Our organization, departments, staff and researchers
Kenji Yoshino
The research group I work for : Nature Environment Group
Ph. D. Course, Aquaculture Biology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, credit requirements completed Ph. D. (Fisheries Sciences); previous posts including Special-Appointment Assistant Professor at Saga University Specialty: Behavioral ecology in hermit crab species; ecology with marine benthos as research material
Research theme - Areas of work
I set my main research goal on solving the structure of the ecosystem and mercury dynamics, with Minamata Bay being the principal field of study, and conduct mercury analysis for a variety of subjects characterized as the starting point of an ecosystem, ranging from phytoplankton, sandworm, shellfish, crustaceans and other benthos to fishes, to explore major mercury accumulation channels within the ecosystem.
Research on the dynamics of primary producers, which serves as the point of origin for mercury accumulation in fishes, and on bioconcentration through the food chain.
Main research achievements
Original articles (all peer-reviewed)
2023
Yoshino K., Yamada K, Kanaya G, Komorita, T, Okamoto K, Tanaka M, Tada Y, Henmi Y, Yamamoto M (2023) Food web structures and mercury exposure pathway to fish in Minamata Bay. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 85, 360-373
Yamamoto Y., Yoshino, K.(Corresponding author), Koga T. (2023) Anti-predator responses to chemical, visual, and combined cues by an estuarine hermit crab from sandy tidal flats. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 77: 60
2021
Yoshino K., Yamada K., Tanaka M., Tada Y., Kanaya G., Henmi Y., Yamamoto M. (2021) Subtidal benthic communities in Minamata Bay, Japan, approximately 30 years after Hg pollution remediation involving dredging disturbance. Ecological Research 37, 137-150.
Yoshino K (2021): Sexual segregation of shell resource use by hermit crabs: Ecological and evolutionary factors. Nihon Bentosu Gakkai Shi (Plankton and Benthos Research), 76: 1-12.
2020
Yoshino K, Kimura K, Fujii N, Orita R, Katano T, Ito Y, Yamada K (2020) Biophysical interactions on the succession of subtidal benthic community in the inner part of Ariake Sea. Proceedings of CWMD International Conference 2019 September 19-21, 2019, Kumamoto University, Japan pp. 496-504
2018
Yoshino K., K. Mori, G. Kanaya, S. Kojima, Y. Henmi A. Matsuyama, M. Yamamoto (2020) Food sources are more important than biomagnification on mercury bioaccumulation in marine fishes Environmental Pollution, 113982.2018.
Yoshino, K., Kimura K., Yamada K (2018) Does suspended matter drained from the Isahaya freshwater reservoir cause organic enrichment in the northern Ariake Bay? Journal of Oceanography 74, 614-628
2016
Yoshino, K, Nagayoshi M, Sato M, Katano T, Ito Y, Fujii N, Hamada T, Hayami Y (2016) Life history of Sternaspis costata (Sternaspidae: Polychaeta) in Ariake Bay, Japan. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 96, 647-655.
2014
Yoshino, K., Koga T., Taniguchi K, Tasaka R (2014) Adaptation in the peripheral habitat: intraspecific variation in osmoregulatory traits in an estuarine hermit crab Pagurus minutus. Journal of Shellfish Research 33, 53-59.
Yoshino, K., Katano T., Ito Y., Hamada T., Fujii N., Hayami Y. (2014) Community assembly by limited recruitment in a hypoxia-stressed soft bottom: A case study of macrobenthos in Ariake Bay. Plankton & Benthos Research 9, 57-66.
2013
Yoshino, K., Katano T., Hayami Y., Hamada T., Kobayashi G. (2013). Morphological variation of pallial organs at sites of differing turbidity: a case study of an arcid bivalve. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 93, 1009-1015.
2012
Yoshino, K., Tsugeki N., Amano Y., Hayami Y., Hamaoka H., Omori K. (2012). Intertidal bare mudflats subsidize subtidal production through the outwelling of benthic microalgae. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 109: 138-143.
2011
Yoshino, K., Koga T., Fukuda Y. (2011). Chelipeds are the real weapon: cheliped size is a more effective determinant than body size in male-male competition for mates in a hermit crab. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65: 1825-1832.
2010
Yoshino, K., Hamada T., Yamamoto K., Hayami Y., Yamaguchi S., Ohgushi K. (2010). Effects of hypoxia and organic enrichment on estuarine macrofauna in the inner part of Ariake Bay. Hydrobiologia, 652: 23-38.
