OBITUARY: DR. TADAO YOSHIDA (July 8, 1933 – November 11, 2024) 追悼 吉田忠生 博士（北海道大学名誉教授）

OBITUARY: DR. TADAO YOSHIDA (July 8, 1933 – November 11, 2024)

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Dr. Tadao Yoshida, Professor Emeritus at Hokkaido University, Japan. He was a renowned member of the Japanese phycological community, celebrated for his groundbreaking research on the taxonomy of algae, particularly Sargassum and other species. His seminal work, Marine Algae of Japan (Yoshida 1998), cataloged all recognized species of marine algae in the region. Not only marine algae, but he also studied the taxonomy of some freshwater red algae including Nemalionopsis and Thorea. 

 

Dr. Yoshida earned his BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. at the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, obtaining his Ph.D degree (in Agriculture) in 1964. His research and teaching careers spanned three esteemed institutions: Kyushu University (1962), the Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute (1962–1968), and the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University (1968–1997). During his time at Hokkaido University, he also earned another Ph.D. degree (in Science).

 

An active member of the Japanese Society of Phycology for many years, Dr. Yoshida served as its President from 1995 to 1996. In recognition of his significant and long-standing contributions to phycology, he was honored with the Japanese Society of Phycology’s Yamada Award in 2016.

 

His name is commemorated in several algal species in recognition of his contributions to phycology:

 

Genus Yoshidaphycus Mikami, 1992

Yoshidaphycus ciliatus (Okamura) Mikami 1992

 

Sargassum yoshidae G.C.Trono 1994

 

Gelidium yoshidae G.H.Boo & R.Terada 2016

 

Dr. Ryuta Terada, head of the Laboratory of Marine Botany at Kagoshima University, had a longstanding history of communication with Dr. Yoshida, which began when Terada met him as a student at Hokkaido University in the 1990s. Their collaborative research continued even after Yoshida’s retirement from Hokkaido University in 1997. Together, they conducted a government survey on the marine algal flora and endangered freshwater algae in Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands during the 2000s, which included the discovery of a new species, Sargassum ryukyuense, from Okinawa and Amami (Shimabukuro et al. 2008). Dr. Masahiro Suzuki, an Assistant Professor at the same laboratory, also collaborated with Dr. Yoshida, resulting in the publication of The Checklist of Marine Algae of Japan in 2015.

 

The members of the Laboratory of Marine Botany at Kagoshima University are deeply grateful for Dr. Yoshida’s invaluable service and contributions.

 

May he rest in peace.

 

Yoshidaphycus ciliatus (Okamura) Mikami 1992

 

論文：分布南限の褐藻アントクメ：消失したと思われていた鹿児島県馬毛島沖での再確認

研究室の新しい論文が植物研究雑誌より刊行されました。

 

寺田竜太 2024．分布南限の褐藻アントクメ：消失したと思われていた鹿児島県馬毛島沖での再確認．

植物研究雑誌99 (4): 273–279

DOI: 10.51033/jjapbot.ID0211（刊行日：2024年8月20日）

 

Ryuta Terada 2024. A brown alga, Ecklonia radicosa at the southernmost distributional limit in Japan: Reconfirmation of Ecklonia radicosa from Mageshima Island, Kagoshima, the southernmost distributional limit in Japan. 

The Journal of Japanese Botany 99 (4): 273–279

DOI: 10.51033/jjapbot.ID0211 (Issue: 20 August 2024)

 

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjapbot/99/4/99_ID0211/_article/-char/ja

 

褐藻アントクメEcklonia radicosa（コンブ目）の標本や記録における分布南限は，種子島の西方に位置する馬毛島沖ですが，1971年の標本以降生育が確認されないままでいました。本種は馬毛島周辺海域から消失した可能性が考えられてきましたが，2023年10月7日の調査航海で実施したドレッジ調査において，本種の生育が改めて確認されました。

 

植物研究雑誌の論文のダウンロードは，刊行から2年間は雑誌購読者に限られています（2年以上を経たものはオープンアクセス）。論文に関心のある方は，お気軽に我々にお問い合わせください。なお，植物研究雑誌は2025年の刊行100周年に併せ，電子媒体のみによる完全オープンアクセスに移行するそうです。

