The Ecology and Civilisation Prize of Lake Biwa is awarded to outstanding researchers under the age of 50 in ecology and related fields associated with the aquatic environment. Established by Shiga Prefecture in 1991, the Ecological Society of Japan has been responsible for its administration since the 15th prize, and Ms. Maiko Kagami and Dr. XU Jun have now been selected as the 22nd recipients. The award ceremony and commemorative lectures (free of charge) will be held on the following schedule, and we cordially invite you to attend.
* The flyer for the 22nd Lake Biwa Ecology Prize commemorative lecture can be downloaded from the URL below.
http://www.esj.ne.jp/esj/award/biwako/22flier.pdf
(For details, see the Ecological Society homepage)https://esj.ne.jp/esj/award/biwako/22lecture.html can also be checked from
Date: Saturday, July 8, 2023, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM)
Venue: Shiga Prefectural Government Office, New Building 7th Floor Large Conference Room
4-1-1 Kyomachi, Otsu-shi, Shiga 520-8577
(Access: 5 minutes walk east from JR Otsu Station, 5 minutes walk south-southwest from Keihan Electric Railway Shimanoseki Station)
https://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/kensei/gaiyou/annai/300434.html
* Please note that the event will also be live-streamed via Zoom Webinar on the day of the event. Streaming information will be posted on the website at a later date.
Awards Ceremony 14:00–14:30
Commemorative Award Lecture 14:45–16:30
Maiko Kagami (Professor, Faculty of Urban Sciences / Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University)
Dr. XU Jun (Deputy Director, Research Center for Freshwater Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
*If you wish to attend the award ceremony and commemorative lecture held at the Shiga Prefectural Government Office,
Please inform the Ecological Society of Japan, Biwako Prize Section (biwakoprize[at]esj.ne.jp) of your name, affiliation, and contact email address.
(Please replace [at] with @)
[Award Lecture Abstract]
Winner: Maiko Kagami
(Professor, Faculty of Urban Sciences / Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University)
Lecture
The world of swimming fungi spreading from Lake Biwa: Unraveling the mystery of chytrids
Mushrooms and molds also inhabit water. Among them, a type called "chytrid" has been revealed through research in Lake Biwa to play an important role in lakes. Chytrids play a role in altering the flow of matter by parasitizing phytoplankton that proliferate in large quantities. Furthermore, chytrids serve as food for water fleas, supporting the food web. In this lecture, I will discuss the naming background of the matter flow mediated by chytrids, known as the "mycoloop," the latest research in Lake Biwa, and research prospects in oceans, snow and ice spheres, and urban areas.
Winner: Mr. XU Jun
(Deputy Director, Research Center for Freshwater Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Lecture
Aquatic Ecology in a Changing World
As an aquatic ecologist, my research interests are broad and encompass various areas within the field. In this talk, I will discuss my research interests in aquatic ecology, which are mainly focused on trophic interactions in food webs, macroecological diversity, and applied issues of ecological theory in aquatic ecosystems.
I will cover topics such as the relationships between species richness and food web properties, nation-wide patterns of aquatic organism diversity in China, ecological niches of aquatic species, multiple stressors on freshwater biodiversity, and the effects of climate change on eutrophic aquatic ecosystems. The goal of my talk is to share insights and promote understanding of aquatic ecology.
-- English translation below --
Aquatic Ecology in a Changing World
As an aquatic ecologist, my research interests are broad and cover various areas of this field. In this lecture, I will focus on my research themes in aquatic ecology, such as biotic interactions in food webs, macroecological diversity, and the application of ecological theories in aquatic ecosystems. For example, I plan to cover the relationship between species richness and food web properties, nationwide patterns of aquatic biodiversity in China, the ecological niches of aquatic species, multiple stressors on freshwater biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change on eutrophic aquatic ecosystems. The goal of my lecture is to share insights and promote understanding of aquatic ecology.
