start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=46 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=ruag033 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=202607 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Estimating the distributional expansion of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) (Decapoda: Astacidea: Cambaridae) in South Korea using environmental DNA analysis en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is a globally invasive species that poses serious threats to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In South Korea, established populations of P. clarkii have been documented from the Jiseokcheon River in the Yeongsangang River basin since 2018; however, information on its current nationwide distribution remains limited. We conducted environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys at 19 sites across 11 river systems in South Korea, including sites with no prior distributional records, to evaluate the current distribution and potential range expansion of P. clarkii. Water samples collected during July-August 2024 were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) with two species-specific primer-probe sets targeting the mitochondrial COI gene. Procambarus clarkii eDNA was detected at three sites in the Yeongsangang River basin, whereas no eDNA was detected in the other surveyed river systems. Notably, P. clarkii eDNA was not detected at a site in the Mangyeonggang River system despite previous reports of individuals and eDNA data sampled there, indicating a possible local population decline or very low abundance. By contrast, detections within the Yeongsangang River basin, together with elevated eDNA concentrations at some sites, are consistent with localized upstream expansion and increased local abundance. The concordant results from the two primer-probe sets, together with Sterivex-based on-site filtration, support the reliability of the applied eDNA framework. These findings identify the Yeongsangang River basin as the current primary focus of the P. clarkii invasion in South Korea, with evidence consistent with localized upstream expansion and increasing abundance, and provide baseline data for early detection and long-term monitoring, as well as for developing management strategies. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HamSeong-Nam en-aut-sei=Ham en-aut-mei=Seong-Nam kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MoriuchiKaito en-aut-sei=Moriuchi en-aut-mei=Kaito kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakataKazuyoshi en-aut-sei=Nakata en-aut-mei=Kazuyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Crustacea kn-keyword=Crustacea en-keyword=early detection kn-keyword=early detection en-keyword=eDNA kn-keyword=eDNA en-keyword=freshwater ecosystems kn-keyword=freshwater ecosystems en-keyword=red swamp crayfish kn-keyword=red swamp crayfish END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=520 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=41 end-page=52 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202504 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Tunicate-specific protein Epi-1 is essential for conferring hydrophilicity to the larval tunic in the ascidian Ciona en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Animals must avoid adhesion to objects in the environment to maintain their mobility and independence. The marine invertebrate chordate ascidians are characterized by an acellular matrix tunic enveloping their entire body for protection and swimming. The tunic of ascidian larvae consists of a surface cuticle layer and inner matrix layer. Hydrophilic substances coat the cuticle; this modification is thought to be for preventing adhesion. However, the molecule responsible for regulating this modification has not been clarified. We here found that the tunicate-specific protein Epi-1 is responsible for preventing adhesiveness of the tunic in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis Type A. Ciona mutants with homozygous knockouts of Epi-1 exhibited adhesion to plastic plates and to other individuals. The cuticle of the Epi-1 mutants was fragile, and it lost the glycosaminoglycans supplied by test cells, the accessory cells that normally attach to the tunic surface. Although it has an apparent signal peptide for membrane trafficking, we showed that the Epi-1 protein is localized to the cytosol of the epidermal cells. Our study suggests that the emergence of the tunicate-specific protein Epi-1 made the tunic less adhesive, providing a selective advantage for the last common tunicate ancestor. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KuroiwaKazu en-aut-sei=Kuroiwa en-aut-mei=Kazu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=Mita-YoshidaKaoru en-aut-sei=Mita-Yoshida en-aut-mei=Kaoru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HozumiAkiko en-aut-sei=Hozumi en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishinoAtsuo S. en-aut-sei=Nishino en-aut-mei=Atsuo S. