The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund
Introduction to Grant Projects
The University of Tokyo, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute Temporarily appointed assistant professor: Kagari Aoki
Clarification of the behavioral changes of marine mammals in response to environmental changes and using marine mammals to monitor the ocean environment
Research grant
- Project Description
Top ocean predators such as whales are drawing attention due to their sensitivity to changes in the ocean environment. By affixing a recording device onto the mammals and monitoring behavior and the environment, the kind of behavioral changes which take place in response to real environmental change will be clarified. This monitoring method using marine mammals means detailed information on the environments which cannot be gained by conventional observational methods, such as under sea ice, as well as for each time and space, can be obtained. One of the objectives of this research is to establish this as a method which shows effectiveness in this area. In the future, this marine environmental monitoring method will be applied in oceans around the world, and is expected to produce results. [No. R16-0044]
- Fields
- Global Environment
- Grant year
- FY2016 Research Grants
- Grant term
- 3 years
From April 2017 to March 2020
- Grant amount
- 9.999 million yen
- Activity region
- Norway Tromsø costal area, Fjord area
Overview of the Organization
- Representative
- Temporarily appointed assistant professor: Kagari Aoki
The University of Tokyo, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute - Area of specialty: Behavioral Ecology
Academic affiliation: International Marine Mammal Society, Japan Fisheries Association, Japan Biologging Study Group
CV (work history, academic qualifications):- March 2008: Completed Doctoral course in Hydrosphere Biological Sciences (Agriculture) at The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- April 2008 - March 2009: Specialist Researcher at The University of Tokyo Ocean Research Institute
- May 2009 - May 2010: University of St. Andrews, Sea Mammal Research Unit. Research Fellow
- May 2010 - March 2013: Researcher at The University of Tokyo Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute
- April 2013 - July 2013: Marine Science and Agriculture Specialist Researcher at The University of Tokyo Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute
- August 2013 - August 2015: Research fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Overseas Science research at the University of St. Andrews.
- September 2015 - March 2017: Marine Science and Agriculture Specialist Researcher at The University of Tokyo Atmosphere and Ocean
- March 2017 - present: Associate Professor at The University of Tokyo Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute
- Recent Activities
- 1) Original Article
[1]PJO Miller, T Narazaki, S Isojunno, K Aoki, S Smout, K Sato. Body density and diving gas volume of the northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus). J. Exp. Biol. 219: 2458-2468 (2016).
[2]K Aoki, M Amano, T Kubodera, K Mori, R Okamoto, K Sato. Visual and behavioral evidence indicates active hunting by sperm whales. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 523: 233-241 (2015).
[3]K Aoki, YY Watanabe, DE Crocker, PW Robinson, M Biuw, DP Costa, N Miyazaki, MA Fedak, PJO Miller. Northern elephant seals adjust gliding and stroking patterns with changes in buoyancy: validation of at-sea metrics of body density. J. Exp. Biol. 214: 2973-2987. (2011) - WEB site
- http://utbls.aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp/indexJ.html