A special workshop on making seaweed specimens for elementary school kids

We held a special workshop on making seaweed specimens for elementary school kids as an event during their summer holidays. On the first day, July 20, we pressed samples of 30 species collected during our field surveys, including some edible species like Nori and Wakame. Next weekend, after fully drying the samples, we will have the second day of the workshop, making herbarium specimens to complete their own exsiccatae. This workshop was conducted with funding from KAKENHI, provided by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

 

Second Jeju International Island Symposium

Professor Ryuta Terada, the head of the Marine Botany Laboratory, was invited to the 2nd Jeju International Island Symposium as one of the speakers. The symposium was held from July 9th to 11th in Jeju City, Korea. He presented the status of the nationwide long-term monitoring survey known as "Monitoring-Site 1000" in Japan over the past 15 years. As Jeju Island and Kyushu Island are very close, with a distance of around 200 km between them, we believe our concerns about the degradation of seaweed communities observed in Kyushu may be helpful in considering the possibility of future changes in seaweed communities on Jeju Island. We express our thanks to the organizing committee of this symposium for inviting him to this wonderful opportunity.

 http://amkijeju.re.kr/98

 

New article: Chondria armata

Please check out our new article featuring the phenology and the response of photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature gradients in the herbal drug red alga, Chondria armata (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales).

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10811-024-03250-w

 

Terada, Yoshizato, Murakami, Nishihara 2024. Phenology and the response of photosynthesis to irradiance and temperature gradient in the herbal drug red alga, Chondria armata (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales) from Kagoshima, Japan.

Journal of Applied Phycology

DOI: 10.1007/s10811-024-03250-w

 

This alga has been utilized by local inhabitants for many years in the Ryukyu Islands, serving as an herbal drug for anthelmintic purposes, effectively eradicating various intestinal worms such as parasitic roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. 

 

In the present study, we conducted a seasonal field survey to elucidate the seasonal variations of this alga in Kagoshima, Japan. Additionally, we conducted experiments to analyze the photosynthetic response of C. armata under varying temperature and irradiance gradients. This endeavor aims to enhance our understanding of the optimal and critical environmental conditions for this alga near the northern distributional limit in the Pacific.

 

Chondria armata

 

The Takeno and Awajishima surveys

We participated in field surveys for the nationwide long-term monitoring project known as 'Monitoring Site 1000,' conducted at Takeno in Toyooka City, facing the Sea of Japan, and at Awajishima Island in Sumoto City, facing the Pacific Ocean, both located in Hyogo Prefecture.

 

 

These surveys were conducted by the Kobe University Research Center of Seto Inland Seas (KURCIS), and phycologists from the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, as well as those from our laboratory, were invited as specialists.
 

9th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum (APPF2024)

The 9th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum (APPF2024) was successfully closed except for the excursion that is conducted today. As one of the co-chairs of the LOC, Ryuta Terada wishes to express sincere thanks to all participants, the LOC, and staff members who contributed to the conference. The next meeting will be held in April 2027 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

Sargassum horneri at Nagashima Island, Kagoshima

Introducing amazing photos of the fucoid forest, Sargassum hornei, found only during this period at Nagashima Island, Kagoshima, Japan. The photos were taken during the April Nagashima survey.

 

JSP48

We will attend the 48th annual Japanese Society of Phycology meeting (JSP48) held at Kobe University this weekend. From the Marine Botany Lab, a total of nine presentations will be presented by faculty and students. The photo shows printed posters.

 

 

New Assistant Professor

The Marine Botany Lab of Kagoshima University welcomes Dr. Masahiro Suzuki, who has been newly appointed as Assistant Professor. His specialty lies in the taxonomy and systematics of macroalgae, particularly marine and freshwater red algae. He will conduct research and education for undergraduate and postgraduate students alongside Professor Ryuta Terada and Associate Professor Hikaru Endo.

 

Dr. Suzuki's profile

https://researchmap.jp/tonysharks?lang=en