducted to evaluate the sika deer impacts
on natural vegetation.
Cambodia Field Trip
The field trip will be held for botanical survey
along altitudinal gradient in Bokoh National Park
from December 2 – 15 to evaluate species
diversity. The organizers are Dr. Tsuyoshi Kajisa
and Dr. Fumiko Iwanaga.
■
Symposium, Meeting & Seminar
Commemmorative Symposium for the 29th International Prize for Biology
A symposium will be held on 22nd November at
Centennial Hall in Maidashi (Hospital) Campus
Medical School, Kyushu University. The Please
see details at:
http://www.congre.co.jp/seibutsugaku-prize/index
.html
Asia Forest Workshop 2013
“Interdisciplinary Discussion on Multiple Impacts of Forestry and Land use Change in Tropical
Asia” will be held from 3rd-4th December in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Please see details: www.conservationecology.asia/sympSemi/simp osium/afw2013.
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Others
Prof. Tetsukazu Yahara, Dr. Yuichi Kano, and Dr. Ibrahim Djamaluddin will make
presentations at the 2nd meeting of the
Platform's Plenary (IPBES-2) in Antalya,
Turkey, from 9 to 14 December 2013, hosted
by the Government of Turkey.