Yoshino, K., Amano Y., Fukumori K., Hamaoka H., Ohmori K. (2010). The effect of ethanol fixation on stable isotope signatures in benthic organisms. Plankton & Benthos Research, 5: 79-82.
2009
Yoshino K, Yamamoto K, Hayami Y, Hamada K, Yamaguchi S, Ogushi K (2009): Tidal Flat Macrofauna in the Inner Part of Ariake Bay. Nihon Bentosu Gakkai Shi (Plankton and Benthos Research), 64: 15-24.
2007
Yoshino, K., Yamamoto, K., Hayami, Y., Hamada, T., Kasagi, T., Ueno, D., Ohgushi, K. (2007). Benthic fauna of the inner part of Ariake Bay: long-term changes in several ecological parameters. Plankton and Benthos Research, 2: 198-212.
2006
Yoshino, K., Miyasaka, H., Kawamura, Y., Genkai-Kato, M., Okuda, N., Hayami, Y., Ito, S.,Fukumori, K., Sekiguchi, T., Ohnishi, H., Ohmori, K., Takeoka, H. (2006). Sand banks contribute to the productivity of coastal waters by making habitat for benthic microalgae in sublittoral zone: food web analyses in Aki-Nada using stable isotopes. Plankton and Benthos Research, 1: 155-163.
Yoshino, K., Goshima, S. (2006). Sexual differences in the shell assessment behavior of the hermit crab Pagurus filholi (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae). In: Biology of Anomura II, Crustacean Research special number 6, Proceedings of the Symposium organized by R. Lemaitre and C. C. Tudge, pp 81-86.
2004
Yoshino, K., Ozawa, M., Goshima, S (2004). Effects of shell fit on the efficacy of mate guarding behaviour in male hermit crabs. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 84: 1203-1208.
2002
Yoshino, K., Goshima, S., Nakao, S. (2002). Temporal reproductive patterns within a breeding season of the hermit crab Pagurus filholi: effects of crab size and shell species. Marine Biology, 141: 1069-1075.
Yoshino, K., Goshima, S. (2002). Fighting escalation independent of cost-benefit relationship with shell resource quality in hermit crab Pagurus filholi. Benthos Research, 57: 45-49.
Yoshino, K., Goshima S. (2002). Sexual dominance in hermit crab shell fights: asymmetries in owner-intruder status, crab size and resource value between sexes. Journal of Ethology, 20: 63-69.
2001
Yoshino, K., Goshima S. (2001). Functional roles of gastropod shells in the hermit crab Pagurus filholi: effects of shell size and species on fitness. Benthos Research, 56:87-93.
Yoshino, K., Goshima, S., Nakao, S. (2001). Sexual difference in shell use in the hermit crab Pagurus filholi (De Man) from northern Japan. Crustacean Research, 30: 55-64.
1999
Yoshino, K., Goshima, S., Nakao, S. (1999). The interaction between shell size and shell species preferences of the hermit crab Pagurus filholi. Benthos Research, 54: 37-44.
Externally-funded research
FY2024-2026 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Co-Investigator)
Testing the sensory trap hypothesis of shell exchange in hermit crabs by quantitative analysis of behavior and acoustics.
FY2022-2024 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Principal Investigator)
Is it possible to reduce Hg bioaccumulation for benthic organisms through biodilution of primary producers?
FY2022-2024 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Co-Investigator)
Resource recovery solution based on "fluctuations" in fecundity rate: Can that female and male really breed?
FY2022-2024 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Co-Investigator)
A comprehensive evaluation of the positive and negative impacts of natural disasters frequently occurred at Kumamoto Prefecture on coastal and river ecosystems
FY2018-2020 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Co-Investigator)
Does shell replacement by a hermit crab get prompted by a sensory trap capitalizing on risk of predation?
FY2016-2017 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Overseas Academic Research) (Co-Investigator)
Study on the environmental influence of the construction of the Giant Sea Wall in Jakarta Bay
FY2013-2015 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Co-Investigator)
Abnormal molting? Male hermit crabs shrink their secondary sexual traits responding to predation risk
FY2009-2010 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists (B) (Principal Investigator)
Higher-order production in shallow waters supported by tidal flats
Main career history, academic history, academic degrees, awards, etc.
2024-Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University (Cooperative Graduate School)
2024-Part-time lecturer, Center for Water Cycle, Marine Environment and Disaster Management, Kumamoto University
2023-Collaborative Professor, Graduate School of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto (Cooperative Graduate School)