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakuraYasunori en-aut-sei=Sasakura en-aut-mei=Yasunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= en-keyword=Ascidian kn-keyword=Ascidian en-keyword=Ciona kn-keyword=Ciona en-keyword=Tunic kn-keyword=Tunic en-keyword=Epidermis kn-keyword=Epidermis en-keyword=Cellulose kn-keyword=Cellulose en-keyword=Glycosaminoglycan kn-keyword=Glycosaminoglycan END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=13 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=RP99825 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250618 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Stimulatory and inhibitory G-protein signaling relays drive cAMP accumulation for timely metamorphosis in the chordate Ciona en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Larvae of the ascidian Ciona initiate metamorphosis tens of minutes after adhesion to a substratum via their adhesive organ. The gap between adhesion and metamorphosis initiation is suggested to ensure the rigidity of adhesion, allowing Ciona to maintain settlement after losing locomotive activity through metamorphosis. The mechanism producing the gap is unknown. Here, by combining gene functional analyses, pharmacological analyses, and live imaging, we propose that the gap represents the time required for sufficient cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation to trigger metamorphosis. Not only the Gs pathway but also the Gi and Gq pathways are involved in the initiation of metamorphosis in the downstream signaling cascade of the neurotransmitter GABA, the known initiator of Ciona metamorphosis. The mutual crosstalk of stimulatory and inhibitory G-proteins functions as the accelerator and brake for cAMP production, ensuring the faithful initiation of metamorphosis at an appropriate time and in the right situation. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HozumiAkiko en-aut-sei=Hozumi en-aut-mei=Akiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TotsukaNozomu M en-aut-sei=Totsuka en-aut-mei=Nozomu M kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OnoderaArata en-aut-sei=Onodera en-aut-mei=Arata kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=WangYanbin en-aut-sei=Wang en-aut-mei=Yanbin kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShiraishiAkira en-aut-sei=Shiraishi en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatakeHonoo en-aut-sei=Satake en-aut-mei=Honoo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=HorieTakeo en-aut-sei=Horie en-aut-mei=Takeo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=HottaKohji en-aut-sei=Hotta en-aut-mei=Kohji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SasakuraYasunori en-aut-sei=Sasakura en-aut-mei=Yasunori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Laboratory for Single-cell Neurobiology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=14 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=RP106917 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2026 dt-pub=20260205 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Dorsoventral-mediated Shh induction is required for axolotl limb regeneration en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) exhibit a remarkable ability to regenerate limbs. Classical experiments have suggested that contact between cells derived from distinct orientations?dorsal, ventral, anterior, and posterior?within the regenerating blastema is necessary for accurate limb pattern formation. However, the molecular basis for this requirement has remained largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that both dorsal and ventral tissues are required for limb formation via induction of Shh expression, which plays a crucial role in limb patterning. Using the accessory limb model, we induced position-specific blastemas lacking cells derived from a single orientation (anterior, posterior, dorsal, or ventral). Limb patterning occurred only in blastemas containing both dorsal- and ventral-derived cells. We further observed that Shh expression requires dorsoventral contact within a blastema, highlighting the necessity of dorsoventral contact for inducing Shh expression. Additionally, we identified WNT10B and FGF2 as dorsal- and ventral-mediated signals, respectively, that create the inductive environment for Shh expression. Our findings clarify the role of dorsal and ventral cells in inducing Shh, a mechanism that has rarely been studied in the context of limb regeneration and pattern formation. This model provides new insights into how cells with different positional identities drive the regeneration process. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=YamamotoSakiya en-aut-sei=Yamamoto en-aut-mei=Sakiya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FurukawaSaya en-aut-sei=Furukawa en-aut-mei=Saya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OhashiAyaka en-aut-sei=Ohashi en-aut-mei=Ayaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=SatohAkira en-aut-sei=Satoh en-aut-mei=Akira kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Okayama University, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=21 cd-vols= no-issue=7 article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=202507 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Animal?chlorophyte photosymbioses: evolutionary origins and ecological diversity en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Photosynthetic symbiosis occurs across diverse animal lineages, including Porifera, Cnidaria, Xenacoelomorpha and Mollusca. These associations between animal hosts and photosynthetic algae often involve the exchange of essential macronutrients, supporting adaptation to a wide range of aquatic environments. A small yet taxonomically widespread subset of animals host photosymbionts from the core chlorophytes, a phylogenetically expansive clade of green algae. These rare instances of eplant-likef animals have arisen independently across distantly related lineages, resulting in striking ecological and physiological diversity. Although such associations provide valuable insights into the evolution of symbiosis and adaptation to novel ecological niches, animal?chlorophyte photosymbioses remain relatively understudied. Here, we present an overview of photosymbioses between animals and chlorophytes, highlighting their independent evolutionary origins, ecological diversity and emerging genomic resources. Focusing on Porifera, Cnidaria and Xenacoelomorpha, we review shared and lineage-specific adaptations underlying these associations. We also contrast them with dinoflagellate-based systems to demonstrate their distinct ecological and cellular features. Our work sets the stage for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations, enhancing our understanding of how interspecies interactions drive adaptation to unique ecological niches through animal?chlorophyte symbiosis. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=LiaoIsabel Jiah-Yih en-aut-sei=Liao en-aut-mei=Isabel Jiah-Yih kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakagamiTosuke en-aut-sei=Sakagami en-aut-mei=Tosuke kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=LewinThomas D. en-aut-sei=Lewin en-aut-mei=Thomas D. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=BaillyXavier en-aut-sei=Bailly en-aut-mei=Xavier kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=LuoYi-Jyun en-aut-sei=Luo en-aut-mei=Yi-Jyun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Laboratoire des Mod?les Marins Multicellulaires, Station Biologique de Roscoff kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica kn-affil= en-keyword=hydra kn-keyword=hydra en-keyword=photosymbiosis kn-keyword=photosymbiosis en-keyword=green algae kn-keyword=green algae en-keyword=acoels kn-keyword=acoels en-keyword=sponges kn-keyword=sponges END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=40 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=53 end-page=63 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2023 dt-pub=20230118 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Fbxl4 Regulates the Photic Entrainment of Circadian Locomotor Rhythms in the Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Photic entrainment is an essential property of the circadian clock that sets the appropriate timing of daily behavioral and physiological events. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the entrainment remain largely unknown. In the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, the immediate early gene c-fosB plays an important role in photic entrainment, followed by a mechanism involving cryptochromes (crys). However, the association between c-fosB expression and crys remains unclear. In the present study, using RNA-sequencing analysis, we found that five Fbxl family genes (Fbxl4, Fbxl5, Fbxl16, Fbxl-like1, and Fbxl-like2) encoding F-box and leucine-rich repeat proteins are likely involved in the mechanism following light-dependent c-fosB induction. RNA interference (RNAi) of c-fosA/B significantly downregulated Fbxls expression, whereas RNAi of the Fbxl genes exerted no effect on c-fosB expression. The Fbxl genes showed rhythmic expression under light-dark cycles (LDs) with higher expression levels in early day (Fbxl16), whole day (Fbxl-like1), or day-to-early night (Fbxl4, Fbxl5, and Fbxl-like2), whereas their expression was reduced in the dark. We then examined the effect of their RNAi on the photic entrainment of the locomotor rhythm and found that RNAi of Fbxl4 either disrupted or significantly delayed the re-entrainment of the locomotor rhythm to shifted LDs. These results suggest that light-induced c-fosB expression stimulates Fbxl4 expression to reset the circadian clock. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakeuchiKazuki en-aut-sei=Takeuchi en-aut-mei=Kazuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukaMirai en-aut-sei=Matsuka en-aut-mei=Mirai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShinoharaTsugumichi en-aut-sei=Shinohara en-aut-mei=Tsugumichi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomiyamaYasuaki en-aut-sei=Tomiyama en-aut-mei=Yasuaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=TomiokaKenji en-aut-sei=Tomioka en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=8 cd-vols= no-issue=9 article-no= start-page=eabk0331 end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2022 dt-pub=202234 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Vasopressin-oxytocin?type signaling is ancient and has a conserved water homeostasis role in euryhaline marine planarians en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Vasopressin/oxytocin (VP/OT)?related peptides are essential for mammalian antidiuresis, sociosexual behavior, and reproduction. However, the evolutionary origin of this peptide system is still uncertain. Here, we identify orthologous genes to those for VP/OT in Platyhelminthes, intertidal planarians that have a simple bilaterian body structure but lack a coelom and body-fluid circulatory system. We report a comprehensive characterization of the neuropeptide derived from this VP/OT-type gene, identifying its functional receptor, and name it the gplatytocinh system. Our experiments with these euryhaline planarians, living where environmental salinities fluctuate due to evaporation and rainfall, suggest that platytocin functions as an gantidiuretic hormoneh and also organizes diverse actions including reproduction and chemosensory-associated behavior. We propose that bilaterians acquired physiological adaptations to amphibious lives by such regulation of the body fluids. This neuropeptide-secreting system clearly became indispensable for life even without the development of a vascular circulatory system or relevant synapses. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KobayashiAoshi en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Aoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaMasa-aki en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Masa-aki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=KobayashiYasuhisa en-aut-sei=Kobayashi en-aut-mei=Yasuhisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=TsutsuiNaoaki en-aut-sei=Tsutsui en-aut-mei=Naoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekiguchiToshio en-aut-sei=Sekiguchi en-aut-mei=Toshio kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsukawaYuta en-aut-sei=Matsukawa en-aut-mei=Yuta kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaejimaSho en-aut-sei=Maejima en-aut-mei=Sho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=GingellJoseph J. en-aut-sei=Gingell en-aut-mei=Joseph J. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=SekiguchiShoko en-aut-sei=Sekiguchi en-aut-mei=Shoko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamamotoAyumu en-aut-sei=Hamamoto en-aut-mei=Ayumu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayDebbie L. en-aut-sei=Hay en-aut-mei=Debbie L. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=12 ORCID= en-aut-name=MorrisJohn F. en-aut-sei=Morris en-aut-mei=John F. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=13 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoTatsuya en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=14 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoHirotaka en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Hirotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=15 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Oki Marine Biological Station, Shimane University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Division of Marine Environmental Studies, Kanazawa University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd. kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=12 en-affil=School of Biological Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland kn-affil= affil-num=13 en-affil=Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetic, Le Gros Clark Building, University of Oxford kn-affil= affil-num=14 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=15 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute (UMI), Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Ushimado kn-affil= END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=39 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=157 end-page=165 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2022 dt-pub=20220128 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Observing Phylum-Level Metazoan Diversity by Environmental DNA Analysis at the Ushimado Area in the Seto Inland Sea en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=The dynamics of microscopic marine plankton in coastal areas is a fundamental theme in marine biodiversity research, but studies have been limited because the only available methodology was collection of plankton using plankton-nets and microscopic observation. In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has exhibited potential for conducting comprehensive surveys of marine plankton diversity in water at fixed points and depths in the ocean. However, few studies have examined how eDNA analysis reflects the actual distribution and dynamics of organisms in the field, and further investigation is needed to determine whether it can detect distinct differences in plankton density in the field. To address this, we analyzed eDNA in seawater samples collected at 1 km intervals at three depths over a linear distance of approximately 3.0 km in the Seto Inland Sea. The survey area included a location with a high density of Acoela (Praesagittifera naikaiensis). However, the eDNA signal for this was little to none, and its presence would not have been noticed if we did not have this information beforehand. Meanwhile, eDNA analysis enabled us to confirm the presence of a species of Placozoa that was previously undiscovered in the area. In summary, our results suggest that the number of sequence reads generated from eDNA samples in our project was not sufficient to predict the density of a particular species. However, eDNA can be useful for detecting organisms that have been overlooked using other methods. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=KawashimaTakeshi en-aut-sei=Kawashima en-aut-mei=Takeshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaMasa-aki en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Masa-aki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyazawaHideyuki en-aut-sei=Miyazawa en-aut-mei=Hideyuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoHiroaki en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Hiroaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakanoNatumi en-aut-sei=Nakano en-aut-mei=Natumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=SakamotoTatsuya en-aut-sei=Sakamoto en-aut-mei=Tatsuya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=HamadaMayuko en-aut-sei=Hamada en-aut-mei=Mayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=National Institute of Genetics kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Marine Biological Science Section, Education and Research Center Biological Resources, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=National Institute of Genetics kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biology, Nara Medical University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=eDNA kn-keyword=eDNA en-keyword=marine invertebrate kn-keyword=marine invertebrate en-keyword=Xenacoelomorpha kn-keyword=Xenacoelomorpha en-keyword=Acoela kn-keyword=Acoela en-keyword=Praesagittifera naikaiensis kn-keyword=Praesagittifera naikaiensis en-keyword=Placozoa kn-keyword=Placozoa en-keyword=Trichoplax adhaerens kn-keyword=Trichoplax adhaerens END