On Friday, June 10, 2016, starting at 1:00 PM, a Board of Directors meeting was held at the Hokkaido University Tokyo Office. At the meeting, candidate papers for the 2016 Zoological Science Award were recommended by the Editor-in-Chief of Zoological Science based on deliberations by the editorial board. We are pleased to announce that, following deliberation by the Board of Directors, the following winning paper has been selected.
Zoological Society of Japan
Hiroyuki Takeda, Chairman
[Selection Progress Report]
On May 15, 2016, an email was sent to all Associate Editors of Zoological Science, and on May 21, to all Advisory Board Members, requesting them to nominate candidate papers (up to approximately three papers published in 2015, with a nomination deadline of May 27). By May 27, a total of 31 nominations comprising 22 unique papers (excluding duplicates) were received from 1 Editor-in-Chief, 12 Associate Editors, and 4 Advisory Board Members. Based on this list of nominated papers, the Editor-in-Chief and 14 Associate Editors deliberated, taking into account papers with multiple nominations, the validity and significance of their scientific content, and their notable contributions to zoology. As a result, the following six papers are hereby reported to the Board of Directors as award candidate papers.
[Award-Winning Paper]
Phylogeography of Semiterrestrial Isopod, Tylos granuliferus, on East Asian Coasts Miyuki Niikura, Masanao Honda and Kensuke Yahata Zoological Science 32(1): 105-113
This study targeted the beach slater (Ligia exotica), which inhabits coastal sandy beaches and pebble shores, by collecting a large number of samples from a total of 58 regional populations (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, the Nansei Islands, and the Korean Peninsula) covering its entire distribution range, and conducting a genetic structure analysis. Detecting 115 haplotypes in the mitochondrial DNA COI region, it clearly demonstrates four genetically differentiated phylogenetic groups. Furthermore, by analyzing in detail the age estimation of genetic divergence and the regional populations where each haplotype was detected, it discusses the formation history (geography) of the Japanese and Ryukyu archipelagos and the influence of ocean currents. By focusing on a coastal species with low dispersal ability, the study achieves highly accurate discussions on biodiversity diversification caused by geography and ocean currents.
Chironomid Midges (Diptera, Chironomidae) Show Extremely Small Genome Sizes Richard Cornette, Oleg Gusev, Yuichi Nakahara, Sachiko Shimura, Takahiro Kikawada and Takashi Okuda Zoological Science 32(3): 248-254
The family Chironomidae (insects, Diptera) is a group of animals that includes species adapted to various harsh environments, such as hypoxia, low temperatures, and desiccation. Using flow cytometry, this paper newly measured the genome sizes of 25 species across 5 subfamilies of Chironomidae, and compared them with previously known genome sizes of 3 chironomid species and other dipteran insects, including Drosophila, thereby demonstrating that chironomid insects uniformly possess small genomes. The authors point out that while the small genomes of chironomids are often associated with adaptation to respective harsh environments, this small genome size may actually be an ancestral trait of the entire Chironomidae family. This paper contributes to establishing a research foundation for investigating the relationship between environmental adaptation and genome evolution using chironomid insects as a model, and future research advancements utilizing comparative genomics as a stepping stone are expected.
Molecular Cloning of cDNA Encoding an Aquaglyceroporin, AQP-h9, in the Japanese Tree Frog, Hyla japonica: Possible Roles of AQP-h9 in Freeze Tolerance Atsushi Hirota, Yu Takiya, Joe Sakamoto, Nobuyoshi Shiojiri, Masakazu Suzuki, Shigeyasu Tanaka and Reiko Okada Zoological Science 32(3): 296-306
Many anurans adapt to low-temperature environments by acquiring freeze tolerance. In this paper, the authors focus on glycerol as a cryoprotectant and analyze its membrane transport protein, aquaglyceroporin (AQP-h9), in the Japanese tree frog. Notably, hibernation or mild freezing treatment induces erythrocyte aggregation in the hepatic sinusoids, leading to strong expression of AQP-h9 in the erythrocytes. Strong expression of AQP-h9 was also observed in skeletal muscle cells of freeze-treated individuals. Such phenomena were not observed in active individuals or those recovering from freezing treatment, making this an important research finding toward elucidating the mechanism of freeze tolerance.
Effects of Visual Cues of a Moving Model Predator on Body Patterns in Cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis Kohei Okamoto, Akira Mori and Yuzuru Ikeda Zoological Science 32(4): 336-344
Cephalopods are known for their ability to dramatically change their body color and patterns, as well as for having highly developed nervous and visual systems. This paper analyzes how the body color and patterns of the broadclub cuttlefish change when a model of a large predatory fish is visually presented and approached along different spatial trajectories, presenting research findings that provide interesting insights into invertebrate visual cognition and the adaptive basis and plasticity of protective and warning coloration.
Fine Structure of the Integumentary Cuticles and Alimentary Tissues of Pycnophyid Kinorhynchs Pycnophyes oshoroensis and Kinorhynchus yushini (Kinorhyncha, Homalorhagida) Euichi Hirose and Hiroshi Yamasaki Zoological Science 32(4): 389-395
Kinorhynchs (phylum Kinorhyncha) are meiobenthic animals measuring less than 1 mm in length that inhabit the interstices of various marine benthic substrates. It has long been known that they can be efficiently collected using the "bubble-rinsing method." This collection method takes advantage of the property that animals are trapped on the surface of microbubbles generated when substrate is vigorously agitated with seawater. However, having a hydrophobic body surface under natural conditions should be extremely disadvantageous for the survival of these animals. Yet, this property, which could be called a "paradox," had not been investigated for a long time. By observing the fine morphology of two kinorhynch species using transmission electron microscopy, the authors discovered that there is an additional mucous layer on the outside of the cuticular layer of the body surface, which likely confers hydrophilicity to the body surface, thereby coming significantly closer to resolving this "paradox." Furthermore, the authors provide basic information such as the morphology of tissues and organs related to feeding, digestion, and absorption, as well as sperm flagella, which is considered a major zoological contribution to this poorly understood group.
Sexual Dimorphisms of Appendicular Musculoskeletal Morphology Related to Social Display in Cuban Anolis Lizards Wataru Anzai, Antonio Cádiz and Hideki Endo Zoological Science 32(5): 438-446
Anoles show morphological differences between terrestrial and arboreal species related to display styles and behaviors. To determine whether such differences are also observed between males and females, this study performed a morphological analysis of the appendicular musculoskeletal system using three anole species inhabiting Cuba, and found differences between the sexes (sexual dimorphism) in several limb muscles. This is an extremely original paper that discusses these findings in relation to behavioral differences between males and females.
