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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

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Kochi University Faculty of Education Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Tomomi Saito, Associate Professor

Using the frenzy following the hatching of endangered loggerhead sea turtles to investigate incubation conditions

Research grant

Project Description

Investigating the conditions that heighten the frenzy effects shown by endangered loggerhead sea turtle infants headed to the sea after hatching.
There are many initiatives to provide safe areas for endangered loggerhead sea turtles to lay eggs, protect these eggs until they hatch, and help the hatched infants return to the sea. However, these initiatives fail to consider the 'frenzy' state (a state of noticably energetic movement) displayed by these infants following hatching as they move to quickly escape the predator-rich shoreline into ocean rearing grounds. This research looks to reasasess the conditions for protecting eggs during incubation and hatching, and propose appropriate management methods for increasing this frenzy effect in infants. [Project No. R15-0080]

Fields
Resource Circulation
Grant year
FY2015 Research Grants
Grant term
3 years
April 2016 - March 2019
Grant amount
3,000,000 yen
Activity region
Tosa and Kochi cities, Kochi Prefecture, Japan
Attempting to measure a loggerhead sea turtle encountered during research at a coastal area near the Niyodo River mouth

Overview of the Organization

Tomomi Saito, Associate Professor
Project organization
Kochi University
Faculty of Education Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Representative
Tomomi Saito, Associate Professor
Profile
Specialist field: marine biology
Affiliated academic societies: The Carcinological Society of Japan, the Japanese Society of Systematic Zoology, the Sea Turtle Association of Japan
Background:
  • March 1993 Graduated from the Kyoto University Faculty of Agriculture
  • April 1993 Joins the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance Corporation of Japan Tokai Branch
  • March 1994 Leaves the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance Corporation
  • April 1994 Joins Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium's Rearing and Exhibition Program
  • March 2012 Leaves the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
  • April 2012 Enters Kochi University Faculty of Education's Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences (Usa Marine Biological Institute) - current position
  • February 2002 Doctorate of science from the University of Tokyo
Research record
  • Yuri Komaki, Syuji Yachimori, Tomomi Saito, Motomi Kato. "Protection of loggerhead turtle eggs from predation by foxes at Ikumi Beach in Toyo Town, Kochi Prefecture." Kuroshio Science, 2016
  • Saito T. et al. "Tracking Male Loggerhead Turtle Migrations around Southwestern Japan using Satellite Telemetry." Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 14(1) ; 82-87, 2015.
  • Saito T. et al. "Saving the Singapore Hawksbill." Asian Diver No. 113, Issue 2, The Big Blue Book, 88-89. 2011.